Colorado Ghost Town Books/Maps
Bonanza Colorado Townsite Ghost town
At one time this town boasted - four smelters, nineteen mills, four hotels, forty saloons, a motion picture theater, two schools, a post office, a 1,200 foot tunnel, a baseball team and of course one house of ill repute on the top of a hill.
Photos Mike Sinnwell - Fall 2003
A reader writes in - Hi: When I feel lonely during this time of the winter season, all I have to do is check this site to see my favorite Colorado small town of Bonanza. I miss my log hill mountain cabin over looking the beautiful village of Bonanza. Fabian from Albuquerque, NM
A viewer writes - I am looking forward to my trip to Bonanza . . . my fiancée and I will be married there on the 7th of September (Friday!) 2007 - James, Ponca City, Okla.
A viewer writes - My family has 2 cabins on main street in Bonanza. Can't believe some of the cabins are still standing and the creek doesn't look orange anymore. My sister and I used to throw rocks and walk around in that creek. I haven't been back to Bonanza in over 7 years. When I was a kid we went to Bonanza every summer. Thanks for sharing your pictures I enjoyed your website. - Susan from Broken Arrow, Okla.
A viewer writes - 12/2008 - I try to visit Bonanza when I get back to Colorado, especially if my kids are with me. My family lived there for a year or so back in the mid 1950's. My dad, with a few others worked for Buster Johnson in a couple of old played out silver mines. Fond memories of an era gone by. Thom Clark
A viewer writes July 2009 - Just found your website. It's great! I loved seeing your pictures and reading the comments about Bonanza. My brother and I were born in Salida and we lived in Bonanza at the time. I had grandparents, 3 aunts and uncles, and lots of first cousins living there at the time. My family all mined. My grandfather had a mine called the Maybelle which is just below Round Mountain. My father died before I was born and my step father fell in love with Bonanza. He bought a cabin for $200.00 plus $50.00 back taxes in the mid 50's. It is still there (in very poor condition)along with the outhouse and the bridge crossing the creek. (I too threw rocks in the creek when it was polluted from the mines. It has now been cleaned up and it now supports fish.) I was disappointed that you had not taken a picture of our cabin. It is really quite picturesque. The cabin is white with my dad's Texas license plate over it that reads "BALTAR". I was wondering if you had possibly taken a picture of it as well. I could send you some photos that I just took the first of July with some commentary. You have a picture of my grandfather's home. I just love Bonanza and when I go there, I feel reconnected to my roots. Margaret, Lake Jackson, TX. mwkana@att.net
A viewer writes - November 30th 2009 - Does anybody remember the Slaughterhouse Creek commune in Bonanza from about 1970-1980? Richard Minneapolis xmpls@madrid.com
A viewer writes - Monday 3/29 2010 -- Ever run across the name Starr Bowen in your bonanza information? he was a friend of mine in salida back in the early '70s. miles f. porter iv milesfporteriv@aol.com Frisco, Colorado
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