Long before anglers and vacationers discovered the beauty of Almont, the tiny mountain town was bustling with railroad traffic, mining freight and travelers moving through the heart of Colorado’s mining country.
Today, visitors know Almont Resort as a laid-back destination for fishing, live music, dining and outdoor adventure, but the property’s roots stretch all the way back to 1893 — and its story is deeply tied to the colorful history of the town itself.
Nestled at the meeting point of the Taylor and East rivers, where they form the Gunnison River, Almont once served as a vital transportation hub for nearby mining camps including Tin Cup, Gothic and Irwin.
Ore, supplies and passengers passed through town daily before continuing on to Gunnison by rail during the late 1800s mining boom.
Originally named Fisher after early settler Samuel Fisher, the town was renamed Almont in 1881 when the railroad depot arrived. According to local lore, the new name came from the famous Hambletonian racehorse Almont because Fisher’s own horse descended from that bloodline.
Unlike many nearby mining towns that faded into ghost towns, Almont found a way to reinvent itself. As mining declined, the rivers that once powered commerce became the town’s greatest attraction, drawing visitors for fishing, cabins and recreation.
That spirit of gathering and community still defines the resort today.
One of the town’s most memorable events came in 1940, when presidential candidate Wendell Willkie attended a massive fish fry in Almont that reportedly drew 10,000 people.
Decades later, the tradition still lives on through the resort’s Friday Fish Fry at Bar 47, blending a little piece of Almont history with the modern mountain-town atmosphere visitors enjoy today.
Learn more about Almont Resort’s history, dining and events at elkavehospitality.com/almont-resort.
Almont Resort is part of the Gunnison Country Times sponsored content program called Spotlight.
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