• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Towns
  • Lodging
  • Dining
  • Transport
  • Shop
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Towns
  • Lodging
  • Dining
  • Transport
  • Shop
  • Search
Orient Ghost Town
Historic mining town of Orient.

Orient, CO Ghost Town – by Villa Grove

FacebookTwitter

Orient, CO is an old mining town that’s accessed via Valley View Hot Springs. The Orient Mine was discovered in 1870 and quickly became of one the country’s largest working iron ore mines. 400 people resided in Orient at its peak.

Today all that remains of the mine is the Glory Hole and the foundations from the New Town of Orient. It’s accessed through a 2 mile hike to the mine from Valley View Hot Springs. It passes 2 old town sites.

The hike begins at the resort where you can pick up a detailed map of the area and enjoy the hot springs while you’re there. There is a day use fee of $12-$15, depending on season.

History

Originally named Haumann, after the prospected who first struck iron ore. Miners flocked to the canyons to form what is now Old Orient. In the 1870s it was a rough, remote place.

In 1881 the railroad came through and Haumann leased his claims to Colorado Fuel & Iron. The next year the mine was called Orient. The town bustled until the surface veins of ore depleted in the early 1920s. CF&I decided to give it another chance and built a new company town below the mine.

New Orient prospered until 1932 when the mine closed and the town was abandoned. CF&I stripped the buildings of New Orient of everything but foundation to use the materials elsewhere. At some point after a massive cave-in occurred creating the Glory Hole. Today it’s home to 250,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats each summer.

Getting There

It’s accessed from the end of the campground at Valley View Hot Springs. You need to pay admission to the hot springs to see it.

Dirt trail back is well maintained.
Foundations are all that remain.
15 car garage.
Tripple or "dump track" was used to dispose of tailings.
Foundations dot the hillside.
New Town of Orient was down in the meadows.
Ruins of a well in Old Town Orient.
Old Town of Orient was higher and closer to the mine.

Details

Address: Valley View Hot Springs, Co Rd Gg, Villa Grove (near Salida)

County: Saguache County

Season: April-Oct (accessible year round)

 

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Colorado Ghost Towns

  • All Activities
  • All Ghost Towns
  • Alta
  • Animas Forks
  • Apex
  • Ashcroft
  • Bonanza
  • Bowerman
  • Capitol City
  • Caribou
  • Carson
  • Climax
  • Crystal
  • Dearfield
  • Dyersville
  • Eureka
  • Gilman
  • Goldfield
  • Gothic
  • Graysill Mines
  • Hancock
  • Homestead Meadows
  • Independence
  • Ironton
  • Ludlow
  • Montezuma
  • Mount Vernon
  • Nevadaville
  • Ohio City
  • Orient
  • Oro City
  • Pagosa Junction
  • Querida
  • Red Mountain Town
  • Rosita
  • Russell Gulch
  • Saint Elmo
  • Skagway Power Plant
  • Teller City
  • Tomboy
  • Twin Lakes
  • Uptop
  • Vicksburg
  • Winfield

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Resources
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Visit Mile High Happy Hour for Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Camping
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Federal Lands
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Skiing and Snowboarding
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks

Vacation like a VIP! Leisurely Lifestyle shares life and travel hacks, as well as cheap luxury travel.

Copyright © 2021 · Uncover Colorado - Vacations, Travel & Tourism | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer