Crystal, Colorado

The mill at Crystal

Crystal is a ghost town in a valley on the upper Crystal River in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States, on a four-wheel-drive road between Marble and Crested Butte. Many buildings still stand in Crystal, but its few residents live there only in the summer.

Crystal is surrounded by excellent fly fishing (trout), hunting (deer and elk), hiking, mountain biking and 4x4 terrain, and can be reached via tours from the town of Marble. The upper Crystal River Valley is nestled between two wilderness areas. The Raggeds Wilderness Area to the south and Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area to the north.

The Crystal Mill

Crystal is best known for one of the most photographed historic sites in Colorado, the Crystal Mill, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

Road Access To Crystal

Gunnison County Road 3 connects the towns of Marble and Crested Butte via Crystal and Schofield Pass. Much of the road is four-wheel drive only. The section of the road from Marble to Crystal includes narrow shelf roads and very rocky sections. The section of the road from Crystal to Schofield Pass traverses the Devils Punchbowls, considered among the most dangerous 4x4 stretch of road in the state (over a dozen deaths from vehicles going over the edge). Warning: MapQuest and GPS will designate CR 3 as the shortest route. The road section from Schofield Park to Crested Butte via the ghost town of Gothic is a relatively tame dirt and gravel road.

History

Crystal (sometimes called Crystal City) was incorporated on July 8, 1881, but mined as early as the 1860s. At its peak, Crystal had 400+ residents in Crystal and the surrounding mining claims, two newspapers (the Crystal River Current which was later called The Silver Lance), a pool hall, a men's club, a barber shop and two hotels. In 1915, only eight people lived there. Mining in the area included silver, lead, copper, iron, and zinc. Very little gold has been discovered.

Today, most of the town of Crystal is owned by the relatives of Emmet Gould. Mr. Gould bought lots, cabins, and several claims in and around Crystal during the 1940s. In 1948, the family of Welcome Joe Neal began vacationing in Crystal. The Neals now own three cabins, Robert Anderson (a descendant of George Tays who was one of Crystal's original settlers)owns one house, and Richard Beamon owns one cabin. These owners live in Crystal during the summer months only. There is a small general store, public outhouse and books sold by the local author. Some of the cabins are available for short term rental.

External links

• Books on the history of Crystal
• Crystal River Jeep Tours
• Marble Crystal River Chamber

Coordinates: 39°03′33″N 107°06′04″W / 39.05917°N 107.10111°W / 39.05917; -107.10111