Poncha Springs - Colorado Ghost Town

PONCHA SPRINGS

NAME: Poncha Springs
COUNTY: Chaffee
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 8
CLIMATE: Cool winter with snow, cool summer
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer

COMMENTS: Many current residents, semi-ghost.
REMAINS: Current residents, many original buildings.

Poncha Springs is unique in the history of mining towns in Colorado. It is one of very few, maybe the only one, that had prohibition tendencies of the principal owners of town property. This tendency resulted in a clause prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquor on any property owned by them. The result was their goal-a small proportion of saloons to other types of businesses. The town also had a library, a rarity in any mining town during the 1870s, 80s and 90s. Prior to its boom years during the 1870s, Poncha Springs was already established as a health resort with nearly a hundred mineral springs with temperatures varying from 90 to 185 degrees. The town flourished for only a few years, being almost totally destroyed by fire in 1882 and was never rebuilt. What remain as landmarks are the Jackson Hotel and a large brick schoolhouse. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.	Poncha Springs Schoolhouse, late 1800's- July 2001 Todd Underwood Poncha Springs town center - July 2001 Todd Underwood

Poncha Springs is unique in the history of mining towns in Colorado. It is one of very few, maybe the only one, that had prohibition tendencies of the principal owners of town property. This tendency resulted in a clause prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquor on any property owned by them. The result was their goal-a small proportion of saloons to other types of businesses. The town also had a library, a rarity in any mining town during the 1870s, 80s and 90s. Prior to its boom years during the 1870s, Poncha Springs was already established as a health resort with nearly a hundred mineral springs with temperatures varying from 90 to 185 degrees. The town flourished for only a few years, being almost totally destroyed by fire in 1882 and was never rebuilt. What remain as landmarks are the Jackson Hotel and a large brick schoolhouse.
Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

Poncha Springs Schoolhouse, late 1800's- July 2001
Todd Underwood

Poncha Springs town center - July 2001
Todd Underwood

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