{"id":3817,"date":"2016-02-14T20:59:36","date_gmt":"2016-02-14T20:59:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/216.172.168.58\/rainier\/?page_id=3817"},"modified":"2026-05-19T16:38:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T22:38:25","slug":"about-our-area","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/highelevationdev.com\/westwalllodge\/crested-butte\/about-our-area\/","title":{"rendered":"About Our Area"},"content":{"rendered":"
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About The Crested Butte Area<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

To Know Is to Love Us<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n

Perched just a whisper away from the rhythm of Crested Butte\u2019s wild beauty, Westwall Lodge feels like a carefully kept secret whispered among locals and returning mountain lovers. This lodge blends rustic alpine charm with thoughtful comfort. Think wood-burning fireplaces, cozy nooks, and views that make you pause mid-sigh. Every window frames a living postcard: jagged peaks dancing with light, silent mornings with frost on aspen groves and pines, and star-struck skies that pull you out at midnight just to gaze.<\/p>\n

Step outside, and the landscape becomes your playground. In winter, you\u2019re a few steps from the legendary Crested Butte Mountain Resort, where powder days stretch into endless runs and the \u201clast great ski town\u201d buzz wraps around you like a warm scarf. Summer switches gears but not the thrill: miles of singletrack wind through wildflower-strewn meadows for mountain biking, hiking trails unfurl toward alpine lakes, and the nearby Slate River calls to anglers and floaters alike. Autumn brings a symphony of color and crisp air perfect for trail runs, horseback rides, or simply lingering over coffee on a sun-dappled deck watching clouds drift.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Crested Butte: A Timeline of the Last Great Ski Town<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Pre-1800s<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n
Ute Homeland<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n

Long before miners or skiers arrived, the Ute Indians traveled through the Crested Butte valley seasonally, hunting and living in harmony with the high alpine landscape. The mountains, rivers, and meadows that define the area today were integral to their way of life.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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1860s\u20131880s<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n
Mining Beginnings<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n

Prospectors arrived in the late 1860s searching for silver and gold, giving rise to small settlements. While precious metals proved elusive, rich coal seams were soon discovered\u2014forever shaping the town\u2019s future.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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1880s\u20131950s<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n
Coal Capital of Colorado<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n

Crested Butte became one of Colorado\u2019s leading coal-mining towns, supplying fuel to railroads and cities across the West. During this era, the town boomed with saloons, hotels, schools, and tightly knit immigrant communities. Many of the brightly colored Victorian homes from this period still stand today.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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1962\u20131963<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n
Birth of Crested Butte Skiing<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n

As coal declined, a new chapter began when locals opened Crested Butte Mountain Resort, ushering in a ski culture that emphasized adventure, steep terrain, and independence\u2014far from the polish of corporate resorts.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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1970s<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n
Preservation Over Progress<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n

Facing development pressure, residents made a pivotal decision to preserve the town\u2019s historic character. Elk Avenue and surrounding neighborhoods were later designated a National Historic District, protecting Crested Butte\u2019s architectural soul.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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1980s<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n
Birthplace of Mountain Biking<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n

In 1983, the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association (CBMBA)\u2014the world\u2019s first mountain bike club\u2014was formed. The sport exploded locally, earning Crested Butte its reputation as one of the founding homes of mountain biking.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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1990s\u20132000s<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n
Year-Round Adventure Culture<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n

Crested Butte evolved into a four-season destination, balancing skiing, biking, hiking, fishing, and festivals with a fiercely local identity and environmental stewardship.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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2010s\u2013Present<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n
The Last Great Ski Town<\/h6><\/div><\/div>\n\n

Today, Crested Butte is celebrated for its authenticity: legendary terrain, vibrant arts and music, wildflower-filled summers, and a community that still values independence, creativity, and outdoor life over mass tourism.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\uf0a5<\/span><\/span>\uf0a4<\/span><\/span>

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Take It All In<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n

It\u2019s not just about the terrain\u2014it\u2019s about the rhythm of life here. Crested Butte itself is a village that walks its own beat: art galleries and live music mix with hearty local eateries, farmers markets, and festivals that celebrate everything from wildflowers to bluegrass. From sunrise powder to sunset pints on a patio, Westwall Lodge situates you at the heart of an authentic mountain lifestyle where every day feels like an invitation to explore, connect, and savor the moment.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

See What's Happening<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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