Uptop on Old La Veta Pass, Colorado Ghost Town

You’ll find Uptop ghost town perched at 9,382 feet on Old La Veta Pass, once home to the world’s highest narrow gauge railroad. This resilient settlement evolved from railroad hub (1877) to mining support center, then automotive tourist destination until highway rerouting in 1962 led to abandonment. Thanks to preservation efforts beginning in 2001, you can now explore its restored depot, chapel, and dance hall while discovering Colorado’s mountain past firsthand.

Table of Contents hide

1 Key Takeaways

2 The Birth of a Railroad Town (1877-1899)

3 From Coal Mining Hub to Logging Center

4 Golden Era of Automotive Tourism

5 Highway Rerouting and Abandonment

6 Rebirth Through Preservation Efforts

7 Frequently Asked Questions

7.1 Was Uptop Ever Affected by Major Natural Disasters?

7.2 What Indigenous Archaeological Sites Exist Near Uptop?

7.3 Are Paranormal Activities Reported in the Abandoned Buildings?

7.4 What Seasonal Festivals or Events Were Celebrated in Uptop?

7.5 How Did Prohibition Impact Uptop’s Social Establishments?

8 References

Key Takeaways

Uptop is a preserved ghost town located at 9,382 feet on Old La Veta Pass in Colorado.
Originally called Muleshoe, it thrived as a railroad settlement in 1877 before becoming a ghost town in 1962.

The town features historic structures including an 1877 cabin, chapel, dance hall, and depot.
Sisters Deb Lathrop and Dianne Law purchased and restored the abandoned ghost town in 2001.
Uptop’s decline began when Highway 160 was rerouted, diverting traffic away from the former tourist destination.

The Birth of a Railroad Town (1877-1899)

In 1877, a remarkable feat of engineering transformed the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains when the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad completed what became known as the “Railroad Above the Clouds.”

This narrow gauge marvel stretched across Old La Veta Pass at a breathtaking elevation of 9,382 feet—making it the world’s highest narrow gauge railroad at the time.

Perched among clouds at 9,382 feet, this engineering wonder claimed the title of world’s highest narrow gauge railroad.

The railroad innovation instantly turned Uptop into a bustling hub as miners, merchants, and tourists flocked to this strategic mountain passage.

You’d find a rapidly developing settlement with a depot, chapel, and schoolhouse rising to serve the growing population. The area was originally called Muleshoe before adopting its current name.

This economic boom positioned the town at the center of regional commerce and travel, creating a crucial corridor between Colorado’s plains and mountains that would thrive for the next two decades.

Though railroad operations ceased by 1900, the town continued to grow with the emergence of coal and lumber industries in the area.

From Coal Mining Hub to Logging Center

When the railroad tracks were removed from Uptop in 1899, the mountain settlement didn’t fade away but instead reinvented itself as an essential support hub for the region’s burgeoning coal mining industry.

You can still see evidence of this transformation in the historic structures that remain standing today.

The town’s economy shifted to specialized logging techniques focused on producing timbers vital for mining safety. Unlike commercial logging operations elsewhere, Uptop’s woodsmen harvested timber specifically engineered to reinforce mine shaft structures, preventing deadly collapses in nearby coal operations.

This symbiotic relationship between Uptop’s logging expertise and the coal industry sustained the community for decades.

The chapel and schoolhouse built during this era stand as monuments to the town’s resilience and adaptability when facing economic transformation. After the miners left in the 1940s, the town experienced a shift toward automotive tourism as travelers discovered its historical significance. Located 300 acres outside La Veta, the historic site now preserves this rich industrial heritage as a National Historic District.

Golden Era of Automotive Tourism

Following the decline of mining operations in the 1940s, Uptop reinvented itself once again, transforming into a vibrant hub for America’s emerging automotive tourism culture.

The community capitalized on its breathtaking location along the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, converting former industrial structures into tourist attractions that captured the essence of automotive nostalgia.

