General Store: The Twin Lakes General Store has been open since 1879. The store is open from May through October and just celebrated its 145th year this summer. Today one can find anything from drinks and food to books and clothing. They also stock gear for backpacking, camping and fishing which are favorite activities during the summer months in Twin Lakes, Colo. Photo by Gary Warren
Lake and Mt. Hope: The twin lakes sit beside each other. This shows the larger of the two which sits to the east. In the background is Mt. Hope, one of several mountain peaks in the area. The village of Twin Lakes lies just to the west of the west lake. Photo by Gary Warren
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
The later half of the nineteenth century was a very active time in western Colorado. Gold and silver deposits were discovered in the San Juan Mountains and other mountains in the western part of the state. Within a few years the region was booming as millions of dollars of gold and silver were mined.
Two of the major mining camps were located in Leadville, Colo. and Aspen, Colo. There was a need for a route between the two areas to be used for goods as well as gold and silver. Approximately half way between the two locations were two glacier lakes now known as twin lakes. A route was established by going south from Leadville to the twin lakes and then west to Aspen.
Another mining camp was located near the twin lakes which was named Dayton. However after the route between Aspen and Leadville was established the name was changed to Twin Lakes, Colo. Twin Lakes served as a transportation hub for the area for many years.
The village of Twin Lakes sits near the actual lakes on what is now Colorado Highway 82 also known as Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway.
The village is 21 miles from Leadville and 36 miles east of Aspen. Just a short distance northwest of Twin Lakes sits the highest peak in the Colorado Rockies, Mt. Elbert, which tops out at 14,400 feet.
To the west Independence Pass lies between Twin Lakes and Aspen. Independence Pass, at over 12,000 feet, closes during the winter months because of snowfall and when that closure takes place, Twin Lakes businesses also slow down or close for the winter.
Today Twin Lakes is a popular destination for those who enjoy outdoor activities during the summer months. The lakes attract those who love fishing and water sports and the mountains attract those who enjoy hiking, camping, biking and other outdoor activities. The summer season will usually begin around Memorial Day and last through October.
The village is about the same size as it was in the late 1800s and most of the buildings in the small village are also from that era. The entire village was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The Friends of Twin Lakes, a 501c(3) non-profit organization works to preserve the historical buildings in the village as well as providing volunteers for the Twin Lakes Visitors Center. The group also provides information for a walking tour of Twin Lakes which leads visitors to 20 historic sites in the village.
At first glance, one might think Twin Lakes is a ghost town. However, a stop in the village during the summer season will reveal a community that is indeed alive and well, at least for a portion of the year. This old mining camp and transportation hub from the late nineteenth century is like stepping back in time and getting a glimpse of the old west.
Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.
Visitors Center: The Visitors Center in Twin Lakes is also known as Red Rooster Visitors Center. That name is a reference to the building’s former uses; the Red Rooster Tavern, a hotel, and a brothel. Many buildings in the village have served more than one purpose during the town’s existence. Photo by Gary Warren
School: The school building in Twin Lakes dates back to 1895. Students attended school in the building from 1895 through 1959. Community volunteers and the Friends of Twin Lakes organization has totally remodeled the building in recent years. The school is now used for use by the Friends of Twin Lakes organization. Photo by Gary Warren
Twin Lakes Inn: The Twin Lakes Inn and Saloon has been serving guests since 1879 when the area was a stagecoach stop. The facility also has a saloon and full service restaurant as well. In more recent years visitors from around the world have stayed at the Twin Lakes Inn. Photo by Gary Warren
Food Trucks: Three food trucks serve drinks and snacks to visitors along the highway in Twin Lakes, Colo. Food trucks are a common site almost everywhere but not many are operated from a vintage Volkswagen bus. Twin Lakes has three such trucks! Photo by Gary Warren
Colorful: This colorful building which dates back to the mining era sits behind the Twin Lakes General Store. The colorful structure is decorated with a pair of vintage skis and the front grill and horns from a vintage car and is lined with Christmas lights. Photo by Gary Warren
Hotel: This building, built in 1881, was used as a motel for many years. Today the structure is a residential house but it is another example of the architecture from the mining era in Twin Lakes, Colo. Photo by Gary Warren