If you have never been to Colorado it’s a pretty great state, but Lake City, Colorado is absolutely amazing for several reasons, including the 14,000 feet high mountains surrounding the small, but really quaint historic mining town. I spent most of 2013 there and had such a great time getting to know some of the 350+ locals who live there full time.
Lake City is a tourist town from June through September and can swell up to around 4500, or so, who are primarily from Texas, and have summer homes there. I designed quite a few of our plans while I was there, as reflected in some of our renderings and exterior elevations. Engineers Pass, Alpine Loop is a 6 – hour trek from Lake City, but brings you back or takes you over to Montrose, or Ouray I believe. Along the drive you experience visual beauty that words can not adequately describe. And there are other times it can be pretty frightful, if you are afraid of heights, or experience Vertigo as I do. I had no idea what I was getting into when a couple of friends and I headed out for a mountain drive. Along the journey we came across several old mining camps that have been long abandoned, so we got out and explored a few of the old homes, buildings. It was easy for me to visualize what the people who once lived there must have encountered while building them, and while living there. Not for the faint of heart, or lightweight city slickers.
This particular camp is now undergoing a full restoration and I will become a lodge with shops and restaurants.
I will look forward to seeing the finished product someday, who knows, I may build a Texas Tiny Home there someday.
It was quite an experience to take this drive, see this history, and recommend it for those who like adventure in the great outdoors. Just make sure you don’t have vertigo, and you’re in a 4- wheel drive vehicle designed for the extreme you will experience.