Columbine, Routt County, Colorado

Columbine or Columbine Gold Camp is a former gold mining community in Routt County, Colorado, United States (near Clark, Colorado). Now it is an unincorporated community, historic district, and a rental cabin resort. It dates from around 1895. It was listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

It is located at 8697 ft elevation.

Description
The historic register listing gave the community a bit of a boost. The listing included 20 contributing buildings and a contributing structure on 5.2 acre.

Specific buildings include:
 * General Store / Columbine Mercantile Store (1898). Built by James R. Caron, a store and post office from 1898 to 1967, a Conoco gas station from 1915 to 1967.  Now the registration office for cabin rentals.
 * Oil House (c.1915). Built by James R. Caron, it was used to store kerosene sold in the general store.
 * Skiers Cabin (c.1895), which served as "Hitter's Mercantile" before James Caron purchased the property and moved the store in 1898 to the Columbine Mercantile building. One-story north-facing front-gabled log building with daubing, with notched corners at the north end and with metal roof installed in 1994 that extends out from the south end to two timber posts.  Although altered, has historic integrity.
 * Skiers Cabin Woodshed (1940s). One of two woodsheds built by Ross Crossley, a log building with notching and with a flat metal roof.

About 20 more buildings and structures exist. <!--- long quote from NRHP document, to be edited down ... Merchants Cabin (5)1950s. Robert Lundquist, builder. Photographs 13, 14. Contributing.One of six small cabins built by Lundquist, it was originally used as a  shower house. The one-story rectangular wood-framed building displays a milled log exterior and a  front-gabled metal roof. The concrete foundation and metal roof were both installed in 1994. A wood porch was added to the east elevation in the 1980s. Three wood steps lead to the porch which has a front gabled roof supported by timber posts. A wood- framed wood door with glazed window in the upper half is off center on the east elevation. A wood-framed window is located at the right of the door. Two wood-framed sliding windows are on the south elevation. The north elevation has a wood-framed sliding window located on the left. The rear addition was constructed in the 1980s. It conforms to the original log building, but is distinctive from it. The north elevation has a wood-framed wood door with a  single glazed window in the upper half. A small one-over-one double-hung wood-framed window is to the right. The west NFS Form 10-900a (Rev. 8/66) OMB No. 1024-0018National Register of Historic Places United States Department of the Interior Continuation Sheet National Park ServiceColumbine Section number 7 Page 4_ Routt County, Coloradoelevation has a metal vent in the gable end and a  wood-framed sliding window on the right. A wood- framed sliding window is  on the south elevation of the addition. While altered, Merchants Cabin is in good condition and retains its physical integrity.Merchants Cabin Woodshed (6)1950s. Robert Lundquist, builder. Photograph 14. Contributing.One of two woodsheds built by Crossley, the one-story rectangular log building has a flat metal roof withexposed log rafters on the north and south ends. A milled timber door is on the north elevation. Thewest elevation has an unframed window opening. There is no foundation. The woodshed is in goodcondition and retains its physical integrity.Porcupine Cabin (7)Ca. 1896. James R. Car on, builder. Photographs 16, 17. Contributing.Originally a miner's cabin, it  became a  rental cabin as times changed. The building is a one-storyrectangular building with round log walls, notched corners and chinking. It has a front-gabled metal roofthat was replaced in 1994. The north elevation entrance has a wood plank porch over milled logs with alog rail. The timber door is located to the right of center and a painted wood-framed two-over-twowindow is  to the left of the door. Two wood-framed windows with two-over-two sidelights are on theeast elevation. The original stone foundation was replaced in 1994 with a concrete foundation. Adeteriorating covered wood walkway between Porcupine Cabin and Gold Camp Cabin was in existencein 1936 but several years later it  was removed. Porcupine Cabin is in good condition and, althoughalterations have occurred, it retains its physical integrity.Porcupine Cabin Privy (8)1940s. Ross Crossley, builder. Photograph 19. Contributing.The only privy built by Crossley, it is no longer in use. The small painted lapboard sided square buildinghas a gabled metal roof and wood framed east facing door. There is no foundation. The privy is in  goodcondition and retains its physical integrity.Baker Cabin (9)1950s. Robert Lundquist, builder. Photograph 20. Contributing.One of six small cabins built by Lundquist the one-story rectangular log