LAST CHANCE

NAME: Last Chance
COUNTY: Washington
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 1
CLIMATE: Hot summers, cold winters
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer, fall, spring 		COMMENTS: I have extensive and vivid memories of this town going back to the 1940s and 1950s before the interstate highway system. In those days, it was a major stop on the road east out of Denver. It was the last stop ("Last Chance") at which a traveler could make a pitstop, get gas, food, lodging, souvenirs, etc. It was a lively town in those days with motels and cafes all clustered together under bright neon lights. The road itself had pullover stops that were nothing but lumps of asphalt with picnic tables - no rest rooms or drinking fountains or anything. Last Chance - or what's left of it - is at the junction of routes 36 and 71 in northeastern Colorado.
REMAINS: Not a lot remains. There's an old motel, what appears to have been a gas station, and a few abandoned homes. The cafes are gone but a couple of signs remain.
Last Chance was a town that grew up with the automobile and died when the interstate took the traffic south to I-70. It was a busy center for travelers in the 1940s and 1950s, and probably earlier than that (before I was born). Today there are several abandoned buildings, mostly houses and a motel. along with an active country church and a recently closed Dairy King. Submitted by: D. Squat


The old Last Chance Motel, corner of highways 34 (east-west) and 71 (north-south)
Courtesy D. Squat


Closeup of Last Chance Motel name sign
Courtesy D.Squat


Tumbleweed crosses highway 34 at Last Chance, Colorado. The old Last Chance Motel can be seen in the background (right)
Courtesy D.Squat


A sign is all that remains of the old Last Chance Cafe. It's near the southwest corner of route 34 and 71.
Courtesy D.Squat


Another cafe sign in Last Chance, the cafe long itself disappeared
Courtesy D.Squat


Interior of an old house southeastern of routes 34 & 71
Courtesy D.Squat


An old house still standing in Last Chance, Colorado, with well spout in front
Courtesy D.Squat


Old house at Last Chance, Colorado
Courtesy D. Squat


This building sits on the southeast corner of highway 34 and 71. It looks like it probably was a gas station and cafe at one time. By the way, all photos were taken on the 2nd of November, 2008
Courtesy D.Squat


An deserted, wind-blown shack on the west side of route 71,. old town of Last Chance
Courtesy D. Squat


Box cars and furniture. The railroad tracks are no longer here.
Courtesy D. Squat


A vacant cabin in Last Chance, northeast corner
Courtesy D. Squat


The Dairy King in Last Chance, Colorado - the last piece of the old town to close
Courtesy D. Squat


Looking east along Highway 34
Courtesy D. Squat

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