Ghost Towns: 0 for 3

madfranks

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Couple of friends and I went out yesterday to find one of the many ghost towns here in the Rocky Mountain area, and for the third time, just as we get to where the ghost town is, there are signs that say "no trespassing", "private property", etc, etc. This is the third time we've researched and planned trips to these ghost towns, and they are all off limits! We were so close to this one we could see one of the old cabins from where we were, and we had a map showing where all the main buildings used to be. We could see it!!! But we just couldn't walk to it. We were understandably frustrated this time around, but we went back into the city and found a park to hunt. Found nothing good, just a little clad. The only thing I like is the way the coins look after being in the dirt for a while, they get this nice dark color to them, or red if it's a copper cent. Mabe we'll have better luck next time.
 

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Try to find the owner's of the ghost towns and obtain permission...doesn't hurt to ask!
 

I no reada da englash.
I didn't see the sign.
But, I have permission!!!

All good excuses!!!!!!

Get there and hunt.
 

U know what u do. GO at night. Jump the fence. And metal detect those cabins!!!!! There has to be a gold coin there!!! ;D
 

Yes Madfranks
I live in Colorado where private property is the rule for those old mining camps. Colorado has quite a bit of mining history.Those old patented mining claims in those old towns became today's residences. Certainly obtaining permission from the landowners is the proper and correct thing to do.

However, I know a "friend" that does relic hunting in Colorado. First off I am not giving advise here I am just saying what my friend does. There are of course a lot of old abandoned town sites (in most cases nothing remains at the sites) in Colorado. What he has are a lot of detailed land ownership maps of Colorado illustrating what is public land and private land. He looks only at sites which are on public land. These are non posted areas and of course anything which is prohibited, posted or "historic" is simply off limits. In many case he has found some good sites adjacent to old towns(camp grounds, near water) which are on public land. What is the legal aspect of this? I assume it is illegal. I assume relic hunting for frontier relics is illegal on all public lands here in Colorado. However, that is what he does. I know if someone asked him what he was doing(No one has) his answer would be "looking for gold nuggets". Prospecting on Federal public land (which has not been withdrawn or protected ) is legal and permitted under our 1872 mining law. If someone tells you can't use a metal detector on regular public land looking for gold nuggets, he is correct only when you are detecting on his claim. Again I am not saying what he is doing is correct and legal but that's his method.


Perhaps one day I will post some beautiful Colorado store tokens I accidentally found while looking for gold nuggets(I actually do look for gold nuggets here in Colorado).

HH
George
 

jasonbo said:
Call First Save GAs ;D

Unfortunately all my resources (old maps and books) don't list any modern owners of the land, and I don't know how to figure out if the land is privately owned or not without going there and looking. I'm sure there are resources to determine if an area of land is public or private, I just don't know what they are.
 

Go to the county seat and compare your maps with the plat maps. If you can locate the sites on the plat maps you can find the owner from a legal description obtained from the plat maps. I think all seats of county government are required to keep up to date plat maps. At least they are here in OKlahoma. Monty
 

Actually I bought an Colorado landownership Atlas at a large bookstore in Aurora a couple of weeks ago. Shows all landownership in Colorado. However, for more detailed information I go down to the USGS map store(Federal Center off 6th avenue in Denver) and get county maps which show various types of landownership, state, BLM, forest service, private. With the amount of detail on this large county road map I can readily see who owns what. By the way this information is simply essential for me in my outdoor fun. I have to know exactly where I am and what type of land I am on. I have not started with GPS (the next essential thing- but forgive me I am an older guy). Then GOOGLE EARTH. This center by the way has maps for the entire U.S. The link below shows an example.
http://www.usgsquads.com/prod_blm_land_use_maps.htm


HH
George
 

bakergeol said:
Yes Madfranks
I live in Colorado where private property is the rule for those old mining camps. Colorado has quite a bit of mining history.Those old patented mining claims in those old towns became today's residences. Certainly obtaining permission from the landowners is the proper and correct thing to do.

However, I know a "friend" that does relic hunting in Colorado. First off I am not giving advise here I am just saying what my friend does. There are of course a lot of old abandoned town sites (in most cases nothing remains at the sites) in Colorado. What he has are a lot of detailed land ownership maps of Colorado illustrating what is public land and private land. He looks only at sites which are on public land. These are non posted areas and of course anything which is prohibited, posted or "historic" is simply off limits. In many case he has found some good sites adjacent to old towns(camp grounds, near water) which are on public land. What is the legal aspect of this? I assume it is illegal. I assume relic hunting for frontier relics is illegal on all public lands here in Colorado. However, that is what he does. I know if someone asked him what he was doing(No one has) his answer would be "looking for gold nuggets". Prospecting on Federal public land (which has not been withdrawn or protected ) is legal and permitted under our 1872 mining law. If someone tells you can't use a metal detector on regular public land looking for gold nuggets, he is correct only when you are detecting on his claim. Again I am not saying what he is doing is correct and legal but that's his method.


Perhaps one day I will post some beautiful Colorado store tokens I accidentally found while looking for gold nuggets(I actually do look for gold nuggets here in Colorado).

HH
George
yep, that is the exact same thing i do... if you happen across a ranger/sheriff on public land just say "looking for gold nuggets" and they'll leave you alone... as a matter of fact i'll be hitting three old public land sites next weekend that while signifcant, are not historically registered...
 

Thanks for the info! ;D ;D ;D
 

You can do a real property search at the county or online and see who paid the taxes on the place.Get the name and call for permission.I have done this and been given permission.Dont get me wrong ,Ive been told no also,but its the right thing to do.Permission is always best and sometimes we have to go to greater lengthes to get it but its ALWAYS best to abide by and respect others property.Just my 2 cents
 

give casper a call, he'll tell ya where all the good ghost towns are ,, he's friendly !!
 

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