building has a front-gabledmetal roof. It rests on the original stone foundation. This is the only cabin within the district with wallsof vertical logs. A new wood-framed wood paneled door is on the east elevation just right of center. Apainted wood-framed sliding window is to the left. A two-over-two painted wood-framed window iscentered on the south elevation. A small two-over-two window is on the north elevation at the rear. Asmall wood sign is to the right of the front door reading "Baker." Baker is in good condition andretains its physical integrity.Gold Camp Cabin (10)Ca. 1896. James R. Car on, builder. Photographs 22, 23. Contributing.Another early building constructed by Caron, it was originally used as a  miner's cabin, and is  now arental cabin. The one-story rectangular log building has notched corners and a front-gabled metal roofwith stovepipe. Three steps lead to the milled timber wood porch supported with log blocks. The porchhas a log railing. A wood-framed timber door is on the east elevation. A single-paned wood-framed NPS Form 10-900a (Rev. 8/f6) OMB No. 1024-0018National Register of Historic Places United States Department of the Interior Continuation Sheet National Park ServiceColumbine Section number 7 Page 5_ Routt County, Coloradofixed window is to the right of the door. Two wood-framed fixed windows are on the south elevation and a wood-framed timber door is on the west elevation. The north elevation has a painted wood-framed double window on the right. The structure previously had an enclosed porch added in the 1970s. In 1994 the porch was removed to reveal the original facade. A deteriorating covered wood walkway between Porcupine Cabin and Gold Camp Cabin was in existence in 1936 but it was removed several years later. Gold Camp Cabin is in good condition and, although alterations have occurred, it  retains its physical integrity.Gold Camp Cabin Woodshed (11)1940. Ross Crossley, builder. Contributing.One of two woodsheds built by Crossley, the small rectangular milled log building displays notchedcorners and a flat wood roof. A timber door is on the south elevation to the right. An opening to the leftof the door is covered with milled lumber. There is no foundation, but the structure does have a woodfloor. Gold Camp Cabin Woodshed is in good condition.Moose Cabin (12)1950s. Robert Lundquist, builder. Photographs 21, 24. Contributing.One of six small cabins built by Lundquist, the one-story rectangular wood-framed building displays milled log siding and a front-gabled metal roof. It rests on the original stone foundation. Four steps lead up to the porch entrance, which has a log rail on the left. The right side of the porch has an attached framed log woodshed with metal shed roof. The left side of the porch has a log railing. The entrance to the woodshed is a wood-framed doorway on the south elevation. Two single-paned small fixed windows are on the east elevation of the woodshed. The cabin entrance is a  wood-framed new wood paneled door on the east elevation next to the woodshed. A painted wood-framed two-over-two fixed window is left of the door. A small wood-framed hinged window is on the north elevation at the left and a  painted wood-framed fixed window is centered on the south elevation. Two small painted wood- framed fixed windows are on the west elevation. Moose is in good conditions and retains its physical integrity.Moose Cabin Woodshed (13)1950s. Robert Lundquist, builder. Photograph 21. Contributing.This is a small rectangular one-story log building with notched corners and a flat new metal roof. A newpainted timber hinged door covers the north elevation opening. There is no foundation. The woodshed isin good condition and retains its physical integrity.Honeymoon Cabin (14)1939. Leonard Juel, builder. Photographs 25, 26. Contributing.This is the only building in Columbine constructed by Leonard Juel. It is a  one-story rectangular logbuilding with notched corners and a front gabled metal roof. It rests on the original stone foundation. Aporch is located across the east elevation of the building and has a log railing. A wood-framed door isoff center on the east elevation, which has a glazed fixed one-over-one window in the upper half. Awood-framed one-over-one window is located on the east elevation to the left of the door. A smallwood-framed fixed glazed window is on the east of the north elevation and a hinged glazed window iscentered on the south elevation. Honeymoon is in good condition and retains its physical integrity. NPS Form 10-900a (Rev 8/86) OMB No 1 024-0018National Register of Historic Places United States Department of the Interior Continuation Sheet National Park ServiceColumbine Section number 7 Page 6_ Routt County, ColoradoHoneymoon Cabin Woodshed (15)Late 1950s. Robert Lundquist, builder. Noncontributing.This small building of milled timber and plank corners has a shed-type metal roof. There is nofoundation but the front of the building sits on concrete and stone pilings. A doorway on the eastelevation is located at  the far right. Although the woodshed is in  good condition, it was built outside ofthe period of significance and does not contribute to the district.Summit Creek Barn (16)1912. