Balfour is one of the least-known ghost towns in the state of Colorado, and for good reason- The town existed for only five short years between 1893 and 1898 before it was abandoned!
Remains at Balfour today
Dugout cabin at Balfour today
Prospectors had dug around sporadically in the area since the 1860s, but it was not until 1893 that gold deposits of profitable quatities were discovered. Balfour is located on the southeastern edge of South Park, roughly 25 miles from Fairplay, or seven or so miles from the tiny town of Hartsel off of Highway 9 as you travel towards Guffey.
Balfour, at oinly ten days old in 1893!
Balfour cabin today
When Balfour boomed in 1893,a town appeared literally overnight. Photos taken when Balfour was only ten days old already show frame buildings in equal or greater number than tents in the new gold camp. Before Balfour faded, there were three hotels, a saloon, post office, chruches, school, general store, and around one thousand residents.
Second shot of Balfour at ten days old in 1893
Balfour, 1893
Today scarcely a trace of Balfour remains, just a scattered handful of tumbledown cabins and barns. It is hard to imagine the site was once home to a thousand people, and had been billed as “the next Cripple Creek” when gold was discovered in 1893.
Balfour cabin today
Balfour
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