Crested Butte History & Museums: Tincup Colorado Ghost Town

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Tincup Colorado Ghost Town

Located within easy driving distance from Crested Butte, Tincup was founded in 1859 and had a brief and violent history as a gold mining town. Read More

  • Tincup is a popular historic ghost town. 
  • Be sure to visit the historic cemetery. 
  • Located an hour-and-a-half from Crested Butte, along Colorado Road 765.
  • Best visited in the summer.

Overview

With a name dating back to an early miner who carried gold dust out from Willow Creek in a small tin cup, Tincup, Colorado was once a booming mining town, but by the 1920s the town population had dwindled and Tincup was well on its way to becoming another Colorado ghost town.

Today, many of the original buildings have been restored and refurbished, and the local summer community supports a small store and log cabin restaurant in the middle of town.

In addition to the historic buildings, the historic cemetery is a local point of interest. Gravestones mark the resting spots of early marshals and sheriffs who were killed by the strong criminal element in the town.

Location

Tincup is located about an hour-and-a-half from Crested Butte, just past Taylor Park Reservoir along Colorado Road 765.

Seasons

Tincup is best visited during the summer months, when the town is more active and the weather milder. During winter months, cold temperatures and heavy snowfall make the town less accessible.