Twin Lakes, Colorado, is a historic area located about 15 miles south of Leadville, the county seat of Lake County. The Twin Lakes are a pair of glacier-carved alpine lakes that serve as a reservoir to store water for use in the Front Range. The lakes have a surface area of 2,700 acres and are a popular destination for boating and fishing.
The Founding of Twin Lakes
The area was originally named Dayton and was founded in the 1860s by prospectors during a bust in mining. However, the silver rush brought the area back to life, and Dayton was renamed Twin Lakes in 1885. The town became a popular summer resort with three hotels, several saloons, and many log cabins. It was also a transportation hub between Leadville and Aspen.
The Dams and Irrigation
Twin Lakes is located on Highway 82 at the base of Independence Pass, with La Plata Peak and Mt Elbert towering over the valley. The Twin Lakes were twice dammed and expanded for water storage and irrigation use. The area marks the site of Dayton, Lake’s first county seat, and one of the earliest placer mining camps in the central Rockies. The Cache Creek Ditch and Arlington Ditch were both dug to move water to use for hydraulic mining.
The Historic District
The historic district site is on the south side of Highway 82, with a bathroom and picnic area. A path winds between interpretive signs and several old log structures. In the summer, a visitor center provides additional information.
The resort was developed between 1883 and 1890 by wealthy Leadville miner James V. Dexter. The primary building, the Interlaken Hotel, is a two-story log structure the facade of which is faced with board and batten. The district is one of the best remaining examples of a mountain village of the late 1800s, with nearly all of the buildings being of log construction, having gabled roofs, and dating from the last two decades of the 19th century.
Native American History
The area is also significant in Native American history. The Nuche people, also known as the Utes, lived in the mountains of this region since time immemorial. They were nomadic, hunting big game in the Colorado’s mountains in the summer and traveling south to New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, southern Wyoming, western Kansas and Oklahoma, and the Texas panhandle in the winter. Bison once roamed near Leadville and Twin Lakes, and there was a bison trail from the Arkansas River to Twin Lakes and beyond until the 1920s.
Conclusion
Twin Lakes, Colorado, is a historic area with a rich mining heritage and a beautiful natural setting. It is a popular destination for outdoor activities and offers a glimpse into the state’s past. The area is also significant in Native American history and provides an opportunity to learn about the Nuche people and their connection to the land.
References:
– History of Twin Lakes
– History Colorado – Twin Lakes
– Native American History in Leadville and Twin Lakes
– Twin Lakes, Colorado – Ghost Town
– Twin Lakes, Lake County, Colorado – Wikipedia