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The Town of Silverthorne is located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains,
approximately 70 miles west of Denver, at an elevation of 8,730
feet. It is situated along the Lower Blue River Valley below peaks
of 12,000 and 13,000 feet and is surrounded on two sides by forest
and Wilderness Area. The Town is considered by many to be the gateway
to Summit County and much of Western Colorado, due largely to its
location as the first exit west of the Eisenhower Tunnel along I-70,
at the intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 6. The new Denver International
Airport is roughly 100 miles from Silverthorne (approximately a
two-hour drive).
Having only been incorporated as a Town since 1967, Silverthorne
doesn't have quite the rich and storied pasts of some of the other
Towns in Summit County; however, credit for establishing the Town
site does go to one of the more colorful characters in the history
of Summit County: Judge Marshel Silverthorn.
Known by most as "Judge" for his appointment as judge
of the Miner's Court in Breckenridge, Silverthorn came to Breckenridge
in 1859 just to regain his health. He ended up staying long enough
to build and operate the Silverthorn Hotel and to provide many important
services to the area. Silverthorn had a penchant for mining and
its associated spoils. On January 18, 1881, he and some friends
purchased 160 acres from the US Government in the area between the
Blue River and the Blue River Parkway in present day Silverthorne.
Having visions of striking it rich in the gold that was in the area,
Judge Silverthorn had become sole owner of the property by April
15, 1882, when he applied for a Mining Patent for the Silverthorn
Placer. Unfortunately, not much wealth, if any, was ever taken from
the site. Upon Silverthorn's death in 1887, his daughters inherited
the placer mine property. Locally, the "e" was added to
the end of the name "Silverthorn" in the 1930's when it
was considered fashionable to do so.
The land saw little activity in the ensuing years, other than changes
in ownership by various mining companies. In 1953, Clayton Hill
purchased it and several other placer mines, including the Willow
Creek and Arctic Placer, for $18,500. Hill subdivided what is now
the Buffalo, Silverthorn and Silverthorne Colorado Subdivisions
on January 5, 1956. In 1957 Robert Z. Roush and Myrth Roush subdivided
Ptarmigan Trail Estates to create a home for the construction workers
building the Dillon Dam, which began in the late 1950's and was
officially completed on December 17, 1963. When Silverthorne became
an incorporated Town on September 5, 1967, it consisted of approximately
400 acres and by 1970, boasted a population of 400. The Town of
Silverthorne has now progressed to a full-service, well-balanced
community of nearly 3,000 people, making it the largest municipality
in Summit County.
The Town's location along the busy I-70 corridor is frequently the
first introduction to Summit County and the resort areas contained
within it. Because of this, the Town experiences a high number of
visitors year round and has developed many facilities to accommodate
them. The Town has also become home to an increasingly higher percentage
of the County's residents, with nearly 80% of homes being occupied
year-round as compared to an average of 36% occupied countywide.
Located near a number of world-class resorts, Silverthorne offers
facilities such as a 62,000 sq. ft Silverthorne Recreation Center
and the Silverthorne Factory Stores with 70 brand name stores. The
new Riverwalk area built along the Blue River offers retail shops,
picnic facilities and a performing arts center for concerts and
community events. Silverthorne is the home of the Raven, a beautiful
golf course community that has recently been redeveloped. The information
offices of the Arapaho National Forest also reside in Silverthorne.
The Blue River, a Gold Medal trout stream that meanders through
the heart of the community, makes Silverthorne a popular fishing
destination. The Blue River Bicycle/Walking Path runs along its
shores and connects to the countywide bike path system. Beyond Town
limits, the river provides a scenic stretch of whitewater excitement
for kayakers, canoeists and rafters. In addition, outdoor activities
in the Ptarmigan & Eagles Nest Wilderness areas make Silverthorne
a popular hiking and backcountry destination.
The Town is also home to many service commercial businesses and
three car dealerships, as well as the UPS and Federal Express offices
that serve the County. In fact, many county residents come to Silverthorne
just to take advantage of these services. Silverthorne has firmly
established itself as a year-round community attractive to the resident
and visitor alike.
For more information, the website address is: http://www.silverthorne.org
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