Central City, Colorado

[the_delta_force]

Hello all,

I have just been snowboarding in Winter Park, CO. We spent a night in Denver and on the way back found this place.

Central City was a large gold mining town from the mid 1850s to 1940s. During WWII it was deemed non-essential to the war effort and it never really picked up after the war ended. It was decided to leave it as a 'ghost town' for tourist purposes but little money was made and in the early 1990s a gambling law was passed and a large number of casinos built.

This again proved unpopular and many chose to hit the casinos in the slightly larger city of Black Hawk five mins away. As a result of this many buildings stand empty. The population today is little over 1000. Numerous properties have been built but lay empty. Some have fallen into disrepair, others are maintained by locals.

It was about -13C with a strong wind and snow sweeping across the road. The cemetery was eerie, it was very much abandoned and the gates were swinging in the wind.

An abandoned casino

All the houses along the road were empty, the ones on hill were lived in.

Even the Police Station was empty, a note on door stated so.

 

[Lightbuoy]

Excellent Report TDF!

Interesting bit of history behind it too.

Those building looks very good -that old painted wording is brill. Nice old American Army Lorry too

Thanks for sharing,

Lb :jimlad:

 

[Pip]

What a terriffic looking place, that graveyard looks real 'Boot-Hill' style!

The Police station may say it's empty....... but there appears to be a light on in there! Did you forget to turn it out

Thanks for sharing.

Pip

 

[MaBs]

Most have a real erie feel about the place love the interior shot of one of the cars!

 

[the_delta_force]

There was a light on at the back. I could see an old wooden desk, chair and some cabinets but that was all.

The friends I was with aren't into exploring so I couldn't get any internal shots of the buildings.

What a terriffic looking place, that graveyard looks real 'Boot-Hill' style!

The Police station may say it's empty....... but there appears to be a light on in there! Did you forget to turn it out

Thanks for sharing.

Pip

 

[Locksley]

Great pics mate.

I so want that truck lol

 

[Foxylady]

What a brill find! Love the cemetary and the livery & feed stables...I would be more than happy to live in one of those houses...real cute!
The only question is...where's the tumbleweed?

 

[Goldie87]

Cool place, would love to see a 'ghost town'

 

[fezzyben]

great stuff

 

[Neosea]

-13, a real winter. How I miss them.

Cool photos, thanks.