I have been told more than once that the Leadville area is a well-kept secret. In fact, sometimes people even whisper it to me, like they don't want others to over hear! Of course, Men's Journal named Leadville one of the nation's top 20 "Dream Towns in America" and then, the Denver Post labeled us "the last best place", and Runner's World listed us as a "Trailway to Heaven"....so the word is spreading.

     Leadville is a special place...a treasure...a gem in the middle of Colorado. Located within easy driving distance from Denver and Colorado Springs, along the Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway, Leadville is a legendary frontier mining town with seventy square blocks of Victorian architecture, an adjacent 20 square miles of mining district, and history galore. It's been said that everyone who is anyone has been to Leadville...some even struck it rich here! I am inviting you to come to Leadville, too. Whether you are seeking a quiet respite from everyday life or an action-packed outdoor adventure, Leadville/Lake County can meet the challenge.

     Leadville sits in a high mountain valley surrounded by snow-capped peaks. In fact, it's North America's highest incorporated city at a lofty perch of 10,430 feet. With 310 days of sunshine each year and summer temperatures seldom over 80 degrees, Leadville, Twin Lakes, and Lake County have been a mountain retreat for over 100 years. Our "home town" ski area, Ski Cooper, is the place where the men of the 10th Mountain Division trained and brags, even now, of "skiing the way it used to be".

     There are pleasant surprises around each and every corner... museums tucked with history, quaint little coffee houses, elegant Victorian bed and breakfasts, the greatest of antique and gift shops, and... people leisurely living life and enjoying themselves. Even the drug store is run by its owner! It's like no place else on Earth! It's genuine...real Colorado...the way you want it to be. Whether you come just to look or muster up the courage to challenge your limits by taking part in our extreme sporting events, you will take a memory of special place and unique people with you when you leave. I have no doubt that you, too, will agree that Leadville is one of the best kept secrets.

     Take a look at our calendar of events and decide when you want to come for a visit. After you've looked us over, you may want to call Leadville "home" or at least your "home away from home". If you should decide to move here, we are ready to make your transition from visitor to neighbor an easy one.

Gloria Cheshier