Entry No. 4 — the Fort Collins file — filed under: ghost-town
Mt. Harris Memorial
“In 1920 it was bigger than Steamboat. By 1958 it was gone — just foundations and sidewalks in the trees.”
In 1920 the biggest town in Routt County wasn't Steamboat Springs — it was Mount Harris, a coal camp of 1,300 with a theater, two hotels, and a company store. On May 20, 1958, the whole town was auctioned off and hauled away; dozens of its houses still stand around Hayden and Craig wearing new addresses. Pull off US-40 between mile markers 114 and 115 and look for six concrete foundations and crumbling sidewalks waiting in the trees.
The move: Park at the Point of Interest pull-off, read the panels, then walk the tree line together and pace the old sidewalks, guessing where the theater stood.
📍 Before you go The stop is a signed Point of Interest pull-off on US-40 between Hayden and Milner, with room for a few cars. The foundations and sidewalks sit in a cluster of trees on the south side of the railroad tracks and stay buried under snow until spring melt, so wear shoes for uneven, brushy ground. The townsite is under a conservation easement — look, but don't dig or pocket souvenirs. Pair it with the Hayden Heritage Center a few miles west, which keeps the town's photos and artifacts.
- 📍 Hayden
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: US-40 between mile markers 114 and 115, about 5 miles east of Hayden, CO 81639
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: steamboatpilot.com · haydenheritagecenter.org · historicrouttcounty.org · keepitco.org
last checked: 2026-06-11