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Independence is a "ghost town" that was originally settled in
the early 1880's. It is located just a few miles east of Independence Pass on the Aspen and Pitkin
County side. Here is a view of the valley and surrounding mountains; The town is located just down
the valley to the right. |
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I did not take a whole lot of photos, but here are a few.
One can walk around the area on a clearly marked trail and look at some of the old buildings that remain. There is a suggested $3 donation for adults. |
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The building in the immediate foreground is J.B. Conner's Boarding House. Many of the structures have signs with explanations. |
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There were quite a few signs that gave more historical background of Independence, and click the adjacent photo to read more.
No doubt, I would think winters would be long, bitterly cold and lonely at the base of the Continental Divide. According to one source I read,
the winter of 1899 was so bad that all methods of travel back down into Aspen were cut off, and the few remaining residents used the wood from some of their buildings to create skis to head back into town for food and survival. |
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Again, I could have taken many more photos, but I couldn't resist this shot of
the surrounding Rocky Mountain scenery. If you are near Indepenence Pass or
Aspen and you really love exploring old ghost towns, I highly suggest visiting Independence. |
