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Located on on SR-145, midway between Durango and Montrose, you will find the twin town mountain ski towns of Telluride and Mountain Village. Set in the heart of the San Juan Mountains at elevations of 8,750 and 9,545 feet respectively, they are the base for a major mountain ski resort operations. The two alpine towns are connected by a free modern Gondola.

At this altitude, the air has only 40% of the oxygen pressure as found at sea level. ('Low Landers" should take it easy at first.)

Telluride was founded in 1875 by miners that traced gold and silver veins on the east slope of the Uncompahgre Range over to the west slope. The name of base camp Columbia was changed to Telluride to reflect the discovery of tellurium, the non-metallic matrix which held the precious metals. Over 350 miles of multi-level tunnels honeycomb the local mountains.

Following the crash of silver and gold prices, the town economy collapsed and the population dropped and Telluride was only a little bit more than a ghost town. The town was resurrected in the 1970's when the areas first ski resort started operations, drastically reshaping the local economy.

Many artistic and cultural events come here every year, making Telluride the Festival Capital of the country.

Visitors can explore today many reminders of the region's wild west heritage and mining bonanza. The downtown area was designated a historical landmark district.

Mountain Village is a luxury resort community located adjacent to Telluride, but at an elevation of 9,500 feet. This town was founded only as recently as 1987.

The Gondola - (790) 728-8888
Free Transportation - Ride on one of the world's most scenic commuter lines. The Gondola makes a 13 minute trip from Telluride to Mountain Village daily year-round. Call for current operating hours.

San Miguel County Courthouse
Downtown Telluride Historical District
This building burned shortly after its construction in 1885 with the bricks being salvaged to build the present facility.

New Sheridan Hotel & Opera House
Downtown Telluride Historical District
Famous landmark built in 1895 marked the peak of the economic boom for Telluride. The opera house, hotel and restaurant still entertain guests today.

• Opera House - Added in 1914 with giant roll curtain
• Continental Room - Fine dining with 16 velvet curtained booths equipped with phones so that diners can call for service instead of being interrupted by waiters.
• Sheridan Bar - Cherrywood bar imported from Austria

St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Downtown Telluride Historical District

Roma Bar
Downtown Telluride Historical District
One of the wildest and raucous saloons in town, it still has its highly valuable 12-foot French mirrors hanging over the back bar.

Old Waggoner House
Downtown Telluride Historical District
Home to Charles Waggoner, president of the Bank of Telluride during the Crash of 1929.

Town Hall
Downtown Telluride Historical District
Oone-room building was orginally built in 1883 as the first schoolhouse of Telluride. Later became town hall.

Telluride Historical Museum
Downtown Telluride Historical District
Large collection of many artifacts and photographs from Telluride's past. Located in the former town hospital built by Dr. Hall in 1895.

Davis House
Downtown Telluride Historical District
Build in 1894 by a wealthy mine owner - E.L. Davis.

Rio Grande Southern Railway Depot
Downtown Telluride Historical District
Built in 1891 when the railroad reached Telluride. Boardinghouses and warehouses quickly surrounded the area. Today the depot serves as a restaurant.

Finn Town
Downtown Telluride Historical District
Former center of social life with town halls and restaurants.

Popcorn Alley
Downtown Telluride Historical District
On Pacific Street between Pine and Spruce you will find several historical landmarks of one of the livelier parts of Telluride:

• The Senate - busy female boarding house
• The Silver Bell - built in 1890 but suffered a devastating fire in 1923
• The Cribs - Set of three simple Victorian Houses.

The Pekkarine Building
Downtown Telluride Historical District
One of Main Street's oldest buildings was the home to a Finnish immigrant who started a mercantile establishment from humble beginnings.

Lone Tree Cemetary
Scenic area located east of Telluride.

Telluride Elementary School
Downtown Telluride Historical District
At the time it was built (1895) this school was highly regarded as the best of its kind.

Galloping Goose
Downtown Telluride Historical District
Collection of artifacts that made up the Rio Grande Southern Railway.

Miner's Union
Downtown Telluride Historical District
Built in 1901 as a hospital by the miner's union, it was closed down in less than two years due to labor strikes.

Butch Cassidy Robbery Site
Downtown Telluride Historical District
The San Miguel Valley Bank was located at the corner of Pine and Main Street. In 1889, Butch Cassidy and his gang made an unauthorized withdrawal of $30,000. The bank burned down and was replaced by the Mahr Building.

Old Town Jail
Downtown Telluride Historical District
Stone jail built in 1885 and former home to the Wilkinson Public Library.

