Ula

Colorado's high-country ghost towns sit at altitudes that would give a flatlander nosebleeds — silver camps killed by an 1893 vote in Washington.

Ula, Colorado was the temporary county seat of Custer County, Colorado, from 1877 to 1878. Northwest of Westcliffe, the site of the former town is located on Hemenway Road at Colorado Roads 170 and 175. Voters elected Rosita, Colorado, the county seat as the county seat in 1878. The town of Ula, located near Grape and Taylor Creeks, was founded in 1871. By that time, Joseph Davis homesteaded land near the confluence of the creeks and built a log cabin. Davis built a larger home that was also a general store and hotel. The post office operated from 1871 to 1891.

The on-the-ground condition of Ula is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Ula is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.