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

BACK