St. Elmo, Colorado, Chaffee County is a captivating ghost town that once thrived in the late 19th century. Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, it offers a glimpse into the past with its well-preserved buildings and rich history. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Chaffee County
Zip Code: 81236
Latitude / Longitude: 38.7083° N, 106.3475° W
Elevation: 9,961 feet (3,036 meters)
Time Zone: Mountain Time Zone (MST/MDT)
Established: 1880
Disestablished: Not formally disestablished, but declined significantly after the early 1920s.
Comments: St. Elmo was founded as a gold and silver mining town. At its peak, it was home to around 2,000 people and had various amenities, including hotels, saloons, a telegraph office, and a schoolhouse.
The Denver, South Par,k and Pacific Railroad played a pivotal role in its development. However, as mining resources dwindled, so did the population, leading to its ghost town status. St. Elmo is a ghost town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States.
Founded in 1880, St. Elmo is located in the heart of the Sawatch Range, 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Buena Vista, at 9,961 feet (3,036 m). Nearly 2,000 people settled in this town when gold and silver mining started.
The mining industry started declining in the early 1920s, and 1922 the railroad discontinued service. The community is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the St. Elmo Historic District. It is one of Colorado’s best-preserved ghost towns.
Remains: Many of St. Elmo’s original structures remain intact, offering a well-preserved glimpse into its bustling past. These include the general store, the town hall, several private homes, and the original schoolhouse.
The St. Elmo & Chalk Creek Canyon Historical Association has aided the town’s preservation. St. Elmo was originally named Forest City but was later changed because of the many towns with the same name.
The name St. Elmo was chosen by Griffith Evans, one of the founding fathers, who was reading a novel with the same title. The town peaked in the 1890s when it included a telegraph office, general store, town hall, five hotels, saloons, dancing halls, a newspaper office, and a schoolhouse.
The Denver, South Park, and Pacific Railroad line ran through St. Elmo. The area had 150 patented mine claims. Most people who lived in St. Elmo worked at the Mary Murphy, Teresa C., The Molly, or the Pioneer Mines. The Mary Murphy Mine was the area’s largest and most successful mine.
The Mary Murphy Mine recovered over $60,000,000 worth of gold while operating. While the other mines eventually shut down, the Mary Murphy Mine continued to operate until the railroad was abandoned in 1922.
Current Status: St. Elmo is one of Colorado’s best-preserved ghost towns. It is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors interested in Colorado’s mining history and those seeking a unique view of a bygone era.
The general store operates seasonally, providing souvenirs and refreshments to visitors. Even though St. Elmo is considered a ghost town it is still inhabited. Tourism brings many people to the St. Elmo area every year.
The old mining roads are now used as Jeep and four-wheeler trails. Along Chalk Creek, which runs through St. Elmo, there are also many good places to fish. The general store is open during the summer, and tourists can rent four-wheelers or buy items.
Many of the buildings are still intact. However, the town hall and a few other buildings burnt down in 2002. Buena Vista Heritage is rebuilding the town hall to its original state.
Remarks: St. Elmo is not entirely uninhabited despite being a ghost town. A few residents still live there, maintaining the historic buildings and providing information to visitors. The town’s isolation in the mountains adds to its allure, making it a favorite spot for photographers and history enthusiasts.
The area is also popular for outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and off-roading. Once the mining industry shut down, the population of St. Elmo drastically declined. Miners searched elsewhere for gold and silver, but the business district in St. Elmo also closed down.
Few people continued to live in the town. Postal service was discontinued in 1952 after the death of St. Elmo’s postmaster.
