In the 1860's placer gold was found in Fall River and Silver Creek. A tent city sprang up in the area. In 1868, the first mine opened up, the Alice Mine. The town took its name after the town. The Alice Mine only lasted for 6 months. By 1881, Alice was a mere 15 to 20 tents, but a few cabins were being built and the road to Idaho Springs was being improved. Alice saw minor booms through the years, but they couldn't stop the decline in Alice.
Today, all that is left are a few log cabin walls and the 1915 Alice school, which closed in 1936.
In 1859, a placer gold deposit was found in Clear Creek. Many towns sprung up in the area including Nevadaville, Central City and Blackhawk. This area has been called, "The Richest Square Mile on Earth." Within a few years, the easy to get to gold was gone. It appeared these towns would decline. But then in 1867, a smelter was built in Blackhawk, and business as usual continued. By the 1880's, the best ore was gone. The mines were still producing, but at more of a steady pace until the early 1900's. Then the towns started to die out.
Nevadaville today, has a few buildings left from its heyday. The Bald Mountain Trading Post, a brick and stone false front store, a city hall/fire dept. and another brick store. Central City and Blackhawk are now gaming towns (gambling).
Apex started in 1896 in the Pine Creek Mining District. The main mine in the area was called the Mackey. It was discovered in the 1870's by Dick Mackey. It took many more years for the mine to produce, and it happened by accident. Mackey leased the mine to a man named Mountz and his partner. His partner took off with $30,000 worth of the returns from the first ore. It left Mountz almost penniless. He carefully used the rest of his money to tunnel another 110 feet looking for the main part of the ore body. It didn't produce anything notable. Frustrated, he put all of his dynamite in the tunnel and lit the fuse. The next day he came to take on last look at his mine. He discovered a very rich vein of gold. He quickly contacted the Denver supplyhouse and orderd some ore sacks. He said, "I haven't a dollar, but I've struck it rich. Send the sacks in the next train." Todayin Apex, you can find the old hotel and a few old cabins.
To get to Alice, take I-70 exit 238 (Fall River Road & 275 RD). Go 8.5 miles northwest to Alice. To get to Nevadaville, take I-70 exit 244. Take Highway 6 east for 3 or 4 miles to Highway119. turn left (north) and take this road to Central City/ Blackhawk/ Nevadaville. Or take I-70 exit 240 and take 281 RD north (Oh My God Road) to Nevadaville/Central City. To get to Apex, start in Blackhawk/Central City (Apex is 6.6 miles to the northwest). Take Eureka Street north to Central City Cemetaries. From here take road 3 north and continue 5.5 more miles to Apex.
