Nestled high in the rugged San Juan Mountains, Burrows Park, Colorado, stands as a testament to the fleeting dreams and arduous realities of the late 19th-century mining boom. This picturesque five-mile-long grassy meadow, located at the head of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, once hummed with the ambition of prospectors and the clamor of burgeoning camps. The very name, Burrows Park, commemorates Charles Burrows, a determined prospector who first explored this mineral-rich region in 1873, setting the stage for a brief but vibrant era of settlement and extraction.
Today, the sprawling expanse of Burrows Park, Colorado, quietly holds the forgotten stories of several mining communities that sprang to life between 1875 and 1880. These ephemeral settlements, including Tellurium, Argentum, Whitecross, and even a small camp named Sterling, emerged quickly following significant ore strikes in the vicinity. While their exact locations are now mostly lost to time, their collective history paints a vivid picture of the challenges and rewards inherent in Colorado’s silver and gold rushes.
The Rise and Fall of Mining Camps in Burrows Park
The establishment of mining camps in Burrows Park was a rapid affair, driven by the lure of precious metals. Each camp, though short-lived, contributed to the region’s dynamic, albeit often harsh, economic landscape.
Tellurium City: The Pioneer Camp
The first significant settlement to emerge was Tellurium City, founded in July 1875. Named after the tellurium ore discovered in the area, this camp quickly established a post office in the same year. Located strategically near the confluence of Adams Creek and the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, Tellurium City embodied the raw, untamed spirit of the frontier. Historical accounts from the Silver World newspaper in July 1875 described it as having a population of “less than 500 men and enough valley vocalists (burros) to make the night hideous.” Despite the construction of an expensive mill and the ambitious layout of a detailed townsite, Tellurium City’s prosperity was fleeting. By 1880, it had already succumbed to the inevitable decline, becoming one of many ghost towns dotting the Western landscape.
Argentum: A Glimmer of Silver
Hot on the heels of Tellurium City, Argentum emerged, its name, cleverly derived from the Latin word for silver, reflecting the argentiferous ores found nearby. By 1876, Argentum boasted its own post office, a clear sign of its growing importance. The camp was a hub of activity, featuring two general stores, three hotels offering respite to weary miners, a vital blacksmith shop, and a dozen cabins providing basic shelter. A sawmill operated nearby, supplying the necessary timber for construction, and the Whitecross Mine was a significant local employer. However, like its neighbors, Argentum’s boom was short-lived, with its post office closing its doors in 1882. It was situated on the northeast side of the Lake Fork, just above its confluence with Silver Creek, at the lower end of Burrows Park.
Whitecross: A Persistent Post
The community of Whitecross proved to be one of the more enduring settlements in the area. While the initial post office was established in 1880 under the name Burrows Park, it was physically located at Whitecross. This distinction was officially recognized in 1882 when the post office’s name was formally changed to Whitecross. This remote outpost maintained daily mail service from Lake City, a testament to the dedication of individuals like Tom Byron, who famously crossed Cinnamon Pass daily on snowshoes or skis to deliver mail to Animas Forks and Mineral Point, even through the harsh Colorado winters. Whitecross was a social center, with the Hotel de Clauson serving as a favored meeting spot for residents from all the surrounding camps. Named after a nearby mountain marked by a distinctive white cross geological formation, Whitecross continued to thrive for a time. By 1900, it featured a store, saloon, hotel, boarding house, and two stables, and approximately 300 men received their mail through its post office, highlighting its relative stability.
Sterling: A Fading Whisper
Another mining camp, known as Sterling, also existed within the Burrows Park area. Unfortunately, extensive historical records or detailed descriptions of this particular community are scarce, leaving its story largely untold and adding to the mystique of these vanished settlements.
The Park Mining District: Exploiting the Earth’s Bounty
The broader Park Mining District, encompassing the various camps within Burrows Park, Colorado, experienced its most significant flourishing in the mid-1870s. This period saw the Gunnison Mines Company establish a substantial mill, signaling serious investment in mineral extraction. The district was home to an impressive array of about 30 mines, each bearing a unique name—LaBelle, Bon Homme, Champion, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Great Ohio, Japanese, Isolde, Undine, Napoleon, Oneida, and Premier, among others. Approximately a mile above Burrows Park, a sizable reduction works was constructed to process the raw ore, separating valuable minerals from the rock. During its peak, these mines collectively employed around 200 miners, a considerable workforce for such a remote and elevated location.
Life and Demise in the High Country
Life in Burrows Park was dictated by its extreme elevation of 10,700 feet. While the communities could sustain a summer population of about 200, the brutal winter conditions often led to their near desertion. The surrounding landscape is dominated by three majestic 14,000-foot peaks: Red Cloud and Sunshine to the north, and Handies to the southwest, underscoring the formidable environment miners faced. Transportation was rudimentary but essential; a stagecoach line connected the area to Lake City for a fare of $3.00. The journey further to Animas Forks, a notoriously hair-raising ten-mile ride, cost an additional $1.50 each way, highlighting the remoteness and the difficulties of access.
Ultimately, a combination of factors led to the decline and eventual abandonment of these ambitious mining camps. Poorly maintained roads, their extreme remoteness, the punishing high elevation, and the eventual exhaustion of easily accessible, rich ore veins all contributed to their demise. The initial promise of vast wealth simply could not overcome these persistent challenges.
Burrows Park Today: A Serene Historic Landscape
Today, the once bustling landscape of Burrows Park, Colorado, offers a tranquil, almost ethereal experience. The clusters of hotels, blacksmith shops, saloons, and general stores that once defined these communities have largely vanished, leaving little more than faint traces of foundations and the skeletal remains of fallen buildings. This picturesque setting, however, is not entirely devoid of human touch. The Forest Service has restored two cabins, which now serve as a poignant reminder of the past and a starting point for intrepid hikers eager to conquer the nearby “fourteeners.” Burrows Park is accessible along the scenic Alpine Loop Back Country Byway, approximately 20 miles southwest of Lake City, Colorado, offering visitors a unique opportunity to connect with a powerful chapter of American history amidst breathtaking natural beauty.
