Lenado - Colorado Ghost Town

LENADO

NAME: Lenado
COUNTY: Pitkin
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 5
CLIMATE: Cold winter with snow, cool summer
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer

COMMENTS: Near Aspen.
REMAINS: A few remains.

Located at the foot of Porphyry Mountain, the town erupted with activity in the 1889s when a rich vein of lead and zinc ore was found. At its peak, Lenado was inhabited with about three hundred people. There was a post office, sawmill, a large boarding house, several saloons, and a mercantile store. The road to Lenado was rugged. There was talk about improving and extending the road to Aspen but it never happened. In 1888, the Denver and Rio Grande made plans to run a spur to Lenado. The railroad graded the roadbed but never laid any track. The town almost died, but was revived in the 1890s when a large lead mill was erected. Then lead prices slumped. The mill closed down and Lenado was all but deserted. Some mining started up again in 1917 when zinc was needed during World War I. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

Located at the foot of Porphyry Mountain, the town erupted with activity in the 1889s when a rich vein of lead and zinc ore was found. At its peak, Lenado was inhabited with about three hundred people. There was a post office, sawmill, a large boarding house, several saloons, and a mercantile store. The road to Lenado was rugged. There was talk about improving and extending the road to Aspen but it never happened. In 1888, the Denver and Rio Grande made plans to run a spur to Lenado. The railroad graded the roadbed but never laid any track. The town almost died, but was revived in the 1890s when a large lead mill was erected. Then lead prices slumped. The mill closed down and Lenado was all but deserted. Some mining started up again in 1917 when zinc was needed during World War I. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

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