Basic Info
Breckenridge was founded in 1859, when gold was discovered in the surrounding hills. For the next several decades the town's fortunes rose and fell as its lodes of gold and silver were discovered and exhausted. Throughout the latter half of the 19th century and the early 20th century, Breckenridge was famous as a mining camp that "turned out more gold with less work than any camp in Colorado," according to the Denver Post. Dredging gold out of the rivers continued until World War II. Visitors today can still see evidence of the gold-dredging operations in the surrounding streams. At 9,603 feet above sea level and surrounded by peaks that climb much higher, Breckenridge is the oldest continuously occupied town on the western slope. The town was originally dubbed Breckinridge, but the spelling was changed after its namesake, a former U.S. vice president, became a Confederate brigadier general in the Civil War. Due to an error by a cartographer, Breckenridge wasn't included on the official U.S. map until 1936, when the error was discovered by a member of the Breckenridge Women's Club. Much of the town's architectural legacy from the mining era remains, so you'll find stores fit into authentic Victorian storefronts, restaurants, and bed-and-breakfasts tucked into Victorian homes. Surrounding the town's historic core, Breckenridge is packed with condos and hotels both in the woods and along the roads threading the mountainsides toward the base of the Peak 8.
Welcome to Breckenridge, an authentic Colorado mountain town that greets you with its laid-back vibe and modern amenities. Join us this year as we kick-off our 150th anniversary Breck-style, Breck150. After all, Breck was a town long before it was a ski resort. The town is alive, as we’re pulling out all the stops with vibrant festivities, stellar events and commemorations. Throughout these 150 years, one thing has stayed true - our quaint historic town has remained rich in its character and reputation of being the perfect mountain town. An undeniable charm and casual mountain spirit spreads from the grounded community to 13,000 feet high in the sky at the ski resort summit, making you feel like a local – no matter the season. This bustling Victorian town prides itself with an inviting nature that extends from amped town events to hundreds of restaurants, galleries, cafes and beyond. From shopping to nightlife and dining to culture, you can kick-it-up or kick back, whatever your mood. The moment you arrive, it feeds your soul. It’s the stuff real ski towns are made of. This historic, yet hip persona is one that brings people back over and over again. Breck will transform you, but will never transform itself. We've always been Breck.
