Telluride History

Telluride made it on the map officially in 1875 when prospector John Fallon made the first claim in Marshal Basin above Telluride at the Sheridan Mine. This mine proved to be rich in zinc, lead, copper, iron, silver and gold.

Telluride was briefly named Columbia, which was already tth name of a town in California, before being renamed Telluride. Tellurium, a nonmetallic element often associated with rich mineral deposits of gold, could be the foundation for the name Telluride, but ironically, it is not found in this area. The other theory is that the town was named for the famous send-off, To-hell-u-ride!, given to fortune seekers heading to the southern San Juans.

By 1890, and the introduction of the railway, thousands of immigrants traveled to Telluride in search of wealth. Telluride became a melting pot of Finns, Swedes, Irish, Cornish, French, Italians, Germans and Chinese, all of whom were supported by mining. The town boasted all the amenities of a thriving community plus saloons, gambling and brothels. Mining for silver, gold, zinc, lead and copper created an impressive 350 miles of multi-level tunnels that honeycomb through the mountains at the east end of the valley. With the wealth came Butch Cassidy and his 'Wild Bunch', who began their brazen bank robbing career at the San Miguel National Bank in 1889 (making off with a cool $21,000)

With the silver crash of 1893, followed by WWI, Telluride's mining boom dwindled. This once thriving town became a scant population of 600.

Telluride reanimated in the 1970s with the introduction of the first ski resorts heralded by Billy Mahoney Sr., and Joe Zoline. In 1978 Ron Allred and Jim Wells, took over the ski area. Their vision included a mountain village along with a first-class ski area and year-round destination resort. They installed snowmaking equipment, added lifts and carved new terrain designed specifically for beginner skiers.

1996 brought the the Gondola to Telluride. This free transportation system links the towns of Telluride and Mountain Village In 1998, the ski area opened an 800-vertical-foot terrain park, the Air Garden, bringing a host of new events and competitions. Capital improvements continue on the ski mountain today, as the ski area's leaders strive for increased snowmaking capability and high-speed lifts that access improved ski runs.

Summers in Telluride are filled with a wide range of events and activities such as mountain biking, hiking, music festivals and more. Telluride has truly evolved into a year-round resort.

Telluride's population is less than half of what it was during its mining heyday; it is now estimated at 2,000 residents. Miners have been replaced by skiers, but Telluride's history is intact as is the spirit of the Old West.