Posts From The Road: Georgetown, Colorado

Gold Rush: Aspen trees shine in the afternoon sun on a dirt road off of the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway. While much gold was mined in Colorado, the area near Georgetown was mined for silver. During the silver mining boom days, Georgetown was known as the ‘Silver Queen of the Rockies’. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Falling Leaves: Aspen trees line a road near the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway even as many of the leaves have fallen and cover the dirt road with a coating of gold. Guanella Pass is a favorite leaf-peeping location because of its beautiful aspen forests as well as its close proximity to the Denver area. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos

Last week’s Post From the Road featured Ashcroft, Colo., an old mining town from the 1800s, that was left to ruin and only stands at all today because of restoration work and management by the Aspen Historical Society. This week’s post features Georgetown, Colo., an old mining town from the 1800s that has survived the fall of the mining days and now thrives as a small mountain town with a population of about 1,200.

Today, drivers traveling west from Denver on Interstate 70 will pass by Georgetown about 45 miles west of the city. The Victorian style buildings in Georgetown shine with colorful painted exteriors and the downtown is alive with locals and tourists. There are over 200 Victorian-era buildings in town which have been maintained or restored making this small town look like a town from a century ago. Most of the downtown businesses as well as older downtown homes are Victorian-era architecture.

Visitors can visit museums honoring the area’s past, ride a narrow gauge railroad that remains from the mining days, or stroll the streets of downtown Georgetown and enjoy the variety of shops and restaurants. Of course, outdoor activities are a major source of recreation when visiting the mountain town which sits just above 8,500 feet in elevation. There are multiple mountain roads, hiking trails, and fishing opportunities in and near Georgetown.

Guanella Pass Scenic Byway, a 22-mile byway taking drivers from Georgetown across the pass to Grant, Colo. located on Highway 285. The drive, now paved from end to end is one of the most popular areas for Denver and front range residents to view the aspen color every September and October. Many hiking and camping exists along the byway.

Fishing is popular at Lake Georgetown year round. In winter months, ice fishing is popular on the lake. Georgetown is also a popular stopping point for skiers commuting to and from the many mountain ski areas which lie to the west.

While this picturesque mountain town is not large, Georgetown is big on style and history. Location, no doubt, has made it easier for this old mining town to survive but it has taken the drive and work of locals to maintain the town and make it an enjoyable destination or stop on Interstate 70 when traveling west of Denver.

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. 

Downtown: Victorian architecture is very prominent in Georgetown, Colo. The old mining town has survived and thrived in recent years as a destination for outdoor enthusiasts and those wanting to escape the city for a nice day out to the mountain town. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Kneisel & Anderson: The oldest business still operating in Georgetown, Colo. is Kneisel & Anderson. The store has been in the same family since 1883 and located in this building since 1883. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Grocery Shopping: A shopper pays for his purchase at Kneisel & Anderson. The building was built by the current owner’s great grandfather and still contains some original marble countertops, bins, and shelving. Originally a general store specializing in hardware, the store is now a grocery store with a wide selection of other items of local interest. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Hotel de Paris: The Hotel de Paris was opened by Louis Dupuy, a French immigrant. The hotel was known for its French cuisine and luxurious accommodations. The ornate Victorian style building is a museum today. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

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