It’s the creepiest time of the year and it is time to begin making plans as to what to see and do this October! If staged haunted houses and their elaborate costumes and overdone gore aren’t your cup of tea, or if you prefer something a bit more — let’s say, classic — you are going to want to visit this one creepy and historic Colorado town… if you dare.

Located southwest of Buena Vista in Chaffee County lies the small ghost town of St. Elmo; a historic mining town that at one time housed a population of 2,000.

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During its heyday, St. Elmo was a bustling area and boasted not only 150 different mines (one of which recovered $60,000,000 worth of gold during its operation), but also schools, saloons, and stores.

History Colorado/99.270.2497

Sadly, like most of Colorado’s mining towns, once the gold dried up, people began to leave, leading to both the abandonment of the railroad (1925) and closure of the post office (1952).

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Despite St. Elmo being deemed a ghost town, most of the original buildings are still in tact and well preserved, including the old Texaco gas station…

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…Miner’s Exchange General Store (which re-opens every summer for visiting tourists)…

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…post office, one-room schoolhouse, and several homes.

Flickr/Michele ONeill

Like most ghost towns, St. Elmo comes with its fair share of legends and alleged haunts, so make sure to keep your eyes and ears peeled for former residents like the infamous Annabelle; a native to St. Elmo who was known to be eccentric and was at one time committed for carrying a rifle around the old town.

Flickr/Jeff Amann

As per Legends of America, “To get to Saint Elmo, from Buena Vista, take US 285 south to Nathrop, and then County Road 162 west for approximately 16 miles to Saint Elmo.”

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History Colorado/99.270.2497

History Colorado/99.270.2661

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Flickr/Michele ONeill

Flickr/Jeff Amann

For even more amazing Colorado ghost towns, take This Haunting Road Trip Through Colorado Ghost Towns Is One You Won’t Forget!

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