Altona - Colorado Ghost Town

ALTONA

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

COMMENTS: Mainly ranchland.
REMAINS: Ranchland and a building.

Altona began as an ambitious project, a mountain metropolis to serve all the mining camps in the area. It was to be a supply and transportation center, perhaps surpassing Boulder and even Denver. It all started in the early 1860s but didn’t get very far although it did get a good start. When a railroad came to the area, it bypassed Altona and that put an end to Altona and its elaborate plans. In time, the postmaster was about the only person left in town. In 1918, after no mail had arrived at Altona for several months, he locked the door of the post office and never came back. Now, the site of Altona is ranchland and only one old frame building marks the spot of the ambitious town that didn’t come off. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

Altona began as an ambitious project, a mountain metropolis to serve all the mining camps in the area. It was to be a supply and transportation center, perhaps surpassing Boulder and even Denver. It all started in the early 1860s but didn’t get very far although it did get a good start. When a railroad came to the area, it bypassed Altona and that put an end to Altona and its elaborate plans. In time, the postmaster was about the only person left in town. In 1918, after no mail had arrived at Altona for several months, he locked the door of the post office and never came back. Now, the site of Altona is ranchland and only one old frame building marks the spot of the ambitious town that didn’t come off. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

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