Hahn's Peak Ghost Town
Originally a boom town and once a county seat, Hahns Peak Ghost Town is now a quite residential historical district near Steamboat Springs. It was founded around 1865 as a gold mining camp and housed the first Post office and School in Routt County. There is currently a self guided tour available along with a brochure. It is supported by the Hahn's Peak Area Historical Society.
Hahns Peak Ghost Town is a fascinating peek into the past. From Native American hunting grounds to early pioneers; from the Flying Norseman, Carl Howelsen to the newest of our 52 Olympians; from gold and silver mining to coal ore; Hahns Peak offers a rich, colorful and inspiring past.
For hundreds of years prior to the first settlers' arrival in the valley, the Yampatika Utes found the area ideal for summer hunting. Trappers began to come to the valley in the early 1800s. They called the area The Big Bend because the Yampa River makes its turn toward the west at this point in the valley. The name Steamboat Springs is thought to have originated around this time when French trappers thought they heard the chugging sound of a steamboat's steam engine. The sound turned out to be a natural mineral spring.
Ranching was the primary industry of the valley and in the late 1800s a mining boom was underway in the area of Hahns Peak. Today, cow and sheep ranching, hay and wheat farming, and coal mining are county industries with tourism as the major economic factor in the area.
The fascinating history of Steamboat Springs, Routt County and Northwest Colorado are well documented by the Tread of Pioneers Museum, the Hayden Heritage Center and the Bud Werner Memorial Library.
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Other pages you might find helpful:
Hahns Peak Historical Society
The Hahns Peak Historical Society offers a complete history of the Steamboat area.
