Made in Marble (Colorado, That Is)
One of the hidden gems on the Western Slope of Colorado that my wife and I discovered on one of our many day trips is the little community of Marble. It sits next to Crystal River. It’s not quite 100 miles from our home in Montrose. We recently went there again with friends of ours and enjoyed Slow Groovin’ BBQ - the only restaurant in town (but who needs any other?). Afterwards, we walked among the ruins of what is left of the marble mill building. All that remains of the enormous building are the marble columns that supported it. The building was 150 feet wide and upwards of 1,700 feet long. Its site is next to the Crystal River. This is where the marble for the Lincoln Memorial was milled. The marble quarry itself is about 4 miles up the mountain on the other side of river. The road to the quarry is scary fun and the views are gorgeous - especially in the fall.
Fun fact! The Colorado Stone Quarries Company (who operate the Yule Marble Quarry) have a free area near the quarry where you can pick up marble pieces. We have collected several for our garden. The marble is beautiful! Of course, watch out for the big trucks hauling enormous marble blocks down the mountain!
Rocky Mountain PBS recently did a 30 minute documentary about Marble (that’s the video posted above). The video includes local marble sculptors, too!
Below are a few photos I have taken from our visits there.
Enjoy!
Welcome to Marble, Colorado
Mailbox row in Marble, Colorado
Yule Marble Quarry (operated by Colorado Stone Quarries, Inc.) in Marble, Colorado.
Free marble!
Marble column segment in the old marble mill site area.
A portion of the old marble mill building ruins.
The Crystal River
Maggie plays fetch in the Crystal River
Pulled pork BBQ and a local brew at Slow Groovin’ BBQ in Marble, Colorado.
Scary fun drive from the Yule Marble Quarry down the mountain to the Crystal River below..
