Located at 11,800 feet altitude, Alta was a small mining town with about 100 residents. There are many buildings still standing, on of them this impressive boarding house.

In 1999, the U.S. Forest Service tried to purchase the land and buildings. Funding fell through, ending its involvement. The owners, Leucadia Financial Corporation, originally planned to demolish the structures to construct a resort village, but the plan was turned down by the county due to its density. (Source: https://coloradopreservation.org)

Recently, the owners have been approved to develop the 540-acre site for private residences (28 homes). The company is working with the City of Telluride and the San Miguel County Open Space and Recreation Program in order to try and save the site’s historical integrity. Their efforts have so for included stabilizing the boardinghouse and rehabilitating one of the cottages. (Source: https://coloradopreservation.org)