Wason

Colorado's high-country ghost towns sit at altitudes that would give a flatlander nosebleeds — silver camps killed by an 1893 vote in Washington.

Wason, Colorado, also spelled Wasson, became the county seat of Mineral County, Colorado, when the state legislature established it on March 27, 1893. Disagreeing with their decision, the Town Council voted Creede as the county seat in November 1893. To solidify the matter, a group of town residents went to Wason in the night. They dismantled the courthouse and took it with the county records to Creede. The Wason town was located on Colorado State Highway 149, 2.3 miles (3.7 km) southeast of Creede and 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Wagon Wheel Gap.

The on-the-ground condition of Wason is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Wason is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Wason is roughly 37.8369, -106.8917 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.