Historic mining town with abundant recreation year-round
During the 1880s, in the high mountain valley, about 100 miles west of Denver, Leadville's mineral-rich landscape established it as a gold and silver mining town. A main street was built with residential streets surrounding it, and today this area is a preserved 70-block historic district. “Leadville is a unique mix of history and nature, with both easily accessible out your back door. With ample public lands, eight museums and a good-natured small community feel, you quickly feel at home,” says Katie Hild, the Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes Tourism manager. “The high elevation environment provides lots of winter recreation opportunities along with cooler summer temps and lake access.”
Masonry buildings housing shops and restaurants
Downtown Leadville’s masonry buildings house locally owned gift shops, bars and restaurants. Melanzana’s factory store is located downtown and has a complete outdoor clothing line, which is shoppable by appointment only. Overstock and accessories are available on a walk-in basis. Local restaurants include Golden Burro Cafe and Lounge, a retro 1950s diner with Western influence, and Quincy’s Steak & Spirits. U.S. Highway 24 has a Safeway, Ace Hardware and Tenderfoot Market with locally sourced grocery store items.
Century-old homes in the historic district and homes built after 1950
Leadville’s Historic District includes Victorian and Traditional homes built from the 1880s through the early 20th century. “Some of the old Victorian homes have been refurbished, brought back to the Victorian era with bright colors and scallops on the outside,” says Anne Marie Ohly, an owner and broker at Omni Real Estate with 38 years of experience. Many historic homes are priced from about $300,000 to $640,000, and in cases of larger homes with attached rental properties, they can reach $1.2 million. Ranch-style homes, with prices roughly between $330,000 and $780,000, and contemporary homes, some with cabin influence, were erected after 1950. Some contemporaries are built in the woods on multi-acre lots, so prices may range from about $510,000 to nearly $1.3 million, depending on property size.
Year-round outdoor recreation from trails to Turquoise Lake
Ice Palace Park is in the town’s center and includes a playground and access to the Mineral Belt Trail, a nearly 12-mile bike-friendly path. “Outdoor recreation is Leadville's number one pastime. Miles and miles of trails for all ability levels are available year-round, groomed in the winter for Nordic Skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking and snowmobiling,” Hild says. “Enjoyment of winter is a must, as we are often the first to receive snow and last place for it to melt, but with low humidity and over 300 days of sunshine, it is a warm and enjoyable winter.” Ski Cooper has 64 runs, with terrain for varying skill levels. Turquoise Lake is about 5 miles west with a boat launch and a 15-mile trail looping around the water.
Although downtown’s main street, Harrison Avenue, is not usually a site of recreational activity, it becomes one during the first weekend in March for Leadville Ski Joring.”It is a fast-paced event that consists of a skier pulled by a horse and rider flying down a snow-packed main street, maneuvering through saloms, jumps and collecting rings to achieve the fastest time,” Hild says.
Downtown museums and the Tabor Opera House
Leadville Heritage Museum has artifacts and replicas dating to the 19th century. The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum features miners’ stories, a model railroad of Colorado mining towns and walk-through mine simulations. These museums and others, such as the Tabor Home, are downtown. Tabor Opera House, which once hosted various celebrity performers and a circus, hosts youth theater programs and tours.
Lake County schools and Career and Technical Education classes
Leadville is in the Lake County School District, a choice enrollment district. Niche gives Lake County Elementary, a kindergarten through second-grade school, a B grade. Lake County Intermediate School educates grades three through six and earns a C. Lake County High School also receives a C. It offers Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses, including woodworking and flyfishing.
Car-dependent community with access to Eagle County Regional Airport
U.S. Highway 24 runs through Central Leadville and connects it to Twin Lakes, a town with another lake, about 22 miles away. Eagle County Regional Airport is about 65 miles away and has commercial flights to the Denver and Dallas Fort Worth international airports.
