Saint Elmo - Colorado Ghost Town

SAINT ELMO

NAME: Saint Elmo
COUNTY: Chaffee
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 5
CLIMATE: Cold winter with snow, mild summer
BEST TIME TO VISIT: June through September.

COMMENTS: Just west of Buena Vista, There are 8 year-round residents. Highway 24 to County Road 162 and follow for 19 miles to St. Elmo. Great 4 wheel drive trails. Rock hounding for quartz and aquamarine. Camping and upper-mountain fishing. Chipmunks out number the people. Hummingbirds galore!
.REMAINS: 24 original buildings. : Merchantile, saloon, county courthouse/jail, many private homes. All are labeled and show dates built.

If you want to see a ghost town that looks like its in miniature but isn't or looks like an antique doll house but isn't, go to Saint Elmo. Built in 1878 in a heavily forested area, the town was first called Forrest City. As soon as the number of houses, hotels and stores warranted, the town was incorporated with a new name, Saint Elmo. At first, the town was of high moral character. When the population passed the 2000 number, it took on all the trappings of a single male population with saloons, dance hall, bawdy houses and the like. Saint Elmo is somewhat unique among smaller ghost towns. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth. St. Elmo was originated in 1879. Once called Forest City, the name changed because it was objected to by the post office department due to the fact that California all ready had a Forest City. The name derived from either a southern city with the name or named after a popular novel at the time called "St. Elmo". In this novel, the main character's name was St. Elmo Murray. St. Elmo had reached a population over 2000 people at its peak. St. Elmo is unique because the buildings are preserved not restored. St. Elmo has been labeled Colorado's Best Preserved Ghost Town. But we call it "God's Country". Submitted by Nora Connell All building in St. Elmo are privately owned, and well preserved. There are some modern vactain homes in the surrounding area, as well. There is a general store that operates May-October. There is an area called Chipmunk Crossing that consists of a ladder of old railroad ties where visitors can feed the very friendly resident chipmunks. Bags of sunflower seeds to feed these adorable creatures sell for 50 cents at the general store. this is a great first ghost town. Submitted by: Heather Garey. Saint Elmo Courtesy Dolores Steele Saint Elmo Town Hall Courtesy Dolores Steele Saint Elmo Courtesy Dolores Steele School Courtesy Dolores Steele Iron City Cemetery Courtesy Dolores Steele Late September colors Courtesy Tom Cravens St. Elmo - July,1999 Todd Underwood St. Elmo - July,1999 Todd Underwood St. Elmo chipmunk July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo Bear Necessaties BNB the old mercantile and saloon July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo Bear Necessaties BNB the old mercantile and saloon July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo Bear Necessaties BNB the old mercantile and saloon 2 story outhouse July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo Bear Necessaties BNB the old mercantile and saloon 2 story outhouse July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo Bear Necessaties BNB the old mercantile and saloon 2 story outhouse - hate to be on the receiving end of this! July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo Bear Necessaties BNB the old mercantile and saloon 2 story outhouse July 2001 Todd Underwood Saint Elmo - The Guardian - look for the eye Courtesy Chip Bechtel	St Elmo - Bathtub July 2001 Todd Underwood Up by Romley, late 1800s July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo - late 1800s July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo train road, late 1800s July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo, late 1800s July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo train road, late 1800s July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo late 1800s July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo deer July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo deer July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo deer July 2001 Todd Underwood St. Elmo Chipmunk July 2001 Todd Underwood Saint Elmo Courtesy Tom McCurnin Saint Elmo Courtesy Tom McCurnin Saint Elmo Courtesy Tom McCurnin Chipmunk Crossing Courtesy Dolores Steele Miners Exchange Courtesy Dolores Steele Saint Elmo Courtesy Dolores Steele Saint Elmo Courtesy Dolores Steele Only access is by snowmobile Courtesy Tom Cravens Only access is by snowmobile Courtesy Tom Cravens Saint Elmo Courtesy Tom Cravens St. Elmo - July,1999 Todd Underwood St. Elmo - July,1999 Todd Underwood

If you want to see a ghost town that looks like its in miniature but isn't or looks like an antique doll house but isn't, go to Saint Elmo. Built in 1878 in a heavily forested area, the town was first called Forrest City. As soon as the number of houses, hotels and stores warranted, the town was incorporated with a new name, Saint Elmo. At first, the town was of high moral character. When the population passed the 2000 number, it took on all the trappings of a single male population with saloons, dance hall, bawdy houses and the like. Saint Elmo is somewhat unique among smaller ghost towns. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

St. Elmo was originated in 1879. Once called Forest City, the name changed because it was objected to by the post office department due to the fact that California all ready had a Forest City. The name derived from either a southern city with the name or named after a popular novel at the time called "St. Elmo". In this novel, the main character's name was St. Elmo Murray. St. Elmo had reached a population over 2000 people at its peak. St. Elmo is unique because the buildings are preserved not restored. St. Elmo has been labeled Colorado's Best Preserved Ghost Town. But we call it "God's Country". Submitted by Nora Connell

All building in St. Elmo are privately owned, and well preserved. There are some modern vactain homes in the surrounding area, as well. There is a general store that operates May-October.
There is an area called Chipmunk Crossing that consists of a ladder of old railroad ties where visitors can feed the very friendly resident chipmunks. Bags of sunflower seeds to feed these adorable creatures sell for 50 cents at the general store. this is a great first ghost town. Submitted by: Heather Garey.