Small mountain town filled with history and character
Nestled within the mountain ranges northwest of Boulder and above Left Hand Canyon, Gold Hill, Colo. is a small town with big character.
Accessible only by dirt roads, the town is just a little more than a half-hour drive from Boulder.
Home to a population of roughly 200 people with three main businesses, a museum and a small schoolhouse, Gold Hill embraces a small town culture in combination with an enriched history of mining.
Lynn Walter, a resident of Gold Hill and a curator for the Gold Hill Museum, said the town’s claim to fame derives from its history as being one of the first gold mining districts during the Colorado gold rush.
“Gold Hill was the first established mining district in the Nebraska Territory, finding the first discovery of gold in 1859,” Walter said.
Gold Hill is often mislabeled as being a ghost town, but Walter said the only time the town was completely abandoned was during the 1920s, after Gold Hill’s “second boom” with the discovery of tellurium had ended.
Walter said that the town, however, emerged from its deserted state when schoolgirls and business girls, historically titled as “the Bluebirds,” came from Chicago and utilized Gold Hill as a summer getaway.
The town’s peak population was 1,500 people, which was in the late 1800s, according to City-Data.com.
Today, the town may not be the flourishing mining community it once was, but Gold Hill is home to many who wish to preserve its historical roots.
Amy Fortuato, 40, ended up in Gold Hill after living in various mountain towns throughout the state. She said that what makes the town of Gold Hill appealing is both its history and location.
“I tend to be drawn toward tradition and history,” Fortuato said. “I like the idea of a small, mountain town, but it’s also nice living in proximity to a larger city like Boulder.”
Fortuato is currently employed at the Gold Hill Store, a store that has its roots deeply embedded within the town’s history.
“The store started out in the late 1800s as a store for people in the community to conveniently go to,” Fortuato said. “It was much of an endeavor to go out of the town during that time.”
For the past 10 years, the Gold Hill Store has served as a local café for the residents of Gold Hill. It also sells small food and snack items, handmade jewelry and postcards featuring the town and surrounding landmarks and cities.
The Gold Hill Store is one of the three main businesses in the town. The other two stores consist of a crafted pottery store called The Red Store, and The Gold Hill Inn, which is open May through December.
Fortuato said the Gold Hill Inn serves as an entertainment outlet for the small town, offering a great dining experience and live music.
Rachel Strom, a current freshman at Front Range Community College who plans to attend CU, started living in small towns six years ago. Strom said she is attracted to the traditional lifestyle a small town offers.
“It’s just cozy,” Strom said.
While many college students would find a small town a hindrance to their social life, 28-year-old Strom said that going out at night has never been an issue. She said that one of the benefits that can be found living in a town like Gold Hill is that the commute to Boulder is only a short drive away.
“Boulder is close enough (to Gold Hill) that the fact you live in a mountain town doesn’t stop you from going out,” Strom said.
While many residents are attracted to the semi-remote state of Gold Hill, Gold Hill is also suitable for families with younger children, seeing as the town provides them with a small elementary school.
Gold Hill Elementary, which accommodates grades kindergarten through fifth grade, consists of three rooms: a combination library/lunchroom, a classroom for grades kindergarten through second grade and a classroom for third through fifth grade.
Sue Kidder, the teacher for kindergarteners, first and second graders, said the best thing about teaching in a mountain community is the close connection she is able to create with her students.
“As a teacher, knowing a kid from kindergarten to fifth grade brings a whole new level of intimacy,” Kidder said.
Kidder also said another unique thing about the school is the geographical and economically diverse student population. Students in the school are not just residents of Gold Hill, but also come from surrounding towns such as Salina and Ward. A few students also commute from their homes in Boulder.
“We can get kids that come from multi-million dollar families to kids who live in a school bus,” Kidder said. “The school is very socio-economically diverse.”
For many residents of Gold Hill, the only downside to living in a mountain town is the harsh winter weather.
Haly Running-rabbit, who works as an aide in the school’s aftercare program, said winter is especially harsh for a mountain community.
“The winters, especially last winter, are very intense,” Running-rabbit said. “We often have to use the back hoe to get out of the driveway.”
Running-rabbit also said that another downside to living in the mountains is the excessive amount of driving required to get from one place to another.
“The gas that you use to get groceries isn’t very patriotic to Mother Earth,” Running-rabbit said.
The town of Gold Hill is a unique asset to Bolder County because of historical nature and mountain town character. Walter said many efforts are being made to keep Gold Hill at its current state.
“It’s remarkable that it has managed to stay as preserved as it is,” Walter said.
Walter said the community of Gold Hill embraces its isolation and small town stature.
“The people here work to preserve the community,” Walter said. “They’re not interested in being placed on the map.”
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Sara Fossum at sara.fossum@colorado.edu.
