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The town of Gothic was named for Gothic Mountain to the west. In 1879, some ore showing good potential was found. By 1881, the population was 1,000. Gothic had saloons, stores, post office and many other businesses. Gothic had a reputation of being a wild town. But the ore ran out in a few years. Within a few short years of the boom days, only one man was left. His name was Garwood Judd, and he refused to leave. He was titled as "The Man Who Stayed." He finally died in 1930, and then Gothic was a true ghost town.
Today, Garwood's old residence, the town hall (1880) and a couple of cabins are great reminders of Gothic's past.
In 1860, a miner dipped his tin cup into a stream to get a drink and found gold flakes in the water. This is where the name Tin Cup comes from. In 1879, the first gold mine was started, called the Gold Cup Mine. But the mine was short lived and by 1884, the ore was running out. The Gold Cup finally closed up for good in 1917. Tin Cup became a ghost town.
Today, the original 1903 town hall staill stand and is still being used. The is an old store and many historic old residences. Some new summer cabins blend right in with the older buildings.
To get to Gothic, start in Crested Butte. Take Gothic Road (FR 317) north for 7.5 miles to Gothic.
To get to Tin Cup, start in Crested Butte. Take Highway 135 south about 12 miles to FR 813. Take a right at FR 813 (east). Take this road for about 4 miles until it ends onto FR 742. Take a left and continue on this road past Taylor Park Reservoir. A few miles past the reservoir take a right on FR 785. Continue about 6 miles to Tin Cup.
