Entry No. 74 — the Pueblo file — filed under: ghost town
Old Pictou Mine
Established in 1887 as a coal camp initially called Sulphur Springs, Pictou was renamed in 1889 and operated by the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company until its closure in 1954. During its peak, the mine supported a diverse community of around 300 residents and produced millions of tons of coal. Today, the site is a ghost town where only concrete foundations, old mine dumps, and tailings remain visible on private, fenced lots.
The story
Before it was Pictou, it was Sulphur Springs—a raw coal camp established in 1887 in the shadow of the Spanish Peaks. By 1889, the settlement was renamed and folded into the industrial empire of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company (CF&I). For over six decades, hundreds of miners pulled millions of tons of coal out of these hills to fuel the massive steel mills up in Pueblo. At its height, around 300 residents lived in this company patch just north of Walsenburg.
When CF&I finally killed the operation in 1954, Pictou wasn't preserved or turned into a roadside tourist trap; it simply ceased to exist. The company dismantled the infrastructure, the workforce scattered, and the high plains began reclaiming the ground. What remains today isn't a romantic row of wooden saloons, but the heavy, industrial bones of Colorado's coal era—massive concrete machinery footings, vast mine dumps, and sun-baked tailings scattered across the grass.
What it's like
Do not show up expecting to trek through abandoned buildings. The entire townsite and mine complex sit on private, fenced-off lots. Your encounter here is strictly a scouting mission from the public right-of-way. Pull over safely along Colorado Highway 69 with a long camera lens or a pair of binoculars. From the shoulder, you can trace the faint scars of the rail lines, the dark earth of the old mine dumps, and the bleached concrete foundations standing alone in the dry prairie.
The move: Take a scenic drive along Colorado Highway 69 to view and photograph the historic mine dumps and foundations from the public roadside, then head into Walsenburg to visit the Walsenburg Mining Museum.
📍 Before you go The remnants of the mine and townsite are located on private property and are fenced off, but they can be viewed from public roads like Highway 69.
- 📍 Old Pictou Mine
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Old Pictou Mine, Colorado 81089, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Walsenburg Mining Museum — After scanning the distant foundations from Highway 69, head two miles down the road to see the actual tools, photos, and labor history saved from these camps.
- FAROUT Murals of Walsenburg — A quick drive into Walsenburg swaps the silent, grey coal tailings for vibrant, large-scale murals painted on the town's historic brick storefronts.
- Ludlow Massacre Site — For the darker side of CF&I's dominance over southern Colorado coal camps, drive south to the site of the 1914 labor strike standoff.
- Uptop Ghost Town — Trade coal ruins for rail history by driving west to this abandoned 1870s mountain depot town near Old La Veta Pass.
Good to know
Can I walk among the ruins?
No. The site is private property and heavily fenced. You must remain on public roads, such as Colorado Highway 69, to view and photograph the remnants.
Who operated the mine?
The Colorado Fuel and Iron Company (CF&I), the dominant industrial and mining monopoly in Southern Colorado throughout the late 19th and mid-20th centuries.
When did the town close down?
The mine ceased operations in 1954, leading directly to the abandonment and dismantling of the townsite.
Where can I see local mining artifacts?
Head two miles south into town to the Walsenburg Mining Museum, which houses equipment, records, and exhibits detailing the area's CF&I mining past.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · scalar.usc.edu
last checked: 2026-07-20