“The home to 210 residents earlier this month closed a deal for 122 mining claims on the top of Republican Mountain nearby, adding about 350 acres to its 300-acre Silver Plume Mountain Park.”

“It started in the early 1990s, when the Bureau of Land Management transferred around 3,200 acres to the then-nascent Historic District Public Lands Commission in a deal that included about 600 acres for Silver Plume.”

“In 2022, Silver Plume spent $500,000 on about 200 acres — including 95 of the Jack Pine mining claims — from a family who had owned them for generations.”

“the town again rallied its partners — like the Clear Creek County Open Space Commission, the Colorado Historical Foundation and Great Outdoors Colorado, as well dozens of individuals and history and wildlife advocacy groups — to raise nearly $900,000 to buy 122 mining claims from a private owner.”

“The effort was kick-started with $300,000 from GOCO in December.”

“The addition of 350 acres of Taylor-Kennedy mining claims permanently removes the threat of roads and development within the high-altitude parcels where the Georgetown bighorn sheep herd spends its winters.”

“Several years ago the town installed QR-coded signposts along the 7:30 trail.”

“In February 1899 an avalanche swept down the valley, ripping out mining buildings and killing 10 people.”