A Toxic Colorado Ghost Town: Gilman - Part 2

About this episode

This episode explores the rise and fall of the toxic ghost town of Gilman, Colorado, focusing on its mining history and environmental impact.

Dive in with us for Part Deux of the story of the forgotten and contaminated ghost town of Colorado, Gilman and the Eagle Mine. Zinc mining turned toxic and this town packed up and left. Episode 59 – Echoes After Dark A town built on ore… and abandoned because of it. In this episode of Echoes After Dark , Monica and Sara head into the mountains of Colorado to explore the rise and fall of Gilman Ghost Town , a once-thriving mining community perched above the Eagle River. What began as a booming hub for zinc, lead, and silver quickly became one of the most toxic industrial sites in the state. At the center of the story is the Eagle Mine , operated over the decades by major companies including New Jersey Zinc Company and later Gulf and Western Industries . As production intensified, so did the environmental cost—acid mine drainage, heavy metal contamination, and polluted waterways that would eventually trigger federal intervention. By the 1980s, the damage could no longer be ignored. Gilman was officially abandoned, and the site was declared part of an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund cleanup effort , marking it as one of the most contaminated areas in the country. Monica…

People in this episode

Hosts: Monica Martin, Sara Rowe

Topics covered

• ghost towns
• environmental issues
• mining history
• toxic contamination
• industrial decline

Keywords

• Gilman
• Colorado
• zinc mining
• toxic waste
• ghost town
• Eagle Mine
• Superfund site
• environmental cleanup

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New Jersey Zinc Company, Gulf and Western Industries, Environmental Protection Agency

Places: Gilman, Colorado, Eagle River

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