Boom Days: Leadville, CO

August 5-7, 2011

First of all, camping in Leadville in August is still COLD!  The entire small town of Leadville sits at 10,200 feet above sea level, and nights while we were camping got down to 30 degrees.  We froze!  But, Boom Days in Leadville is a celebration not to be missed!

Boom Days is a festival to celebrate the old west.  There are gun fights in the street, burro races, mining competitions, and a parade.  It's not like any other festival I've ever been to.  For modern tourist types there are also a lot of local craft booths, excellent odd foods, and entertainment for the whole family!

Boom Days Gun Fighters

The weekend festivities kick off with the transporting of the beer tent (very important!).  Volunteers (my dad and step mom included) carry the tent down the parade route to its place in the center of the action, where later beer is served!

The Climax Mine Parade Float

Leadville got its name from the deposits of lead that carried high concentrates of silver.  By 1880 Leadville became one of the largest silver camps.  Even Doc Holiday visited Leadville during the silver boom.


After the lead and silver were gone the Climax mine began mining for molybdenum, used in fertilizer.  The town really stands behind their mining roots!

Parade Costumes

Random Parade Guy

My Brother, Anders, Racing his Stubborn Burro

This is what happens when we hit the beer tent after the parade...  Rich decides to wear his fish hat all afternoon.  He's so strange... :)

While in Leadville we drove Independence Pass.  This is a beautiful drive, but only open during summer months.

While driving Independence Pass you come to the old town of Independence, an old mining town discovered in 1879 and abandoned by 1890.  Now the only remains are old log cabins nestled in the foothills of beautiful mountains.  You can walk through the old cabins and stores and there's even a small souvenir shop in one of the old cabins.  It's a neat place!

Leadville, although a little quirky, remains one of my favorite mountain towns.  Boom Days is definitely a celebration like no other, but even visiting Leadville at any other time there is plenty to do.  I also suggest the self guided walking tour that can be printed online.  It gives you some history behind the buildings, and you'd be surprised how many infamous people called Leadville home, if only for a short time.  It's a small town packed with big dreams of striking it rich, and that feeling is still there!

Sunset Over the Mosquito Mountain Range