'A fortune of failures': The Colorado ghost town that almost became Aspen

Key Points:

• Ashcroft, a ghost town 12 miles from Aspen, Colorado, was once a booming mining town in the late 19th century, with over 1,000 residents and numerous businesses, but quickly declined as mining prospects dwindled.
• In the 1930s, a group of investors planned to develop Ashcroft into Colorado's first major European-style ski resort, featuring a tram and multiple ski runs on Hayden Peak, but the project was halted by World War II as steel was redirected to the war effort.
• Meanwhile, Aspen developed its own ski industry with the help of Swiss mountaineer André Roch, who helped establish ski runs and lifts, ultimately transforming Aspen into the premier ski destination and ending Ashcroft's chances of becoming a ski resort.
• Today, Ashcroft remains a quiet, off-the-grid location with preserved historic cabins and 22 miles of Nordic ski trails, attracting visitors seeking a rustic, nature-focused experience without modern ski infrastructure.
• The story of Ashcroft is seen as one of "fortunes of failures," where the town's unrealized potential and decline have preserved its natural beauty and historical character for tourism and outdoor recreation.