GHOSTS OF LAKE COUNTY

and EASTERN PITKIN COUNTY

Sneak preview: Ruby, Pitkin County

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Silver was discovered in 1880 by prospectors from Independence, and a town was laid out. It was first called South Independence, but later Ruby, and the Lincoln Mining District was established. A mile-long row of cabins and stores led up to the entrance of the best mine.

The mines produced mostly silver, and some gold, lead, iron and molybdenum. Transportation problems were almost prohibitive to the area's development.

In 1900 the Ruby Mining and Development Company built a fifty-ton concentrating mill. The road was improved, and large quantities of ore were shipped to Aspen. With better transportation, things went well for a while. But, eventually the long haul, even over a decent road, was too much.

A better road was constructed just prior to World War I, but it was too late. Little mining has been done since then.

Since the camp was relatively late to develop and is fairly isolated, quite a bit remains. The Ruby Mine and Mill have collapsed, but numerous cabins still stand along the road and in the valley.

Read more – including John Nichol’s 30-year prospecting saga – in Ghosts of Lake County, one in a series of concise books on the ghost towns and mining camps of Colorado.

30 sites are included in Ghosts of Lake County:

Adelaide	Alicante	Birdseye
Brumley	Busk	Camp Harrington
Champion Mine and Mill	Clifton	Climax
Evansville	Everett	Evergreen Lakes
Finntown	Fryingpan River	Howland Towns
Ibex	Independence	Ivanhoe
Lake City	Leadville	Malta
Massive City	Oro City	Ruby
Soda Springs	St. Kevins	Stringtown
Stumptown	Tabor	Twin Lakes

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