Independence Pass

11 Ghost Towns in the U.S. You Can Still Visit Today

"Prospectors struck gold in Independence, Colorado, sometime in the late 1800s, causing others to quickly follow suit. According to the Aspen Historical Society, the Farwell Mining Company acquired most of the town's prominent mines by 1881 and employed hundreds of people thereafter. The population peaked with about 1,500 residents, and local businesses flourished — that is, until workers moved out in search of other riches, leaving the town to deteriorate. Around 1975, the Aspen Historical Society took on the work of maintaining the ruins, which can be explored via a self-guided tour during the summer months." - Travel + Leisure Editors