It is no secret that Colorado is filled to the brim with amazing old ghost towns, thanks, in part, to the mines and railroads that helped form the state. That being said, we cannot help but take notice when one of our 1,500+ ghost towns gains national recognition, which is precisely what happened with the little-known Ironton:

Nestled away in beautiful Ouray County, Ironton is — like so many others — an old mining town that came and went with the surrounding gold. 
Wikimedia Commons
Settled in 1893, Ironton (or Copper Glen) was built from the ground up in a matter of weeks, as it was a vital staging area for supplies coming out of nearby Ouray, as well as housing mines of its own. 
Dave Morris/Flickr
At its peak, more than 1,000 residents called Ironton home, many of which worked in either the town's mines or railroad, as the town also welcomed at least two trains a day. 
Flickr/Nathan Abels

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Sadly, like most mining towns, the closure of nearby mines drove residents away, as work was no longer easy to come by, and the town could not sustain itself without them. 
Flickr/Nathan Abels
By the mid-1960s, the last resident of Ironton passed away, leaving the town — with its old shops, mines, and homes — officially deserted.
Flickr/Dave Morris
While the old town has seen better days, it can still be visited, as it is conveniently located along the beautiful Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton. 
Flickr/flamouroux
Psst... did you know that we happen to think that Everyone Should Drive The Million Dollar Highway In Colorado Before They Die? Can you see why?! 
As if you needed another reason to visit Ironton, it was also named No. 6 on Ranker's America's Coolest Ghost Towns, coming in behind the likes of Calico, California, the Tombstone Historic District, and Rhyolite, Nevada.
Flickr/Simon Foot

Have you had a chance to visit this incredible Colorado ghost town? We would love to hear all about it in the comments! To discover even more amazing towns, you will want to take This Haunting Road Trip Through Colorado Ghost Towns Is One You Won’t Forget.

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