Other Telluride services:

Telluride Restaurant Guide - Reviews, menus, specials and pricelist.
Telluride Hotel Directory - Room search and reservation service.
Special Vacation Packages for Telluride - Great deals to the best vacation opportunities.
Telluride Transit - (800) 800-6228;
Local Road Conditions - (970) 249-9363;
Mountain Village Golf

Telluride Ski & Golf Company - (970) 728-6900;
565 Mountain Village Blvd, PO Box 11155, Telluride, CO 81435; Ski Season: mid-November to mid-April / 8:45AM-4PM Daily;
Lift Passes: Adult Daily $40 / Child Daily (6-12) $22 / Special discounts and multi-day passes available;
Ski / Snowboarding School: (800) 801-4832;

This ski resort is based in the scenic mountain town of Telluride which is described in detail above.

Telluride Mountain is one of the best ski areas in the Rocky Mountains. The following Winter Sports opportunities are also available:
Snowbiking - This contraption resembles a bike on skies. For more info - 728-7545.
Snowshoe Tours - Easy exercise three-hour guided tour leaves from Mountain Village Plaza every Wednesday and Saturday at 8:45AM. For more info - 728-7414.
Surge Air Garden Terrain Park - The largest snowboard playground in the SouthWest - 8 acres and 23 hits of berms, banks, tabletops and pyramids. New in 1999/2000 is the "Rail Garden" with California style sliding rails. For more info - 728-7414.
Guided Mountain Tours - Free daily tours departs from Lift 7 at 10AM. For intermediate and expert skiers only - adventure around the mountain a see a little of the region's early mining history. For more info - 728-7545.
Sunday Services on the Slopes Alpine Resort Ministries sponsors two short on-slope skiers church services very Sunday during ski season. Meet at top of Lift 7 at noon or at top of Lift 10 at 1PM.
Nordic Trails - Five major groomed trails for nordic skiers - For more info or Nordic ski lessons - 728-1144:

• Telluride Valley Floor Loop
• Town Park -
• Prospect Basin & Magic Meadow - Top of Lift 10
• Telluride Golf Course
• Priest Lake - eight miles south of Telluride on SR-145 at USFS Ranger Station

Hot-Air Balloon Rides
• San Juan Balloon Adventures - 625-5495

Ice Climbing
• Fantasy Ridge Alpinism - 728-3546
• Rider/Walker Alpine Adventures - 728-6481
• Telluride Outside - 800-831-6230

Glider Rides
• Telluride Soaring - 728-5424

Heli-Skiing
• Telluride Outside - 800-831-6230

Horseback Riding
• Telluride Horseback Adventures - 728-9611
• Many Ponies - 728-6278

Ice-Skating
• Mountain Village - 728-8000
• Town Park - 728-2173

Sled-Dog Tours
• Telluride Outside - 800-831-6230
• Winter Moon Adventures - 729-0058

Sleigh Rides
• Deep Creek Sleigh - 728-3565
• Skyline Guest Ranch - 728-3757
• Telluride Outside - 800-831-6230

Snowmobiling
• Dave's Snowmobile Tours - 728-7737
• Deep Creek Snowmobile - 728-3565
• Telluride Outside -800-831-6230

The town of Ouray (pronounced you-RAY) is named for a prominent Ute Indian chief. They frequented the area to visit the local natural hot springs. These have been rerouted today to feed the municipal pool below. The town was originated with the first silver strike in 1875 and saw several profitable silver and golf mines over the years. Today its economy is fueled by tourism.

Ouray Hot Springs Pool
Open: Daily Noon-9PM; (970) 325-4638;
Million gallon pool is fed by the local natural hot springs.

Ouray Ice Park
One of the only parks in the work especially dedicated to Ice Climbing.

Cascade Falls Park
Nature trails and a 300-foot waterfall.

Million Dollar Highway
US-550 between Ouray and Silverton includes a six-mile Scenic Trail that is one of the most spectacular automobile routes in the country. This road cuts back and forth into the hillside, over waterfalls and under steep cliffs. Scenic overlooks allow you to enjoy the many grand vistas.

Ouray County Museum
420 6th Ave., Ouray, CO, 81427; (970) 325-4576;
Located in the former hospital, this musuem has many historical artifacts and several pioneer replicas.

Bachelor-Syracuse Mine
Mine train takes visitors through a 3,350-foot shaft drilled horizontally into Gold Hill. Over the last century over $90 million of silver and $8 million of gold war excabated here. Mine temperature is a constant 52 degrees Fahrenheit - dress appropriately. Take US-550 1 mile north from Ouray to County Road 14 and then about 1.2 miles east.

