From the Vault
Dillon
Old Dillon Main Street c. 1906
This is an image of Old Dillon Main Street in 1906.
Photograph Courtesy of the Summit Historical Society Collections.
The Old Town of Dillon was well-known as a town that was constantly moving. The town moved four times, mainly to where the major railways were coming through. Dillon was a transportation town situated along major railways and highways, serving as a depot and a central location in Summit County. It became a major mercantile hub for ranchers, miners, and the logging industry.
Town of Old Dillon with Swan Mountain in the Background c. 1950s
This image shows the Old Dillon town before the Dillon Dam and Lake Dillon was built c. 1950s. Swan Mountain is in the background. You can see the beginning of the construction of the lake in the bottom left corner of the photograph.
Photograph Courtesy of the Summit Historical Society Collections.
Dillon, Colorado in 1928
This is an image of Old Dillon in 1928.
Photograph Courtesy of the Summit Historical Society Collections; The Riley Family Photograph Collection.
Beginning around the 1910s, the Denver Water Board began purchasing land at what we now know as the Lake Dillon Reservoir. By the 1950s, they secured the necessary water rights to create a reservoir. In 1956 residents learned they must be out of the Old Town by April 1, 1961. Residents either moved their buildings to the new town, built new homes, or used the money from land sales to move elsewhere. Everything in the town had to be moved or burnt down, including all flora and natural landscape. They even moved the cemetery; only the foundation and old road beds still exist under the lake today.
Town of Dillon from the Foot of Loveland Pass
This image shows the Old Town of Dillon from the foot of Loveland Pass.
Photograph Courtesy of the Summit Historical Society Collections; The Ada and Einar Lundgren Digital Collection.
Postcard of Wild Wood Lodge in Dillon
This image shows a postcard of Wild Wood Lodge in Dillon with Red Mountain in the background.
Photograph Courtesy of the Summit Historical Society; The Frances Long Collection.
Today, buildings from the Old Town of Dillon remain historical reminders in Summit County. The 1883 Dillon Schoolhouse operates as the Summit Historical Society offices and museum. Buildings like the Mint, the Arapaho Café, and the Old Dillon Inn serve as restaurants for locals and visitors alike. Interested in learning more about the construction of the Dillon Reservoir and Old Dillon History, click here to learn more about historic boat tours and museum tours from the Summit Historical Society.
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