The Pitkin Railroad Depot – Old Narrow-Gauge Colorado Railroad Depot Converted to Mountain Getaway Cabin with a Guest House
New to the market is a charming and well-kept piece of Colorado history—the Pitkin Railroad Depot, which is now a cool and comfortable vacation lodging. Situated in the picturesque mining town of Pitkin, this property has a long Colorado history dating back to the early settlement of Western Colorado.
The Pitkin Railroad Depot played a crucial role during the late 1870s Colorado gold rush, sparked by gold discoveries northeast of Gunnison.
In the early 1880s, the narrow-gauge Denver South Park and Pacific Railroad ambitiously aimed to connect high mountain towns. Pitkin, an essential stop before the remarkable Alpine Tunnel through the Continental Divide, linked towns like Keystone, Dillon, Leadville, Breckenridge, Alma, Fairplay, Buena Vista, Morrison, and Denver.
The Pitkin Railroad Depot marked the southwest stop in Pitkin before continuing on to Gunnison.
The Depot
After the rails were removed in the 1940s, the 900-square-foot depot remained empty until the 1970s, when the current owners purchased the property. They have lovingly preserved its history while transforming it into a summer cabin. The interior was remodeled in the 1970s and retains a vintage charm. Modern conveniences such as power, lighting, and plumbing have been added, creating a cozy mountain cottage with a rich history.
The Guest House
Additionally, the property features a charming 1,169-square-foot, 2-bedroom guest house just north of the train station home. The guest house includes a 2-car garage with an upstairs studio, which, though not insulated, offers a unique workspace or potential project for additional living space. The guest house and garage are currently dry but could easily be plumbed for a bathroom and kitchen.
Water and Utilities for this Colorado Mountain Getaway Cabin with Short-term Rental Potential
The property has a high-producing well with a pump rate of 15 gallons per minute. During the remodel, plumbing was installed, replacing the need for the historic “two-holer” outhouse that still stands on the property today, which has also been featured in books about historic mountain outhouses. The home has a robust 200-amp electrical service from the Gunnison County Electric Association and an adequate septic system. The property would serve very well as a short-term AirBnB or VRBO rental.
Pitkin, Colorado, should not be confused with Aspen’s Pitkin County; they are two distinctly different locations!
Pitkin is a historic town known for its rich mining heritage and as a former stop on the South Park narrow gauge line. The local historic hotel is undergoing a complete renovation, and the Stumbling Moose Bar & Grill made news by obtaining the first liquor license in Pitkin in several decades. Surrounded by the Gunnison National Forest, Pitkin is a recreation hotspot with world-class fly-fishing, trophy hunting opportunities, hundreds of miles of Jeep and UTV trails, dirt bike/mountain bike single-track trails, and stunning mountain passes worth an international visit. In winter, the area transforms into a snowy paradise for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, with Crested Butte only slightly more than an hour away. Quartz Creek, a beloved fly-fishing river, is only a stone’s throw south of the property.
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| Price: | $500,000 |
| Address: | 601 State Street |
| City: | Pitkin |
| County: | Gunnison |
| State: | Colorado |
| Zip Code: | 81241 |
| MLS: | 05022-20049 |
| Year Built: | 1881 |
| Square Feet: | 2,069 |
| Acres: | .02 |
| Bedrooms: | 3 |
| Bathrooms: | 1 |
