Overview of Silver Plume, CO

Located just two miles west of Georgetown along I-70, Silver Plume, Colorado, is a town that time forgot—in the best way possible. Often described as a "living ghost town," this National Historic Landmark District has resisted the polish and commercialization found elsewhere in the mountains. With its unpaved streets, original Victorian storefronts, and a population that hovers around 200, Silver Plume offers an authenticity that is stark, beautiful, and incredibly rare.

Silver Plume appeals to the buyer who values preservation, privacy, and proximity. It is the destination for the history purist, the backcountry skier who wants to be ten minutes from **Loveland Ski Area**, and the artist seeking a quiet muse. The real estate market is small and specialized; inventory consists almost entirely of historic miner's cabins and restored Victorian homes that cling to the steep valley walls. It is a community for those who want to live inside a museum piece, where the wind whispers stories of the silver boom.

The Railroad & Mining History Lifestyle

In Silver Plume, the lifestyle is inextricably linked to the steam engine. The town serves as the upper terminal for the **Georgetown Loop Railroad**, an engineering marvel that brings tourists and the nostalgic sound of train whistles to the valley during the summer months. The **George Rowe Museum**, housed in the original 1894 schoolhouse, serves as the community's cultural anchor, preserving the artifacts of the town's boom years.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the town offers unique access to history via the trail system. The hike to the **Griffin Memorial** (grave of Clifford Griffin, the violin-playing owner of the 7:30 Mine) is a local rite of passage, offering sweeping views of the town and a poignant connection to the past. Unlike resort towns with groomed trails and après-ski bars, recreation here is rugged, self-guided, and quiet.

Landscape, Climate, and Community

Sitting at an elevation of 9,118 feet, Silver Plume sits in a deep, narrow canyon. The geography creates a dramatic setting but also dictates the climate: winters are long, cold, and famously windy, as the valley funnels air from the Continental Divide. Sunlight can be limited during the winter months, adding to the town's cozy, hibernation-like atmosphere.

The community is tight-knit, eclectic, and fiercely independent. Residents are a mix of long-time locals, historians, and commuters who appreciate the easy access to I-70. There is no gas station or grocery store in town; this lack of amenities is seen as a feature, not a bug, keeping the streets quiet and the foot traffic low. It is a place where neighbors look out for one another but respect the solitude that drew them to the canyon in the first place.

Why Buy a Property in Silver Plume?

Buying real estate in Silver Plume is an investment in character. It offers the closest single-family housing to the major ski resorts (Loveland, Arapahoe Basin, Keystone) without the resort pricing or crowds. If you are looking for a property where you can walk to a trailhead, hear the train whistle, and live in a town that looks exactly as it did in 1890, Silver Plume is your historic hideaway.