Читать книгу Colorado Ghost Stories - Antonio Boone's Garcez - Страница 9

The Ute Indians named the mountains lying within Aspen as the “Shining Mountains.” Initially named Ute City, the name was soon changed to Aspen in the spring of 1880. Traditionally, the land on which the town now sits is considered by the Ute people to be their homelands. Not long ago, archaeologist discovered evidence of ancient home sites and artifacts that date back more than 8,000 years. In 1879, prospectors in search of silver ore crossed the Continental Divide and entered the Ute’s summer hunting range. Surprisingly for them, they discovered one of the world’s richest silver lodes.

Throughout the coming years, after many mining camps, two competing railroads and major capitalists investors, Aspen quickly became an urban center of architecture, and in 1935, the ideal location for a ski resort. In 1947, the world’s longest ski lift opened on Aspen Mountain. Aspen flourished both in the winter and summer months to become both a premiere center of recreation and a community center of the arts.

Inevitable, uncontrolled growth has forced the town of Aspen to adopt controversial and at times contentious growth control measures. Today, the vast majority of “locals” are no more than wealthy transplants from other regions of the United States. Visitors to Aspen would do well to heed the warning of adjusting not only to the high altitude, but equally to the high “attitude” of the area.