PRESS ROOM

Leadville and Twin Lakes are full of story ideas for travel and tourism media. Please visit our online media kit or read our recent press releases.

For more information, to schedule a visit or interview, or request photographs, please contact Mandy Gauldin at 970-945-5534. 

What the Media are Saying about Leadville and Twin Lakes...

Leadville named one of the Top 10 True Western Towns of 2012 by True West magazine
“In 2011 alone, Leadville’s focus on history was evident with the renovations of the Delaware Hotel and the 1878 Healy House, which is next to the log cabin of one of Colorado’s first millionaires. Colorado Mountain College’s local campus offers a preservation degree with hands-on experience restoring the 1872 Hayden Ranch. Tabor Opera House is working to restore its theater sets dating back to 1879, even while it entertains with musical performances and Silver Boom lectures. And every March, horse and rider teams still pull skiers down Harrison Avenue, like the cowboys who started the tradition in 1949.” (The January/February issue is available at newsstands and at www.TWMag.com)

The Chicago Ridge Snowcat Tours at Ski Cooper have become one of the most popular and most affordable backcountry ski experiences in Colorado: Denver Westword
"'You'll get as many as a dozen runs back there for $275 and get as high as 12,600 feet,' says Ski Cooper spokesman Bob Casey. The price also includes avalanche transceiver rental and basic backcountry training in case you need to put that transceiver to the test, plus a "gourmet" lunch served in a heated backcountry yurt."

The leaf is the journey, not the destination, for these offbeat excursions around Colorado:  The Denver Post
Canoe or kayak at Twin Lakes: "The two naturally created glacial bodies of water at the base of Mount Elbert seemingly were custom-made for lazily tooling around, gazing at the surrounding alpine wonder, not to mention the many mountains that come in at more than 13,000 feet."

Take the train in Leadville: "Hop aboard the historic Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad, which originates in Leadville and then travels along the old Denver, South Park & Pacific and Colorado & Southern lines to the Continental Divide. The views of the changing leaves will be magnificent along the Arkansas River Valley and through the San Isabel National Forest..."

Olympic Gold Goes Through Leadville: 9 News/KUSA
"Some coaches say Leadville is perfect for swim training...Matt Renoux found three of the world's best swimmers taking advantage of the altitude as they get ready for the summer Olympics in London."

Best Places to See Exciting Winter Sport of Skijoring: Sherman'sTravel.com
"This charming, one-stoplight town about 90 minutes from Denver is the home base for many an outdoor enthusiast, with two 14,000-plus-foot peaks in the vicinity and the adventurous pursuits that go along with it. But when the annual skijoring competition comes to town as it has every year since 1949, attention turns toward Harrison Avenue, which is packed with tons of snow and made into one of the most challenging courses on the circuit."

The High Life: Home & Away Magazine
"Leadville, Colo., North America’s highest town, has been home to hardy souls for more than a century...This special place, 90 minutes west of Denver, enjoys an average of 310 sunny days a year. That sun lights up the mountains looming on all sides, including the state’s two highest peaks, Mount Elbert and Mount Massive, both with elevations higher than 14,400 feet."

Summer Escapes - Leadville: The Denver Post
"Hit the high trails, help build them or enjoy a tranquil paddle...You know you've escaped to Leadville when you paddle your bike to 10,500 feet on the paved 11.6-mile Mineral Belt Trail, take a breather, and look out over town. From the path, you can see the Mosquito and Sawatch Ranges."

Massive fun at North America's highest golf course: The Denver Post
"Unlike many courses, there are no homes to block the views, just the trees of the San Isabel National Forest in front of some of the magnificent peaks of the Sawatch Range, including Massive (Colorado's second-highest mountain) and Colorado's highest peak, Mount Elbert, 5 miles away but seemingly right next to it."

Last-minute Camping in the Rockies: Sunset Magazine
Elbert Creek Campground in San Isabel National Forest: "Campers with lofty ideals gravitate to this 17-site campground in a lodgepole forest at 10,000 feet. The two highest peaks in Colorado, Mt. Massive and Mt. Elbert, loom overhead, drawing hikers psyched to bag both peaks right from their tent door."

