Silverthorne |
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Address
PO Box 1309
Silverthorne, CO 80498
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Phone
(970) 262-7300 |
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Silverthorne Colorado is named after Hangin' Judge Silverthorne. A Summit County pioneer and judge from the late 1800's famous for his strict demeanor. Silverthorne the town was incorporated in the late 1960's. Silverthorne began as a convenient place to move buildings from the site of old Dillon which is now at the very deepest spot in lake Dillon. The first post office and general store were both buildings moved from old Dillon. The Old Dillon Inn, famous for its neon "BA" sign, (The R never having been illuminated,) is another transplant from old Dillon. Recently when the sign was refurbished, the R which was painted on behind the dead neon letter was simply left out. For many years, unbeknownst to the owners, original works of art by famous western artists Frederick Remington and Charles Russell adorned the walls of the Old Dillon Inn. In the early '70's, The Old DI as it is known locally, was sold to a man who recognized the paintings, whereupon the paintings were promptly removed and the mortgage was defaulted on.
and At least one building in Silverthorne was moved from the town of Kokomo which was bought by the Climax mine in order to construct a slag pond for their molybdenum mining operation. That building, a former hotel, was placed on the site of the current Eddie Bears store at the approximate center of town. Frank and Nellie Flynt converted the old building into Silverthorne's general store, where they did a good amount of business until Frank Died in the early '70's. The town's identity was originally envisioned as a year round sports destination when the Dillon Dam, A key source of water for Denver, Colorado, began construction in 1964. Later when the Eisenhower Tunnel was finished in 1973, and with the boom in recreational skiing during the late 60's, Silverthorne became a bedroom community for the seasonal workers who supported Summit County's ski industry. The Eisenhower Tunnel goes through the Continental Divide near Loveland Pass.
The new tunnel linked Silverthorne with Denver via Interstate 70 as well as many major Colorado ski resorts. These ski areas include Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Arapahoe Basin, VailBeaver Creek. The new interstate also opened the way for many commercial businesses including City Market, Summit County Factory Stores, Target, Virgin Islands Ski Rental and many others. Silverthorne enjoys a high quality of life due to the unique alpine environment, restricted growth, and ample outdoor activities.
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