Other Ouray services:

Ouray Restaurant Guide - Reviews, menus, specials and pricelist.
Ouray Hotel Directory - Room search and reservation service.
Special Vacation Packages for Ouray - Great deals to the best vacation opportunities.
Switzerland of America Tours - (800) 432-5337;
San Juan Mountain Guides - (970) 325-4925;
Red Hot Ryders - Snowmobile touring - (970) 325-0350;
San Juan Scenic Jeep Tours - (970) 325-4444;
Colorado West Jeep Tours - (970) 325-4014;

Silverton quickly grew into prosperity after the first silver strike in 1871. Between 1882 (the arrival of the Rio Grande Railroad) and 1918 over $65 million of silver ore was extracted from area mines.

The false-fronted buildings of Blair Street is a recreation of the town old Wild West heritage. Today it is a popular tourism and movie location with old west gunfights occasionally.

This town is also the northern terminus to the popular Silverton & Durango Narrow Guage Railroad.

Animas Forks
Ghost town located 13 miles north of Silverton on SR-110.

Eureka
Ghost town near Silverton on SR-110.

Mayflower Gold Mill Tour
This gold mine was active up until 1991. Tour of the mine and nearby Sunnyside Mill are presented. Located on SR-110 2 miles east of Silverton. (970) 387-0294.

Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour
Electric mine train takes visitors on a narrated 1-hour tour into the heart of 13,700 foot Galena Mountain. Average mine temperature is 49 degrees Fahrenheit - dress appropriately. (800) 872-3009.

San Juan County Museum
Located in the old county jail adjacent to courthouse. Exhibits include early mining and railroading artifacts. (970) 387-5838.

Other Silverton services:

Silverton Restaurant Guide - Reviews, menus, specials and pricelist.
Silverton Hotel Directory - Room search and reservation service.
Special Vacation Packages for Silverton - Great deals to the best vacation opportunities.
San Juan Backcountry - Jeep Tours (970) 387-5565;
Silver Summit Jeep Rentals - Jeep Tours (800) 352-1637;

Purgatory Ski Resort
5 Skier Place, Durango, CO 81301; (800) 525-0892;
Ski Season: Daily 9AM-4PM Late Nov to Early April (weather permitting);
Located on US-550 about 22 miles north of Durango.
Wintersports - skiing and snowmobiling.

Other Purgatory services:

Purgatory Restaurant Guide - Reviews, menus, specials and pricelist.
Purgatory Hotel Directory - Room search and reservation service.
Special Vacation Packages for Purgatory - Great deals to the best vacation opportunities.

The Ice House
310 SOUTH FIR POB 2909 - Telluride, CO, US 81435
Luxury mountainside lodge and condominiums with a distinct southwest atmosphere. Includes room service from La Marmotte - one of the finest restaurants in Telluride.

Inn at Lost Creek
119 LOST CREEK LANE - Telluride, CO, US 81435
Impressive location in the heart of Mountain Village just steps from the Gondola. Distinctive luxury boutique resort crafted of native stone, weathered timber and copper accents. 32 beautiful suites with fully furnished with marble baths, deluxe kitchenettes and other modern amenities. Two new gourmet restaurants were added in 1999: 9545 and 10 Below.

The Peaks Resort & Spa
136 Country Club Drive - Telluride, CO, US 81435
Home to Golden Door Spa - famous Euro-American health spa facility with 44 treatment, exercise and sauna rooms and special health programs. This resort has a great overlook of the Telluride mountain area. 172-luxury hotel suites, conference facilities, and retail shops onsite. During winter months this is a "ski-in/ski-out" location and for golf during the summer.

Telluride Mountainside Inn
333 SOUTH DAVIS - Telluride, CO, US 81435
Located on quiet spot of the San Miguel River at the base of Lift 7. During winter months this is a "ski-in/ski-out" location and you can get a free lift pass voucher as part of your roomnite package. Just a couple of blocks from historic Telluride - events, shops, restaurants.

The Wyndham Lodge at the Peaks
457 Mountain Village Boulevard - Telluride, CO, US 81435
This collection of secluded hand-crafted log cottages and condominiums constitute the newest resort property at Telluride. Located on six acres adjacent to running streams, ski runs and great mountain views. Tennis courts, golf and Telluride village are located nearby. Free access to Golden Door Spa facilities. During winter months this is a "ski-in/ski-out" location.

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