Once a small mining town that rapidly grew after the railroad came to take the silver riches to nearby Denver, the Georgetown of today is proud of its past. The historic downtown has a number of renovated old buildings such as the legendary Hotel de Paris (today a museum), an old fire station with a bell that still rings on the hour and half hour, and a number of nice restaurants, including a popular Mexican one. There is even a local brewery, offering what they call “a real mountain beer.” You can take a carriage ride through downtown or take a narrow-track train tour through the mountains.
The top attractions to visit in Georgetown, Colorado near me today according to local experts:
- 1. Alpine Hose Number 2
- 2. Georgetown Energy Museum
- 3. Georgetown Heritage Center
- 4. Georgetown Loop Railroad
- 5. Guanella Pass Scenic & Historic Byway
- 6. Hamill House Museum
- 7. Things to Do in Georgetown: Hotel De Paris Museum
- 8. Things to Do in Georgetown: Capital Prize Gold Mine Tours
- 9. Guanella Pass Brewing Company
- 10. Argentine Pass
More Ideas: Georgetown Mountain Inn
Ideally located within a few miles from the Loveland Ski area, the Georgetown Mountain Inn offers a cozy alpine atmosphere with spectacular mountain views. Situated within walking distance of Georgetown’s historic downtown area and its eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, the Inn features 33 comfortably furnished guest rooms with private bathrooms and modern amenities.
Rooms enjoy large beds, plush décor, kitchenettes with microwaves and fridges, cable TV and free wireless Internet, and guests have access to a year-round indoor heated swimming pool and an outdoor hot tub. Enjoy complimentary morning coffee and muffins in front a crackling fire in the inviting lobby before heading out to enjoy some of the many outdoor activities in the area.
Guest Accommodations
The Georgetown Mountain Inn features a variety of comfortable accommodations ranging from Standard Rooms, Antique Rooms, and Log Rooms, to Colorado Style Rooms and Guest Suites. All guest rooms and suites have king or queen-size pillow-top beds dressed in high-quality linens, down or hypoallergenic comforters, and pillows, and en-suite bathrooms with shower/bath combinations, single or double vanities, lighted make-up mirrors, plush towels and bathrobes, and organic bath products. Modern amenities include flat-screen televisions with cable channels, mini-fridges, microwaves, telephones, alarm clock/radios, hairdryers, and complimentary wireless Internet.
Standard and Log Rooms are decorated with country-style décor and wooden furnishings and feature two double beds, or two doubles, one single, or one king-size bed, while Antique Rooms feature one queen-size pillow-top bed dressed in high-quality linens, down or hypoallergenic comforters and plush pillows.
Colorado-style Rooms are spacious, comfy and rustic retreats that feature original beetle-kill pine walls, comfortable log furniture, and one king, two queens, or two double and one single bed. En-suite bathrooms have shower/bath combinations, single or dual vanities, lighted make-up mirrors, plush towels and bathrobes, and organic bath products and modern amenities include flat-screen televisions with cable channels, mini-fridges, microwaves, telephones, alarm clock/radios, hairdryers, and complimentary wireless Internet.
The luxurious three-room Guest Suite offers all the creature comforts of home with a queen-size pillow-top bed dressed in high-quality linens, down or hypoallergenic comforters, and pillows, and en-suite bathroom with shower/bath combination, oversized vanity, lighted make-up mirror, plush towels and bathrobes, and organic bath products. The suite has a fully equipped kitchen and airy living area with comfortable seating, two flat-screen televisions with cable channels and a VCR player, and complimentary wireless Internet.
Dining
Complimentary coffee and muffins are served in front of the fire every morning.
Amenities and Recreation
Upscale facilities at theGeorgetown Mountain Inn include an indoor heated swimming pool, an outdoor hot tub and a complimentary coffee and muffins served in front of the fire every morning. Situated within a few miles from the Loveland Ski area, the Georgetown Mountain Inn is within proximity to an array of attractions and activities for guests to enjoy. Nearby attractions include the Loveland Ski Area, the Echo Mountain Ski Resort and Park, the Georgetown Loop Railroad, Our Gang Ice Racing, and Mile Hi Rafting. Local parks include Werlin Park, City Park, and Foster's Place.
Enjoy Washington D.C.’s rich history and heritage on a tour with DC Insider Tours, a luxury tour company that offers visitors the opportunity to explore and uncover the city. A choice of different types of tours are available to suit every need, from private chauffeured tours to walking and specialty tours, each led by professional and knowledgeable guides who share the history and interesting information about the city. Visit areas of the city such as Dupont Circle and Georgetown, experience the city’s famous monuments by night, explore the many museums the city has to offer, or enjoy a specialty tour such as ‘Ghosts, Scandals and Murder’, or ‘Hail to the Cocktail’. Tour groups are kept to a minimum to ensure a personal experience and can be enjoyed by all ages.
Located on historic M Street in Georgetown, Old Glory is the place to go for authentic and delicious barbecue. Capturing the essence of America in the mouthwatering smoked meats and poultry that are served hot off the grill, Old Glory features an open kitchen with huge open barbecue pit, a classic 1901 Silver Dollar Four Winds hand-crafted bar that boasts a lively atmosphere and a family-friendly home-away-from-home ambiance. The menu offers a range of slow-cooked meats served with regional house made Bar-B-Que sauces, freshly made sides and salads and an ample beverage list. Old Glory also offers a special kid’s menu, with hamburgers, BBQ ribs and classic macaroni and cheese.
