Traveling west from Sunshine on Sunshine Canyon Drive, the road will take you over a ridge, along a shelf road, and into the town of Gold Hill, Colorado. It is a small community built among the many abandoned gold mines. It is 10 miles west of Boulder (3 miles west of Sunshine) at an altitude of 9,400 feet above sea level. To the west is the Sawtooth Range of the Rocky Mountains. Visible to the west from Gold Hill is the continental divide.
Visiting Gold Hill takes you back 100 years. The dirt roads are bordered by wooden sidewalks. The cars parked along side the road look out of place. You would expect to see nothing but horses tied up to hitching rails. In the center of town is the Gold Hill Inn. The bar in the Gold Hill Inn is a local gathering place. Friday nights you will find people from Gold Hill, Sunshine and Boulder. The dining room serves some of the finest food in the Rockies. Several years ago, while enjoying cocktails with the neighbors, I saw Dennis Weaver walk into the dining room. You never know who will show up for dinner.
That brings me to Tom (see my previous post) and the drink that is named after him. Tom has been know to schedule an extended lay-over in Denver just so he can bring his traveling companions to the Gold Hill Inn for a refreshment. Once, while traveling from South America to Hawaii, he stopped in with several friends. They were there to have a "Kirby Bump". It is a drink that contains ginger beer, bitters and an orange slice; named for a world traveler, that calls Sunshine his second home.
11 comments:
interesting :)
Deb
Hi David...Just getting caught up on your journal. I`ve missed a few days. I love the stories about Milo, the pictures, and the quaint names of the towns near you!
Take care...
Penny
http://journals.aol.com/pennietoonz/PennysPlace
Id LOVE to go to the Gold Hill Inn.thanks for sharing this story with us!
love,
Meg
David,
The picture at the top of your page is spiritual. That's the first word that entered my mind when I saw it. Dining at the Gold Hill must be an awesome experience.
Dianna
Almost like living in paradise. What an absolutely interesting town Gold Hill is. I would love to see it someday and visit the Gold Hill Inn. Chris
What a view... I really would love to visit there
Ellen
Love the picture David!!! It's beautiful!! That sounds like a place I'd like to visit!!! Now who on earth is that man in the photo??? Any ideas???? lol.... http://journals.aol.com/shayshaydc/Golfaholic
Sharon:)
How wonderful! I cant wait until I have the time and money to visist such wonderful places.
Kara :)
Beauitful! Thanx for posting.~Diane~
Oooh, not that far from me, I'll have to visit sometime. Delaine
My sister will be visiting me from Texas this summer, and I'm always looking for new places to take her. The Gold Hill Inn sounds like a good spot to start. I hope I'll be able to find it. Thanks for the info.
JID JEANINDENVER@AOL.COM
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