 Surrounding
the lakes are two historical areas, Twin
Lake Village and Interlaken.
Twin Lakes Village is located two miles
west of the
lakes. Prospectors first settled in this area in 1865, naming it
Dayton. Then in 1879, a combination of events brought new life to
the area. Silver had been discovered in Leadville and Aspen, and
the need for a route between the two districts became urgent. Lake
Creek Valley (Twin Lakes Village) was the most logical route. At
the same time, the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad completed its rails
into Leadville, with stops at Granite and the Twin Lakes Station,
allowing visitors to discover the beauty of the Lake Creek Valley. By 1885 tourism was thriving. Interlaken, a famous resort on the
southern shore of the lower lake, was in full operation, catering
to the rich and famous. James V. Dexter, a Denver-Leadville mining
magnate, who had purchased the original hotel on the lakeshore,
along with 2,000 acres of prime real estate, owned it. The area
became a favorite boating, fishing and hunting area. People came
from all over to experience the beauty and splendor of the Lake
Creek Valley. Today, hikers and history buffs can visit the historic
Interlaken by following the Colorado Trail along the south side
of the lake, beginning at the dam.
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