High in the Rockies Lies the Forgotten Remains of Chihuahua, Colorado

Many of Colorado’s ghost towns, like St. Elmo, Dearfield, and Ashcroft, are pretty widely known, and some are even travel destinations. However, not many people know about one town from Colorado’s past, high in the Rocky Mountains, that was called Chihuahua.

The History of Chihuahua, Colorado

In the mid-1800s, Colorado was a hotbed for mining, and because of the massive influx of settlers looking to cash in, numerous small mining communities were established.

Get our free mobile app

One of these was located high in the Rocky Mountains outside of Keystone, Colorado, and it was given the name Chihuahua. While it’s unclear exactly why the town was given this particular name, it has been speculated that one of the town’s founders, who had spent time in Chihuahua, Mexico, while serving in the military, named it after the Mexican state of the same name.

At its peak, Chihuahua, Colorado, boasted a population of roughly 200 people and was home to numerous buildings, including three hotels, three saloons, and over 40 other structures.

While many of Colorado’s current ghost towns were deserted after mining operations ceased, Chihuahua’s demise was more dramatic in nature.

Why Did Chihuahua, Colorado, Disappear?

Because Chihuahua, Colorado, which was located in current-day Summit County, experienced harsh temperatures during the winter, one could easily assume that the town was abandoned in favor of a milder climate.

Read More: Exploring The Mysteries Behind Colorado's Forgotten Ghost Towns

However, Chihuahua was actually abandoned due to a wildfire that ended up burning down all of the structures in the town back in 1889, not long after it was established.
Chihuahua was never rebuilt, and today, little remains of this mysterious ghost town of Colorado’s past.