Colton, Utah – Railroad Mining Ghost Town
Nestled along U.S. Highway 6, just south of the junction with State Route 96, lies the spectral remnant of Colton, Utah, a town that once thrived as a vital railroad hub and mining center. This forgotten settlement, poised almost directly on the line separating Carbon County from Utah County, stands as a poignant reminder of the boom-and-bust cycles that shaped the American West. Today, Colton, Utah, whispers tales of coal, ozokerite, and the colorful characters who once called it home.
The genesis of Colton, Utah, can be traced directly to the rich coal deposits found within Pleasant Valley. Initially, the location existed merely as a railroad siding, a nondescript point along the expanding Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. In 1882, it served as a critical railhead as the railroad pushed its line through the challenging terrain of Price Canyon. The following year, with the completion of the main line in 1883, a crucial spur was constructed, snaking its way along Fish Creek and up into Pleasant Valley. This strategic spur provided a more efficient means of transporting coal from the mines near Winter Quarters (another now-vanished ghost town) than the arduous Calico Road, which had previously been used to haul coal over the mountains to Tucker.
Originally known as Pleasant Valley Junction, the town underwent a transformation in 1898, receiving a new moniker in honor of William F. Colton, a prominent railroad official. The renaming signified more than just a change in designation; it reflected the town’s burgeoning growth and increasing importance. No longer a simple railroad outpost, Colton, Utah was rapidly evolving into a bustling community.
The railroad was the lifeblood of Colton. It boasted a roundhouse for servicing locomotives, a turntable for efficiently turning them around, a bustling depot for passengers and freight, and rows of bunkhouses to accommodate the railroad workers who kept the trains running. Beyond its purely railway-related infrastructure, Colton began to develop the characteristics of a self-sufficient town.
Two large hotels rose to cater to travelers and businessmen, and a vibrant business district sprang up alongside the railroad tracks, offering a range of goods and services to the residents and visitors alike. On the opposite side of the tracks, a massive corral was constructed, transforming Colton into a key shipping point for local ranchers, who used it to transport their cattle to market. A substantial stone schoolhouse was built, educating the children of the growing community, and abundant freshwater springs provided a reliable source of clean water for the entire town.
Coal was the initial economic engine, with a large loading facility built to efficiently transfer the valuable commodity onto waiting railcars. However, the destiny of Colton was irrevocably altered in the fall of 1904 with the discovery of ozokerite, a naturally occurring mineral wax.
The discovery was made by none other than C.L. "Gunplay" Maxwell, a man whose life had been anything but ordinary. A former gunfighter, erstwhile member of the notorious Wild Bunch, and one-time butcher in Price, Maxwell possessed a keen eye for opportunity. Partnering with his lawyer, Mark P. Braffet, he formed the Utah Ozokerite Company, embarking on a venture to extract the waxy substance from what would become the largest known ozokerite mine in the world.
By the end of November 1904, the operation was in full swing. The mine shaft had already reached a depth of over 70 feet, with several 150-foot drifts extending outwards from the main shaft. H.H. Miller was hired as superintendent, organizing the workforce into two shifts to maximize production.
The mine’s rapid progress and promising potential quickly attracted investors. By March 1905, a mill had been constructed on-site, and a 40-horsepower boiler was installed to power the hoists and pumps. The Utah Ozokerite Company went public, and thousands of shares were snapped up at a mere 25 cents apiece.
The Eastern Utah Advocate, a local newspaper in Price, enthusiastically reported on the mine’s progress on its March 9, 1905, front page, highlighting the significance of the discovery: "Ozokerite is a very rare mineral, never having been discovered in the United States outside of Utah [several deposits are found in the Mexican Bend area of the San Rafael River]. Its very extensive uses in this country have heretofore been supplied from Bohemian mines." The article further noted that ozokerite was a crucial component in the manufacturing of the then-new phonograph records.
For "Gunplay" Maxwell, the discovery of ozokerite seemed to be the culmination of a life lived on the edge. However, his penchant for lawlessness proved to be a persistent shadow.
His past included a bank robbery in Springville in 1896, which led to his capture and imprisonment. He earned a commutation of his sentence by helping to quell a prison break in 1903. Despite his newfound success with the ozokerite mine, his outlaw instincts remained strong.
In September 1907, Maxwell was involved in a gunfight in a saloon in Helper, resulting in his wounding and arrest, though he was later released. In January 1908, he married a wealthy widow from California, seemingly without divorcing his existing wife in Vernal.
Just a few months later, in June 1908, Maxwell and an accomplice held up a Wells Fargo stagecoach in Rawhide, Nevada. He was apprehended but released on bond and never faced trial for the crime. In March 1909, he was arrested again after shooting up a saloon in Green River, only to be released once more.
His violent streak ultimately led to his demise. In August 1909, Maxwell instigated a gunfight with Deputy Sheriff Edward Johnstone on the streets of Price. Johnstone fatally shot Maxwell, and an autopsy revealed that he was addicted to heroin. Maxwell was buried in Salt Lake City, though a tombstone in the Price City cemetery creates the false impression that he is buried there.
The turbulent life and dramatic end of "Gunplay" Maxwell served as a fitting, if tragic, symbol of the wild and unpredictable nature of the era. His story, intertwined with the rise and fall of Colton, Utah, adds a layer of intrigue to the ghost town’s already captivating history.
The decline of Colton began after World War II. As transportation methods evolved and the demand for coal and ozokerite waned, the town gradually faded into obscurity. By the mid-1970s, most of the buildings had disappeared, leaving behind only faint traces of its former vitality. Today, only a portion of the old stone schoolhouse remains standing as a testament to the community that once thrived here. The old general store was moved up the hill and still stands along U.S. Highway 6.
Despite its dilapidated state, Colton, Utah, continues to attract attention from history buffs and bottle collectors. The town has yielded numerous old and rare bottles over the years, and it is believed that more treasures still lie buried beneath the soil, waiting to be discovered. The ghost town is located just 0.8 miles south of the highway’s junction with SR 96, the road leading to Scofield. As you pass through this desolate landscape, take a moment to reflect on the vibrant history of Colton, Utah, a railroad mining ghost town that once played a significant role in the development of the American West.