Photography Courtesy of Silverton Chamber of Commerce©
Written By NICHOLE ZANGARA
Located in the San Juan Triangle, Silverton's Blair Street Bordello District once attracted miners to its gambling halls, brothels and sporting houses in hordes. At a time when the drone of picks, mallets and dynamite rang out from the mountains above, Silverton housed more than 40 full-service saloons. Nowadays, Silverton resembles "a step back in time" with its Victorian-style architecture and many nuances from its wild and wooly past.
Though an assortment of shops, boutiques and unique dining opportunities are more prevalent today, Silverton is a classic town, one filled with charm and charisma. One of Silverton's main attractions is its newest edition, Silverton Mountain Ski Area. As the first of its kind in the U.S., Silverton Mountain, a lift-accessed backcountry ski area, is unlike any other. With one lift serving 340 private acres of terrain and accessing 1,300 more managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the place is for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders only. There is no grooming on any of the runs and skiers and snowboarders must wear/carry and know how to use avalanche equipment. At this point, Silverton Mountain is a guided-only operation but future plans are to hopefully offer guided and unguided services.
During the summer months, Silverton Mountain offers lift access for scenic tours. Meanwhile the town itself has a very busy summer calendar. Events include the Hardrock 100, Kendall Mountain Run, Hardrockers Holidays, Fourth of July Celebration, Step Back in Time Historical Celebration, Kendall Mountain Run, Mayflower Mill Tour, the Rocky Mountain Brass Band Festival and a Flea Market on Sundays. For the recreationlist, Silverton offers trout fishing in Molas Lake and Ice Lake, and hiking in the high country on limitless local trails. For those seeking exploration, jeeping through one of Silverton's routes including the Alpine Loop, home to many ghost towns, epitomizes the allure of the area. Daily summer rides on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad-between Durango and Silverton-are also a great way to soak up the region's scenery.
LOCAL STATISTICS:
Location: 50 miles north of Durango on
Highway 550
Population: 430
Average Home Price: $250,00
Average Rental: $500
Median Age: 40
Average Household Income: $20,00
Elevation: 9,318 Ft.
Median Temperatures: Summer: 75/30F Winter: F
Days of Sunshine per year: 300
Average Annual Snowfall: 200 in.
Founded: 1874
Industry: Tourism
Rio Blanco County Population: 4,000
College: Fort Lewis (Durango)
Visitor's Services:
Silverton Area Chamber of Commerce
414 Green St.| P.O. Box 565
Silverton, CO 81433
(800) 752-4494
Email: chamber@silvertoncolorado.com
Website: www.silvertoncolorado.com
Attractions/Services:
Alpine Loop
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Million Dollar Highway
Kendall Mountain Recreation Area
San Juan Scenic Byway
Silverton Mountain Ski Area
Calendar of Events:
Opening Day Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
May 8
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic
May 29
Silverton Jubilee Folk Music
Festival
June 25-27
Hardrock 100 Endurance Run
July 9-11
Blair Street Arts & Crafts
Festival
July 16-18
Kendall Mountain Run
July 17
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railfes
August 18-22
Colorfest Quilt Show &
Sale
September 11-12
Last Train to Silverton
October 29
Winter Wonderland Holiday
Celebration
December 18
The Mining Town
that Never Quits!
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