Colorado is home to 1,500 ghost towns. Many of these small towns came and went with the Gold Rush, while others have an even more unique story. Today’s highlighted town is just that: a small, Colorado town that no longer exists, but has a story that is both unique and downright creepy. Ludlow, Colorado was once a thriving mining town. But now, let’s take a look at what is left of this Ludlow ghost town; one of many ghost towns in Colorado.

Located near Trinidad is all that remains of Ludlow - a once bustling ghost town that housed more than 1,200 families that worked in the nearby coal mines.
Flickr/Don Graham
While this Las Animas County ghost town is now both tranquil and beautiful among the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, it holds a dark secret you would never guess. It is the site of one of the worst massacres in state history.
Flickr/Don Graham
Beginning in 1910, the resident coal miners grew unhappy over their dangerous working conditions and began to debate a strike. By 1913, a strike had begun, much to the dismay of owner John B. Rockefeller.
Wikimedia Commons/public domain
When tensions did not diffuse on their own, the mining company called in the controversial Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency, known for breaking up strikes with such tactics as shooting at tents and threatening families with their steel-covered car that had a machine gun mounted to the top.
Wikimedia Commons/public domain

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The underhanded tactics only made the strikers angrier, which resulted in the agency calling in the Colorado National Guard. The Guard assisted in setting up machine guns along the outskirts of the campsite in an effort to end the strike... one way or another.
Wikimedia Commons
On the morning of April 20, 1914, gunfire erupted on the campsite and lasted the entire day, killing four miners, four women, and 11 children who were hiding in their tents during the rampage.
Wikimedia Commons/Bain News Service
Once the gunfire ended, the site was burned to the ground and looted by company militia and non-union coal miners, leaving behind almost nothing.
The following days resulted in the bloody Colorado Coalfield War, where miners attacked other Colorado camps and set fire to company buildings. The bloodbath lasted for 10 days and resulted in more than 50 deaths.
Wikimedia Commons
The fighting only ceased when President Woodrow Wilson sent in Federal troops to diffuse the situation. As a result, several members of the militia we arrested.
When you visit this quiet ghost town, be sure to visit the Ludlow Tent Colony Site. It was purchased by the United Mine Workers of America in 1916. The memorial on the site was erected in 1918 to remember those who died during the strike.
Wikimedia Commons

 

Wow – what a haunting ghost town in Colorado… are we right?! Are there any ghost towns near you? What do you think of Ludlow, a ghost town, or simply a nearly forgotten piece of history? Share your thoughts with a comment.

For more ghostly adventures, take this haunting road trip through a few Colorado ghost towns.

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More to Explore

Ghost Town in Colorado

Tori Jane | November 04, 2021

What are some abandoned towns in Colorado?  

Colorado is one of those states that might just have more ghost towns than living ones. For example, there’s Ashcroft, which is near Aspen. It was originally known as Castle Forks City, and then Chloride - in 1882, it was changed for good to Ashcroft. Some old homes still stand there. There’s also the old Sunnyside Mine, in Eureka, which wasn’t technically a town but still is an interesting abandoned place! Capitol City is another, more famous ghost town that once had a population of about 400. The post office and some buildings still remain. There’s also Climax, which used to be an unincorporated community in Lake County. For more of our favorites, take a look at this article. One thing is for sure: we sure love our weird, wacky, and wonderful abandoned places in Colorado.  

Where are some creepy haunted places in Colorado?  

Colorado is one of those states with plenty of ghosts and haunted spots to go around! As an old mining state, it most certainly has its creepy places which are said to be haunted. Some of the haunted places might surprise you! For example, did you know that Cheesman Park in Denver, a very popular place for families and date nights, is said to be haunted? It was built on an old miners’ cemetery called Mount Prospect Graveyard, and in 2010, the skeletal remains of three people were found buried in what is now the garden area during renovations. It’s said that strange noises and apparitions are common occurrences. Yikes! And, of course, you can’t think of haunted places in Colorado without thinking about the old Stanley Hotel, which is believed to be haunted by four different ghosts. It’s so creepy that it inspired Stephen King to write The Shining!   

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Ludlow, CO 81082, USA