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, builder. Photographs 5, 15. Noncontributing. Originally built as an agricultural barn for the nearby U.S. Forest Service Summit Creek Guard Station (listed on the National Register) the barn was moved to Columbine in the 1970s. It is  now used as a workshop. This one-and-a-half story log building displays notched corners, a metal front-gabled roof, and is  supported on concrete footers, added since 1994. Vertical milled logs are in the gabled ends. A painted wood door is located in the west gabled end, which has two glazed windows in the upper half. A wood milled timber door is on the south elevation. A small two-over-two wood-framed window is  to the right of it. The north elevation has a wood-framed center opening with a small two-over-two wood- framed window to its left. The east elevation has a timber door on the right and a two-over-two fixed glazed window on the left. Although its condition is good, the Summit Creek Barn no longer retains its historic context and thus does not contribute to the district.Beaver Cabin (17)1950s. Robert Lundquist, builder. Photographs 27, 28. Contributing.Another one of the six similar cabins built by Lundquist, this one-story rectangular wood-frame building displays milled log siding with a front-gabled metal roof. It rests on the original stone foundation. A porch with a log railing is on the east with entrance provided by steps on the south end of the porch. At the north end of the porch is a framed woodshed abutting the building. The woodshed has an opening on the south elevation and a window opening on the north elevation. Entrance to the cabin is through a wood-framed wood paneled door on the right of the east elevation, immediately to the left of the woodshed. A double wood-framed fixed window is  to the left of the door. A fixed single paned painted wood framed window with sidelights is on the south fa9ade. Two painted wood-framed one-over-one windows are on the west elevation and a small single paned wood-framed window is  on the north elevation at  the left. Although alterations have been made, Beaver is in good condition and retains its physical integrity.Car on House (18)Ca. 1896. James R. Car on, builder. Photographs 35, 38. Contributing. Built by James Caron as his residence, this building has traditionally served as the owners' residence. The one-story rectangular building of milled logs with daubing, sits on a new concrete foundation. The building has a front-gabled metal roof with two stovepipes. The east-facing front gable extends over the porch and is supported by timber posts. Vertical milled logs are in both gabled ends. Steps with a log railing lead to the front porch, which is  elevated and supported by log and timber posts. A log railing surrounds the porch, which was replaced in the 1980s. The entrance is a centered painted wood-framed, wood paneled door. A one-over-one double-hung window is on either side of the door. A one-over-one double hung painted wood-framed window is on the south elevation at the right. A painted wood- framed fixed window with sidelights is on the south elevation at the left. The north elevation has a one- NPS Form 10-900a (Rev. 8/86) OMB No 1024-0018National Register of Historic Places United States Department of the Interior Continuation Sheet National Park ServiceColumbine Section number 7 Page 7_ Routt County, Coloradoover-one painted wood-framed window and a smaller, similar window. A 15-foot addition was added in 2002 at the rear of the building. It conforms to the materials in the original building, but clearly reads as a later alteration as the notched corners of the original log building are visible. A wood-framed wood paneled door is centered on the west elevation flanked with one-over-one double-hung wood-framed windows. The roof is new. Although altered, the Caron House is in good condition.Sauna (19)1912. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, builder. Photograph 34. Noncontributing.The Sauna was originally used as a shower/spring house at the nearby U.S. Forest Service Summit CreekGuard Station (listed on the National Register). The Sauna was moved to Columbine in the 1970s. Theoriginal building has notched corners and a gabled roof with board and batten in the gabled end. Aboard and batten addition was added on the east. It has a shed-type metal roof and metal stovepipe. Awood-framed wood door is on the north elevation. Although its condition is good, the Sauna no longerretains its historic context and thus does not contribute to the district.Loggers Cabin (20)1950s. Robert Lundquist, builder. Photographs 29, 30. Contributing.One of the six cabins