South Park City is a restored nineteenth century mining town situated in Fairplay, Colorado. It’s an indoor and outdoor museum open year round for touring.
There are a few original buildings in place and dozens of others were imported from abandoned camps and ghost towns in South Park, a 900 sq. mile basin in the middle of the Rockies.
19th Century Mining Town Museum in Fairplay
Rooms are decorated with appropriate settings and exhibits illustrating what what life in a thriving boomtown was all about. Learn about the professions, trades and industries that contributed to life in town.
There are 34 historic buildings filled with more than 60,000 artifacts. Highlights include the South Park Brewery, built in 1879 and produced South Park Lager, as well as Simpkin’s General Store, which is stocked with original merchandise.
The museum’s website has a coupon for reduced admission.
Details
Address: 100 4th St, Fairplay
Phone: 719-836-2387
Season: May 15-October 15
Website: southparkcity.org
Breckenridge via South Park City
South Park City in Fairplay.
Breckenridge got six fresh inches of pow for Sunday ski day. We decided to head up the night before to dodge the traffic. All affordable hotels were booked up in Summit County and Georgetown, so we stayed in Fairplay, aka South Park.
We stayed at the Western Inn, reasonably priced for President’s Weekend @ $80/night. Then we headed out to the bars, of which there are three main saloons in town of Fairplay.
Western Inn.
Valiton Hotel.
Timmy handicapped parking space.
Bar was closed for a private function.
South Park Pottery.
Downtown Fairplay.
South Park City.
We left for Breckenridge the next morning from Fairplay/South Park. The drive is about thirty minutes to Breck and passes by Alma, another tiny mountain town, before venturing up the scenic Hoosier Pass. Skiers and snowboarders were shredding back country lines at the top of Hoosier Pass.
Alma AlMart.
Alma Fire House.
Top of Hoosier Pass.
We made it to Breck for several hours of prime Colorado skiing and riding. If you happen to drive into Breckenridge later in the day (not weekend a.m.), you usually can get parking at the closest paid lot by Peak 9. This lot is only $5 more than the main lot by the gondola ($15 vs $10) and possibly free if you are late enough in the afternoon.
In the trees at Breck.
Breckenridge Ski Resort.
Read more about Breckenridge Ski Resort.
