Twin Lakes - Colorado Ghost Town

TWIN LAKES

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

COMMENTS: On Highway 82.
REMAINS: A few original remains.

Twin Lakes got its start in 1879. By 1883, it had six hotels, several lodges, and the lakes were surrounded by scores of homes and cottages. It was a resort area for the carbonate kings of Leadville. Everybody that was anybody in Leadville had a home here and most were of the lavish and palatial variety. Twin Lakes also served as a center of an extensive mining area. It was a busy stage and freighter station on the run from Leadville to Aspen via Independence Pass. The biggest hotel at the time was the Interlaken (German for between the lakes) and was situated, strangely enough, between the twin lakes. It had a large dance pavilion and many amusement facilities, including ice skating in the winter. Twin Lakes is now a sleepy little summer resort. There is a hotel, a few cabins, an old school and a combination store and service station. Viewing the lakes and passing through the little village on the west side of the lakes, one wouldn't think the site had a fabulous past. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

Twin Lakes got its start in 1879. By 1883, it had six hotels, several lodges, and the lakes were surrounded by scores of homes and cottages. It was a resort area for the carbonate kings of Leadville. Everybody that was anybody in Leadville had a home here and most were of the lavish and palatial variety. Twin Lakes also served as a center of an extensive mining area. It was a busy stage and freighter station on the run from Leadville to Aspen via Independence Pass. The biggest hotel at the time was the Interlaken (German for between the lakes) and was situated, strangely enough, between the twin lakes. It had a large dance pavilion and many amusement facilities, including ice skating in the winter. Twin Lakes is now a sleepy little summer resort. There is a hotel, a few cabins, an old school and a combination store and service station. Viewing the lakes and passing through the little village on the west side of the lakes, one wouldn't think the site had a fabulous past. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

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