Old Ghost Town near Aspen Colorado

Old Mine Town in Aspen Colorado

Ashcroft Colorado in Infrared. I was driving around looking for a great place to shoot when I can across this old mine town called Ashcroft and it made for some great images. I am selling these through FatTail Art Gallery. (www.fattailgallery.com) They are printed on a sliver metallic paper and framed with a straight black frame. Great choice...for any wall-

(click image to enlarge)
Shot details: f/4 ; 8 sec; ISO 1600;3744x5616 Pixels
Focal Length 20mm; EF 17-40 mm f/4 L USM
Camera Details: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

In the spring of 1880 two prospectors, Charles B. Culver and W.F. Coxhead left the mining boomtown of Leadville in search of silver deposits in the Castle Creek Valley. Silver they found and Coxhead promoted their discovery with zeal back in Leadville. When he returned to "Castle Forks City," as it had been dubbed, he found that 23 other prospectors had joined "Crazy Culver." Together the men formed a Miner's Protective Association, built a courthouse and laid out the streets in Ashcroft in just two weeks. Each of their association's members paid a $5, or one day's work, and $1, to draw for building lots. In all there were 97 members in the Ashcroft Miner's Protective Association.(click image to enlarge)
Shot details: f/4; 6 sec; ISO 1600;3744x5616 Pixels
Focal Length 17mm; EF 17-40 mm f/4 L USM
Camera Details: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

The town was renamed Ashcroft in 1882 after a rich ore strike was uncovered in Montezuma and Tam O'Shanter Mines. The mines were partially owned by H.A.W. Tabor of Leadville mining fame. Reportedly, Tabor and his second wife visited Ashcroft in 1883 and hosted a grand ball and banquet. Tabor also reportedly bought rounds of drinks for everyone in each of the town's 13 saloons.

(click image to enlarge)
Shot details: f/4; 8 sec; ISO 1600; 3744x5616 Pixels
Focal Length 17mm; EF 17-40 mm f/4 L USM
Camera Details: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

The same year that Tabor visited Ashcroft the town population had risen to around 2,000. Ashcroft was also home to two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter and 20 saloons. At this point in its history the town was larger than Aspen and closer to the railroad in Crested Butte.(click image to enlarge)
Shot details: f/4; 5 sec; ISO 1600; 3744x5616 Pixels
Focal Length 21 mm; EF 17-40 mm f/4 L USM
Camera Details: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

By 1885 the town was home to about 3,500 people, had six hotels and 20 saloons. As quickly as the town went boom it went bust (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashcroft,_Colorado)