The village at Twin Lakes grew in popularity once gold was discovered in the area, with commerce centered there for area miners. In the 1860s, the area, then known as Dayton, became the county seat. When gold was discovered on Independence Pass, a toll road was established between Leadville and Aspen, making Twin Lakes the transportation hub between the two towns. After the silver boom in Leadville in 1878 to 1879, Twin Lakes became a popular summer resort, attracting the wealthy. For a more detailed look at Twin Lake’s history, follow this historic walking tour, which highlights some of the town’s original buildings.
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 |   The Red Rooster Visitor Center, built in the 187os, was formally used as a general store, tavern, hotel, and brothel. |
|  Twin Lakes General Store. Current structure was built in 1964, but the location has also served as a gas station and former post office.Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
|  Twin Lakes Inn built in 1882, has also been known as Maggie Webber's Hotel, Twin Peaks Hotel, Wolf Hotel, Twin Lakes Nordic Inn, and Black Wolf.Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| Log Cabin built as a lodging house in the 1860s. Temporarily served as courthouse when Dayton (now Twin Lakes) became the county seat. It also serves as a blacksmith shop for Patrick Ryan and as headquarters for his stagecoach line. Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| Twin Lakes Dance Hall built in 1888. 5th Street, Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| Club rooms for "cards and pool" or overflow from the Red Rooster, built in 1888. Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| Another Patrick Ryan blacksmith shop with Ole Jim, the horse, painted on the shutter. Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| Cabins and homes that were relocated to Twin Lakes Village from lakeside locations where dams were raised. Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| Hotel Delmonico built in 1881 was also known as Lake Hotel, Twin Trout Hotel, Holt Hotel, and Anderson Hotel. Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| Patrick Ryan's home, built as a wedding present for his wife in 1896. It was the first home with running water and it was also the original Twin Lakes schoolhouse, which was incorporated into the structure and remodeled into a kitchen on the back of the home. Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| Twin Lakes CO |
| Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| Ice house that stored ice blocks sawed out of Twin Lakes. Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| Built in 1879, Willard House was one of the first general stores. It may have also provided rooms and "services." Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| Built in 1895, the Twin Lakes Schoolhouse served as a school through 1959. Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| The Merrill Family home was built in 1888 and was also know as Squire's house. Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| Built in the 1880s Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
| The Clarion Hotel was built in 1879 by mining investor T.C. Wetmore as an adobe structure that operated as a hotel during the end of the 1880s with dormitory-style rooms filled with cots. Twin Lakes, CO, United States |