built by Lundquist, this one-story rectangular wood-framed building with milledlog siding has a front-gabled metal roof. It rests on the original stone foundation. Six steps lead to theelevated porch on the east elevation. The gable extends over the porch, and is supported by log posts.The porch has a log railing and the opening under the porch on the south is  covered with milled logs. Awood-framed wood paneled door provides entrance on the east and a wood-framed window is  to theright of the door. A small wood-framed fixed window is on the north elevation at the left and a  similarwindow is  on the south elevation. Two wood-framed three-over-three fixed windows are on the westelevation. There is no foundation. The front of the building is supported on wood blocks, while the rearof the building is  situated into the hillside. Loggers is in good condition and retains its physical integrity.Sisters Cabin (21)1950s. Robert Lundquist, builder. Photographs 31, 32. Contributing.Yet another of the six Lundquist cabins, this one-story rectangular wood-framed building is constructedof milled log siding with front gabled metal roof. It rests on the original stone foundation. A porch is onthe east elevation and the gabled roof extends over a portion of the porch on the right and is supported bya timber. The porch has been enclosed on the left with vertical timbers. A set of eight steps leads to theporch from the east and a set of four steps to the porch is  on the south, which has a  log railing. Theremainder of the building is milled logs. A wood-framed sliding window is  on the south elevation. Asmall wood-framed hinged window is on the left side of the north elevation. There is a stone foundation.The front of the building is supported on wood blocks while the rear of the building sits on the earth intothe hillside. Sisters is in good condition and retains its physical integrity.Snowbound Cabin (2)1900s. Photograph 10. ContributingThis building was originally a miner's residence but is  no longer being used. The one-story rectangularlog building has a front gabled metal roof and exposed log corners. A recessed painted wood-framedwood paneled door has glazing in the upper third and is on the east elevation. To the left of the door is arecessed painted wood framed fixed window. Sheets of lumber have been nailed to the south elevationto prevent exposure. There is no foundation and the building is deteriorating. NPS Form 10-900a (Rev. 8/86) OMB No. 1024-0018National Register of Historic Places United States Department of the Interior Continuation Sheet National Park ServiceColumbine Section number 7 Page 8_ Routt County, ColoradoSnowbound Cabin Woodshed (23)1900s Photograph 10. ContributingBuilt at the same time as the adjacent cabin, the woodshed is no longer in use. One-story rectangularnotched log building with flat metal roof. A door opening is on the west elevation and a windowopening on the south elevation. The building is deteriorating.Bear Cabin (24)Ca. 1896. James R. Car on, builder. Photographs 36, 37, 38. Noncontributing. Originally built as a miner's cabin, today the building is  a  rental cabin. The one-story rectangular log building has a new metal roof and concrete foundation. The south elevation entrance has a small gabled roof extending out over the porch. Three steps lead to the porch, which has a log railing. The door is painted wood paneled with glazing in the upper half. A double, sliding, painted wood-framed window is to the left of the door. The left side of the south elevation is an addition, is  slightly recessed and has a painted wood-framed double window. The west elevation has two sliding windows. The east elevation has two wood-framed sliding windows. The north elevation has one wood-framed sliding window toward the east end. A "lean-to" was removed from the south elevation of the building and the area was used to construct a bathroom with a  gabled roof, changing the roofline of the cabin's facade. All the windows are new. Although in good condition, alterations have occurred on the Bear Cabin that have compromised its integrity. It no longer contributes to the district.Bear Cabin Privy (25)1970s. Wayne Adamo, builder. Photograph 38. Noncontributing.This functioning privy is a  one-story square painted timber building with metal shed roof. The hingedtimber door is on the south elevation. A small fixed single-paned window is in the upper portion of thedoor. Although the privy is in good condition and its character connects to the town of Columbine, itwas constructed outside of the period of significance and therefore is noncontributing." --->

Columbine is located in the Sierra Madre Mountains (of Colorado and Wyoming) about 5 mi northwest of Hahns Peak Village and 30 mi north of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, with a good view of Hahns Peak.

It is a populated place; also 14 cabins are available for rent, billed as 1800s gold miner cabins.