|
Bonanza, Colorado
A Once-Thriving Colorado Mining Town In Saguache County (Population 6) - December 15, 2006
 |
I was free today and made my second visit to Bonanza, a "ghost town" with six year-round residents that was once a thriving mining town in the northern San Luis Valley. |
 |
TOP: Kerber Creek, which was almost completely iced over,
runs through the mountain valley of Bonanza.
MIDDLE: A view of the main artery, a dirt road, that runs through town.
BOTTOM: Facing north at the main junction of Main Street and First Street.
Here are my other ghost town pages:
St. Elmo
Independence
Victor
Vicksburg & Winfield
Hancock
Granite
Tincup
|
 |
Many of the original buildings from Bonanza's busier days in the late 1800's
were destroyed in a fire, but there are a small number of old buildings still standing. Here are a
few structures with basic architecture from Bonanza's historic days.
Here are my pages from the northern San Luis Valley region:
Villa Grove
Saguache County
Town of Saguache
Poncha Pass
Great Sand Dunes National Park
North Cochetopa Pass
Bike: Villa Grove To South Fork
Sangre De Cristo Mountains
Bonanza (Visit In 2003)
|
 |
A sign with some of Bonanza's history. |
 |
The Villa Grove Bonanza Fire Department building (top). Since Villa Grove's population is 40 and Bonanza has six year-round inhabitants, it is remarkable to see any kind of fire department out here!
As seen in the bottom photo, there are a small handful of modern homes in town. |
Mountain Scenery Outside Of Bonanza In The Northern San Luis Valley
I waved in this photo because I would like to dedicate this pictorial to
"Jumpin Julie" on the forums. She and her family
live in Houston,
Texas and long to live in a beautiful mountain region like Bonanza.
Julie, my heart goes out to you and I'm so sorry you live there! :( |
Bonanza is situated in a valley with limited mountain views,
but the county road from Villa Grove to Bonanza offers spectactular scenery. That's Antora Peak (alt. 13,268 feet)
in the background out there. |
 |
I really liked this view! That's the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. |
 |
Here is the view facing north just outside of Villa Grove. Mt. Shavano and the lower Sawatch range are the mountains way out there. |
 |
The view of the Sawatch mountains in
Chaffee County, facing north at Poncha Pass. |
 |
The northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains as I was heading east back to Villa Grove. |
You are welcome to comment about Bonanza, Villa Grove, the northern San Luis Valley or any other Colorado topic on my:
|
|
