Crystal - Colorado Ghost Town

CRYSTAL

NAME: Crystal
COUNTY: Gunnison
ROADS: 4WD
GRID: 4
CLIMATE: Cold winter with snow, cool summer
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer

COMMENTS: Through Marble,a much photographed location - one can never have enough pictures of the hydroelectric plant.
REMAINS: Mining remnants and the famous cliff/creek building.

The first mining in the Crystal area took place in the 1860's, but the roads were so poor it wasn't until the 1880's that it really picked up. There were a half dozen mines by 1893 producing silver, lead, and zinc. The average population in Crystal was 500. There was a hotel, post office, two newspapers(one called the Crystal River Current, the other The Silver Lance), general stores, pool hall, the Crystal Club and more. As the mines played out, so did the town although the are has never really been deserted. The area is still a sportsmans paradise today and there are several cabins in the area. The road to Crystal goes through Marble and eventually winds through Schofield pass end Gothic on its way to Crested Butte - The road is suitable for walking and that is about it. Most people take the road from Marble to get to Crystal. Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Copyright: The Aurora Gallery/Wes Shrader Photography Crystal Copyright: The Aurora Gallery/Wes Shrader Photography Crystal Courtesy Dolores Steele Crystal Courtesy Dolores Steele Crystal Hydroelectric Plant Courtesy Dolores Steele Crystal Hydroelectric Plant Courtesy Dolores Steele Crystal Club - exclusive club for men Courtesy Dolores Steele House Courtesy Dolores Steele Crystal Courtesy Mike Woodfin Crystal Courtesy Mike Woodfin Crystal Courtesy Mike Woodfin	Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999 Todd Underwood Crystal Copyright: The Aurora Gallery/Wes Shrader Photography Crystal Copyright: The Aurora Gallery/Wes Shrader Photography Crystal Copyright: The Aurora Gallery/Wes Shrader Photography Crystal Courtesy Dolores Steele Crystal Courtesy Dolores Steele Crystal Courtesy Mike Woodfin Crystal Courtesy Mike Woodfin Crystal Courtesy Mike Woodfin Crystal Courtesy Mike Woodfin

The first mining in the Crystal area took place in the 1860's, but the roads were so poor it wasn't until the 1880's that it really picked up. There were a half dozen mines by 1893 producing silver, lead, and zinc. The average population in Crystal was 500. There was a hotel, post office, two newspapers(one called the Crystal River Current, the other The Silver Lance), general stores, pool hall, the Crystal Club and more. As the mines played out, so did the town although the are has never really been deserted. The area is still a sportsmans paradise today and there are several cabins in the area. The road to Crystal goes through Marble and eventually winds through Schofield pass end Gothic on its way to Crested Butte - The road is suitable for walking and that is about it. Most people take the road from Marble to get to Crystal.

Crystal Hydroelectric Plant - July, 1999
Todd Underwood