Entry No. 33 — the Boulder file — filed under: records
Ward Townsite & Derelict Car Collection
Ward was born in 1860 when prospector Calvin Ward struck gold in Boulder County, and the town boomed through silver and gold extraction until a catastrophic fire leveled fifty buildings in 1901. After decades of near-abandonment, the 1960s brought a second life: counterculture refugees from Boulder and beyond moved into derelict mining cabins seeking self-governed, off-grid existence at 9,450 feet. That spirit calcified into the Ward you find today — a tight-knit community of roughly 125 people where decades-spanning hulks of American iron (Plymouth Valiants, Chrysler Newports) and European oddities (Fiats, Morris sedans) rust slowly in the high-altitude sun along the roadside. Locals have long said the cars are left there deliberately to discourage casual outsiders. Wandering among them, it is hard to argue the strategy hasn't worked.
The move: Drive up Left Hand Canyon to Ward, walk the short main drag past rusting sedans and hand-painted cabins, then stop for a meal at Marrocco's Family Dining. The cars make an easy excuse to linger and talk — every hulk has a story to invent together.
📍 Before you go Ward sits at 9,450 feet; snow can close Left Hand Canyon or make the road treacherous October through May. No admission or parking fee — the cars are simply along the public road. The town has no gas station. Marrocco's keeps irregular hours; call ahead. Dogs roam freely off-leash throughout town, as is local custom. Allow 45 minutes driving time from Boulder in good conditions.
- 📍 Ward
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Ward, CO 80481 — Peak-to-Peak Highway (CO-72) at Left Hand Canyon Drive, ~20 miles northwest of Boulder
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4
last checked: 2026-06-11