Bonanza

Tucked into Saguache County, Colorado, Bonanza is a statutory town that once hummed with mining activity under the earlier name Bonanza City. The name itself comes from the Spanish word for prosperity — an aspirational label that reflected the ambitions of its founders. Today, with a population of just 17 recorded in the 2020 census, the settlement is largely abandoned, a quiet remnant of a boomtown era.

Visitors who make the trip will find a largely empty townsite rather than a curated historic attraction. The sparse remaining population means the place retains an authentically unpolished character. Photography and slow exploration of what remains are the primary draws, and the remote Saguache County setting adds to the atmosphere of isolation.