The hunt for the best burrito: Sunset Magazine
"This is a tough decision because Leadville has three of the best Mexican restaurants in Colorado. But Manuelita’s stands out. The pork burrito is smothered in green chile; owner Frederico and his family immigrated here from Mexico and started this restaurant from nothing."

One of America's Prettiest Fall Drives: Forbes.com
"And Independence Pass, near Aspen, Colo., has a little bit of everything, including evergreen pines and firs stashed in between brilliantly yellow and orange cottonwoods, poplars and birch trees."

Big Accomplishment for Community at 10,500 Feet: KUSA, Denver NBC
"It could be one of the nicest ball fields in the state, and residents in Lake County are proud to say it's theirs."

Altitude with Attitude: The New York Times
"Tourists and outdoorsy types are discovering the allure of this postcard of a town high in the Rockies. It’s 25 miles from the Interstate, it has only one stoplight, and the residents exchange phone numbers in four digits. Mountain bikers and horseback riders hit the trails; intrepid hikers scale Mounts Elbert and Massive, the two 14,000-foot peaks that dominate Leadville’s skyline; and anglers pull rainbows from high alpine lakes."

Best Adventure Mecca: Men's Journal
"You're tired of your soft life. Your roof rack has been collecting dust in the corner of the garage for far too long. You've had enough fancy dinners, movie nights, and PTA meetings for one lifetime. You want rock, sky, rapids, altitude, dirt, snow and great coffee. Don't look down, just jump. Move to Leadville."

Mountain Town Hosts Fast-paced Winter Fun: The Gazette
"The folks in Leadville celebrate winter with a bang - and a whinny, and a whistle, and a woof and several loud yee-haws. When you live in the highest incorporated city in North America, you learn to make the most of, and love, winter."

One of the Most Outrageously Beautiful Spots in the State: Sunset Magazine
"A Swiss ski chalet at the base of the mountains, with a fireplace and cuckoo clocks to boot, for less than $100? Yep. The unassuming little Inn of the Black Wolf, in the shadow of Mt. Elbert, has no-frills room, but you can eat like a king, sit by the fire, and snowshoe through one of the most outrageously beautiful spots in the state." 

One of the State's Best Bike Trails: The Denver Post
"The views, the workout and the history on this 11.6-mile paved trail (Mineral Belt Trail) combine to make it one of the state's best bike trails. Walkers and in-line skaters are welcome, too, but nothing motorized, which means by the time you get to the top and the stunning views of the Sawatch and Mosquito ranges, the only sound will be your heavy breathing from making it to 10, 653 feet."

Smithsonian of the Rockies: The Dallas Morning News
"Colorado boasts some great mining museums that provide insight into the industry's impact on the state. The National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum in Leadville turns the topic (mining) into a riveting experience with its clever exhibits and beautiful displays. It has been called the Smithsonian of the Rockies."

Where to Go When the Gold Bug Bites: MSNBC.com
"This year marks the sesquicentennial of the 1859 Colorado Gold Rush and several communities in the state have joined forces to create the Colorado Gold Trail, a scenic route that provides a guide to many of the historic highlights. Along the way, visitors can explore The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum in Leadville, catch a performance at the 130-year-old opera house in Central City or experience live music, old-time arts and crafts and the always-hilarious outhouse races during Kingdom Days in Breckenridge."

Smaller Ski Areas Offer Just as Much Snow Fun: The Denver Post
"On Tennessee Pass, [Ski Cooper] is among Colorado's best family resorts, offering a chance to ski where the famous World War ll 10th Mountain Division skiers trained."

Getting Relief From the Heat at 10,000 Feet: KUSA, Denver NBC
"Hot days are something you never really find in Leadville, where the temperature has never gotten high than the 80s."

Leadville Picks Up Pace with Wild Ride: The Denver Post
"The reality is that nothing really happens fast in Leadville. Unless you're brave enough to strap on a pair of skis, wrap a rope around your hand and attempt to hang on behind a thundering quadruped going by the name of Renegade, Streak or Digger, that is."

Lofty Leadville is High on History, Culture: The Denver Post
"Here's an insider's look at the Leadville most tourists never see — a town that's literary, sympathetic to vegetarians and still holds a few surprises for history buffs."