The Idarado Mine houses along U.S. Highway 550 between Ouray and Silverton are targeted for preservation by locals who hope to work with the property owner and the U.S. Forest Service, along with help from Ouray County. Photo courtesy Carol Highsmith/Library of Congress
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Efforts underway to preserve Idarado Houses
OURAY COUNTY
Hopes are high that the historic Idarado Houses located in a switchback on Highway 550 near Red Mountain Pass may soon be preserved.
Pat Willits of the Trust for Land Restoration has long been working on achieving the goal, but there are several complications to the plan. Originally built in the early 1900s, the four houses remaining of the original ten which were moved from a site near Silverton in the 1940s are in bad repair, but attract a lot of attention from traveler of the sceni...