During this golden period spanning approximately two decades, you’d find:

A tavern created from two combined cabins alongside a popular dancehall that became the centerpiece for visitor entertainment

The original railroad depot repurposed as a museum celebrating the area’s rich history
A restaurant and inn built specifically to serve the continuous stream of motorists traversing the mountain pass

This tourism renaissance flourished until 1962, when the new North La Veta Pass highway permanently redirected traffic away from Uptop. The old unpaved route through Uptop is now accessible via County Road 443, offering visitors a glimpse into this fascinating chapter of Colorado’s transportation history.

The region’s recreational appeal was further enhanced by its mild temperatures during summer, making it an ideal destination for travelers seeking respite from the heat while enjoying the scenic mountain landscape.

Highway Rerouting and Abandonment

The death knell for Uptop’s tourism heyday rang in 1962 with the rerouting of US Highway 160. This pivotal moment in local transportation evolution directed traffic to the new, safer North La Veta Pass route, 1.6 miles northeast of the old pass.

You’ll find the new highway’s design eliminated those dangerous tight curves that had plagued motorists for decades, offering a more navigable, year-round connection between Walsenburg and Alamosa.

The consequences were swift and severe. With traffic diverted, economic decline followed as visitors no longer stopped at Uptop. The once-bustling hamlet transformed into a ghost town as buildings fell into disrepair.

The old pass quickly deteriorated into an unpaved back road, leaving behind only memories of its former significance in Colorado’s transportation history. The area’s transition mirrored the fate of the original narrow gauge grade that had been abandoned after the development of standard gauge railroad lines through Veta Pass around 1900.

Both passes showcase the Sangre de Cristo Mountains that form the dramatic backdrop to this historic transportation corridor.

Rebirth Through Preservation Efforts

After decades of abandonment and deterioration, Uptop’s fortunes dramatically reversed in 2001 when sisters Deb Lathrop and Dianne “Sam” Law purchased the forgotten ghost town, igniting an ambitious preservation campaign.

When two sisters bought a crumbling ghost town, they sparked a preservation revolution that changed Uptop forever.

Their vision transformed Uptop into what locals now call “a ghost town with a beating heart,” breathing new life into this historic treasure. The revival of Uptop exemplifies how passionate individuals can make a significant difference in historic preservation, much like the early efforts of the Ghost Town Club of Colorado in the 1970s.

Their heritage preservation efforts included:

Restoring key structures like Trujillo’s 1877 cabin, the chapel, schoolhouse, and dance hall

Placing the land under conservation easement to prevent commercial development
Establishing cultural events like the Celtic Music Festival to foster community revitalization

You’ll find Uptop now enjoys national recognition on both the Colorado and National Historic Registers, with hiking trails, seasonal festivals, and contemplative spaces celebrating its unique mountain heritage. This preservation approach mirrors the efforts seen in towns like Fairplay, where the South Park City Museum showcases both restored and original mining-era buildings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Uptop Ever Affected by Major Natural Disasters?

No, historical records show no major natural disasters at Uptop. You won’t find earthquake impacts or flood history affecting this high-elevation settlement—its decline came purely from economic and transportation changes.

What Indigenous Archaeological Sites Exist Near Uptop?

Over 11,000 years of human history surrounds you! You’ll find indigenous artifacts near lookout sites and rock shelters around Uptop, with ancient dwellings scattered throughout the region’s travel routes and gathering places.

Are Paranormal Activities Reported in the Abandoned Buildings?

Yes, you’ll find numerous ghost sightings reported in Uptop’s abandoned structures. Local paranormal investigation services offer hands-on equipment experiences to explore these claims throughout the historic buildings at 9,382 feet elevation.

What Seasonal Festivals or Events Were Celebrated in Uptop?

Like a closed history book, Uptop’s local traditions remain undocumented. You won’t find specific information about festival origins or seasonal celebrations in the historical record of this mountain community.

Prohibition shuttered Uptop’s thriving establishments like the S-Curved Bar, transforming social dynamics. You’d have witnessed speakeasy culture emerge as gathering spots shifted from taverns to the schoolhouse and chapel for community interaction.