| |
 |
 |
 |
ACCESS is via Ute Trail, once the
path of Indian hunting parties but now the year round route
of County Road 184 approximately 12 miles northeast of
Salida, Colorado.
HISTORY: This is just a brief overview. Two local authors
have produced history books that are recommended for the true
history buff. Echoes From Cat Gulch by Donald L. Smith
is dedicated to the financial support of the Salida Museum.
The 1995/1996 edition of Trails Among the Columbine is
the definitive history of the Turret area by Dick Dixon.
|
The abundant wildlife in the Turret area has attracted
hunters since before the Utes and today, deer, elk, bear, mountain
lions and turkeys continue to elude modern hunters. The first
settlers near Turret were farther down Cat Gulch where they
cut wood to turn into charcoal in Nathrop.
After the woodcutters came the miners. Precious minerals and
metals of all kinds were discovered but it was the Calumet Iron
Quarry a couple of miles south that brought the D&RG Railroad
up Railroad Gulch in 1881. This branch of the D&RG was really
too steep to be very practical so when a flood in 1901 destroyed
much of the line, it was never replaced.
|
 |
| |
| The loss of the railroad was most unfortunate
for the many mines that were now operating in the Turret Mining
District. Although gold, silver and copper were found in abundance,
it was mostly low grade ore that was too expensive to ship out
without a railroad. |
| |
|
|
 |
By 1898 there were enough miners, families and
merchants living in the area that Pete Schlosser and others
filed a plat with the courthouse for the Turret Townsite.
Although the big bonanza strike was expected with each turn
of the shovel, it never fully materialized in the Turret Mountain
Mining District. However, Turret was a pleasant community, in
a beautiful location and continued to grow. Nestled among the
castle-like rock formations at an elevation of only 8,600 feet,
it wasn't just gold fever that drew settlers to Turret.
|
| |
|
|
In 1902 the Turret Townsite Company decided
it was time for further expansion so again Pete Schlosser and
friends filed an adjoining plat at the courthouse for Turret
A. These 5 patented mining claims totaled over 38 acres
and between the two town sites were platted into over 600 lots.
May 1, 1939 was a sad day for those who had spent a lifetime
loving Turret when Pete Schlosser died at age 74. Pete had been
the Turret Postmaster and the U.S. Postal Service decided to
discontinue mail service to Turret and declare it an official
ghost town on Pete's birthday, November 12,1939. |
| |
|
|
Stories have been told about how some
families moved into Turret during the depression. These "squatters"
lived in the abandoned houses, planted gardens along the creek,
poached deer in the surrounding hills and "smelted"
out a little gold with blow torches. This gold could be sold
to the government for cold hard cash at $32 per ounce. Turret
was their salvation until the war started and city jobs with
a paycheck became available.
|
 |
| |
| |
|
|
During the late 1950s ownership of the town was
reassembled, mostly through tax sales. For the past 32 years,
Turret has been under the stewardship of the Lee Christiansen
family out of Iowa.
Now 100 years after the original plat was filed, there is again
the opportunity to purchase lots in Turret from the Turret Townsite
Company, LLC. |
| |
|
|
 |
The Turret Townsite Company, LLC
is owned by two Colorado natives living in Salida. They want
to share this opportunity to be a part of local history and
own a cabin site in Turret; however, they also want to preserve
the authenticity of the 100 year old ghost town. Therefore,
all new property owners in Turret will become voting members
of the Turret Homeowners' Association, Inc. which will
own and manage the existing community well and enforce the protective
covenants.
|
| |
Covenants: The intent of the covenants is to allow maximum
use and enjoyment of the property while maintaining and enhancing
the look and "feel" of the community as an original,
authentic, western ghost town. Campers, trailers and equipment
must be kept inside a storage building when not in use and all
structures must utilize the type of materials, colors and styles
that were in use in this area prior to 1920. |
| |
|
|
| Every attempt has been made to keep each parcel as small
and affordable as possible but large enough to be legally
and physically buildable under current governmental requirements.
Each owner is entitled to an in-house well permit but
the ability to drill a well and obtain water is unknown.
The use of a cistern and the community well is recommended.
The community well, drilled in the winter of 1999, is
135 feet deep and produces over 15 gallons of water per
minute. Each parcel or group of lots sold has enough area
to meet the individual septic system size and set back
requirements for at least a 2 bedroom, 1 bath cabin with
no dishwasher or washing machine. However, the design,
practicality and installation requirements are unknown.
You should at least consult with the Chaffee County Sanitarian
about your specific intentions before purchasing. In order
to coordinate with adjoining property owners, the location
of wells and septic systems must be approved by the Homeowners'
Association. |
 |
Turret, Colorado today offers a most unique opportunity
to step back in time and become a part of true western
history right in the heart of the beautiful Colorado Rocky
Mountains. Geographically, Turret is still part of the
famous Upper Arkansas River "banana belt", sheltered
from most winter storms by the enormous concentration
of 14,000 foot mountains to the west along the continental
divide. In addition to a view of these majestic snow capped
peaks it is an ideal location for active and passive solar
orientation. Although remote with no telephone or electricity
(cellular phones and alternative energy work fine!), Turret
is only 30 minutes from Salida via year around maintained
county roads. Salida offers full medical facilities, abundant
shopping, a large historical district and an active arts
community. Salida has become the center for whitewater
rafting, mountain biking, 4WD "jeeping", trout
fishing, camping, hiking, hunting, skiing at Monarch,
and climbing "14ers", but it is still only 2
hours from Colorado Springs with its major airport, Interstate
and "big city" economic and cultural advantages. |
|
| |
A very limited number
of parcels will be offered
For Sale in Turret so if this is the kind
of get-away you have been hoping to find,
you need to act as soon as possible. |
| |
|
|
| Turret Colorado - An original
authentic western ghost town! |
|
 |
| |
|
