TWO TOWNS IN ONE

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Telluride, Colorado

Two Towns in One

Telluride is hidden in a box canyon surrounded by 14,000 feet peaks of the San Juan Mountains.
The first people to Telluride as the Ute Indians. Fur trappers were likely the first Anglos to spend extended time there.
The discovery of gold in 1858 put Colorado on the map.
In 1880 Telluride became a town of miners. By 1890 the town flourished and Telluride’s population soared to 5,000.
The town boasted all the amenities of a thriving community, plus saloons, gambling, and red light district.
The wealth of Telluride attracted the likes of Butch Cassidy and his “Wild Bunch. “
Silver and gold prices crashed, with the first World War and marked the end of the mining boom in Telluride. It became barely more than a ghost town.
Telluride was resurrected in 1970 by another kind of gold. SNOW.
The newly created ski resort replenished the economy, reviving the city.
Today, Telluride population of 2200 residents is skiers and snowboarders.
Telluride is really two towns; located mid-mountain on the south side of the ski area is the town of Mountain Village.
Getting from Telluride to Mountain Village is half the fun. A three-stage gondola provides a fast and free commute. The only transportation system of its kind in the North America.
The gondola is enclosed and takes passengers between Telluride and Mountain Village in 13 minutes.
Using this system displaces the need for automobiles between the two towns.
The gondola is a nice ride. I didn’t understand the getting off ,at each stage stop ,and getting on a different car. That would get old to me. People had groceries and carry ones to take off and on at each stop.
Elevation of Telluride is 8750 feet, Mountain Village is 9545 feet. The gondola takes you up 795 feet.
It is unique; it makes me wonder if it will catch on in other ski towns.

DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer: Colorado