Dillon / Silverthorne History
Two towns in Colorado that have some history in common are Silverthorne, Colorado and Dillon, Colorado. In the late 1800s, the town of Dillon was located at what is now the deepest spot in Lake Dillon. At that time a trading post and a cluster of small cabins had been established where three rivers came together in the valley. But as Denver grew, the larger city needed water storage in the high country and the small town of Dillon has to relocate to accommodate the reservoir that was built and became known as Lake Dillon.
Dillon / Silverthorne History Listings: (add your listing)
Copper Mountain Stables
Copper Mountain Stables provides Summit County and Vail Valley with some of the most beautiful Trail Rides and Sleigh Rides around.
(970) 968-2232
Shirt Off My Back
We have incredible Colorado, Breckenridge, and Keystone silk-screened and embroidered t-shirts, sweatshirts, garments and goods, plus a huge selection
(970) 453-1717
The old town of Dillon had to relocate to what is now the northeastern shore of Lake Dillon when the reservoir was completed in 1963. Silverthorne had its start as a convenient place to move the old buildings from the site of the old Dillon. The first general store and the first post office were old buildings that had been part of the old Dillon. Even the Old Dillon Inn which is noted for its "BA" sign – it actually is supposed to read "BAR", but the "R" has never been illuminated – was another building that originated in old Dillon. Even the cemetery from the town of Dillon was moved due to the formation of the reservoir.
Silverthorne was not incorporated as a town until the late 1960s. Silverthorne was originally planned to be a year round sports destination as a result of the reservoir formed by the building of the Dillon Dam. But the boom of recreational skiing which occurred in the late 1960s turned both towns – Dillon and Silverthorne – into bedroom communities for the seasonal workers who worked at the various ski resorts in Summit County. With the completion of the Eisenhower Tunnel which goes through the Continental Divide near Loveland Pass, commercial business also started to locate in both Silverthorne and Dillon. Both towns now enjoy a unique quality of life as a result of their fantastic alpine environment, and great outdoor activities.
42FOther pages you might find helpful:
Historical sites in Dillon
There are a handful of interesting historical sites in the town of Dillon, Colorado.
The Silverthorne Museum
Information on the exhibits at the Silverthorne Museum.
