Highway 550, also known as the Million Dollar Highway, and preserve the Mountain King mine. The 305-acre group of claims acquired by TPL from Royal Gold will protect the outstanding views from U.S. "Meeting the desire of the community to protect these spaces is one of our highest priorities, and we could not do this without the leadership of Sens. "This is some of the most historic and ecologically important land in the San Juan Mountains and protecting it from sprawl is one of our major goals," said Doug Robotham, Colorado TPL director. The bulk of the money for the Red Mountain Project comes from $13.6 million in LWCF funds, in addition to local grants provided by Greater Outdoors Colorado, the Colorado State Historical Society and the Idarado Resource Recovery Fund. In addition, the area was a center of Colorado's 19th century gold and silver mining boom and includes a large number of historic mining structures. The region's aspen groves and alpine meadows draw more than 1 million visitors a year and are home to a pair of species protected by the federal Endangered Species Act - the Canadian lynx and a butterfly known as the Uncompahgre Fritillary. Funding for this purchase came from grants from the Colorado State Historical Society and the Idarado Resource Recovery Fund. The land and structures will become part of a Ouray County Historic Park. Ouray County has also acquired from a private owner several lots, along with three well-preserved historic homes, in the abandoned mining town of Ironton. Preserving this place is about keeping the past alive and preserving our western heritage for future generations to enjoy." McInnis said, "Red Mountain is a vital link to our past, a literal time capsule that helps those of us today remember the lives and times of generations past. The region's scenic vistas, historical value and recreational opportunities make this truly a spectacular landmark." Once a vibrant mining town and now a historical landmark, the effort to preserve Red Mountain will leave a living legacy for generations to come. The provision of these funds is an opportunity for the federal government to build on local initiative and help preserve Colorado land for future generations."Īllard commented, "The Red Mountain project is a shining example of grassroots historical preservation. It is a rare link to the past, which tells us so much about the way the people who helped settle the West lived. He said, "Red Mountain is one of Colorado's most treasured historical places. Scott McInnis, R-Colo.Ĭampbell, a member of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, played a key role in securing funding. Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Wayne Allard, both R-Colo., and Rep. Congress appropriated the funds at the request of U.S. Forest Service to be included in the Uncompahgre National Forest with funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The mining claims were purchased by TPL from Royal Gold, Inc. The latest purchases bring to about 3,600 acres the total protected by the Project, a partnership which includes TPL, the Forest Service, Ouray County, San Juan County, the historical societies of each county, and the Red Mountain Task Force. The 59 separate mining claims cover a total of 456 acres and are part of the Red Mountain Project, a major initiative to acquire more than 11,000 acres of privately-owned mining claims in the mountains between Ouray, Silverton, and Telluride. OURAY, Colorado, - The Trust for Public Land (TPL) today announced it has purchased two more groups of mining claims in the Red Mountain area above Ouray.