1100 Rose Street, Georgetown, CO 80444, Phone: 303-569-3201
More Weekend getaways from Boulder
Attraction Spotlight: Georgetown Loop Railroad
The Georgetown Loop Railroad is just forty-five minutes away from Denver in Colorado, situated high within the Rocky Mountains. The train ride offers amazing mountain views throughout the year, no matter what season during which guests decide to visit. These views are combined with a feeling of being transported back in time, back to the days where outlaws roamed the land, mining was the way of life, and the railroad was the main form of transportation. Visitors can experience the history of the Georgetown area during the spectacular experience of the Georgetown Loop Railroad.
The Georgetown Loop and the local community became a tourist center back in the late 1880’s, a place for people who ventured out West to experience the romance and wild ruggedness. Tourism out in the West began to develop around excursions on the railroad. The Georgetown Loop ran seven trains every day at the height of the railroad’s popularity out of Denver, and is one of the scenic “must see” attractions of Colorado. Postcards and guidebooks provide tourists with images of mountain peaks and steep canyons that can be seen by the Georgetown Loop Railroad.
Georgetown, a former site for mining silver situated within the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains along Clear Creek, was founded back in 1859 during the Gold Rush of Pike’s Peak. The Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic District consists of Georgetown, as well as Silver Plume and the Georgetown Loop Historic Mining and Railroad Park that is located between the two towns. The town of Georgetown may be small today, but it was a historic center of the booming mining industry in the state of Colorado throughout the late nineteenth century, and was known as the “Silver Queen of Colorado.” The town is now a lively summer tourist spot with historical significance. Several of the structures from the Colorado Silver Boom are preserved and can be seen today.
The Lebanon Silver Mine Tour with the Georgetown Loop Railroad is designed to enhance visitors’ experience on their train ride. The Lebanon Silver Mine is located at the railroad’s halfway point. The tour guides guests five hundred feet into the mine tunnel that was created back in the 1870’s. A knowledgeable guide will share information about the mining industry’s early days and point out the rich silver veins. Visitors are advised to bring a jacket, as the temperature in the mine is typically a constant forty-four degrees. The Lebanon Silver Mine Tour also visits the change room of the miners and the manager’s office.
The Everett Gold Panning and Silver Mine Tour provides guests with an idea of what a mine was like when it was brand new and operational during the late 1880’s. The lighting is maintained at a level similar to candle lights used by the miners.The exhibits of the interior mine include the transition from miners using hand drilling to mechanical drilling, tunnel construction, ore removal, and the difference between dynamite and black powder blasting. Visitors also have the chance to try their luck panning for gold, and are allowed to take whatever they find home with them.
646 Loop Drive, Georgetown, Colorado, Phone: 888-456-6777
More Things to Do in Georgetown, CO
Attraction Spotlight: Georgetown Energy Museum
The Georgetown Energy Museum in Georgetown, Colorado is a fully operational and functioning plant that generates hydroelectricity. The hydroelectric plant is operated and owned by Xcel Energy, and has operated since the year 1900. The museum leases a section of the plant to be used provide interpretation and general history of the power of hydroelectricity. By 1903, the Georgetown Hydroelectric Station was providing electricity to the towns of Georgetown, Black Hawk, Idaho Springs, Central City, Silver Plume, and local mine areas.
The Georgetown Hydroelectric Station is situated on Sixth Street’s east end on the grounds of what used to be the What Cheer Mill. The plant was originally built in 1900 by the United Light and Power Generation Company, and is the state of Colorado’s second oldest hydroelectric station in operation. In 1924, the ownership of the plant was changed to the Public Service Company of Colorado. A large amount of the Georgetown Hydroelectric Station’s original equipment is still used to this day. The doors of the hydroelectric station were opened to the public as an energy museum recently by the Public Service Company in cooperation with Historic Georgetown, Inc.
First constructed back in 1900, the functioning Georgetown Hydroelectric Station is still in operation today. Visitors have the chance to see early electrical appliances, generators, and equipment that dates back one hundred years as they explore the hydroelectric plant. Guests can also learn about electricity’s early development in the state of Colorado, and more about how electricity is generated. Historical information and photographs are also on display at the Georgetown Energy Museum. The museum is open to the public every day of the week from the month of June until the month of September.
The Georgetown Hydroelectric Station, the site of the Georgetown Energy Museum, contains two sets of generator-water wheels. Each generator-water wheel set features a capacity of 720 watts at a maximum, providing a total capacity of 1.5 megawatts at the hydroelectric plant of alternating current electrical power. This amount of power is about enough to power seven hundred to one thousand houses and businesses. A modern house in today’s world typically uses 1,500 watts.
The generator-water wheel sets feature a Pelton design, claiming to possess a rating of ninety percent efficiency. The water that is used to move the wheels originates in the Georgetown reservoir, which is just a little less than a mile up the canyon, in the direction of Guanella Pass. This give the water a vertical fall of seven hundred feet, which results in two hundred and seventy-five pounds per square inch of water pressure at the water wheels.
The electricity that the water generates at the Georgetown Hydroelectric Station is added to a substation that is located at the plant’s south end. A transmission line also feeds the same substation from the Colorado distribution grid. This substation at the hydroelectric plant, in turn, provides electricity to Georgetown and Silver Plume, as well as a transmission line that makes its way north the Henderson mining operation and Empire.
600 Griffith Street, Georgetown, Colorado, Phone: 303-569-3557