Smeltertown, CO

Sitting just northwest of Salida along the Arkansas River, Smeltertown is a tiny, quiet community with deep roots in Colorado's mining heyday. Its most recognizable landmark is a towering 365-foot brick smokestack, standing since 1917 as a monument to the valley's early smelter workers. Today, the former industrial grounds have been cleaned up and reclaimed, leaving a peaceful residential enclave. It gives residents a quiet rural feel right by the water, all while keeping downtown Salida's shops, restaurants, and mountain recreation just a five-minute drive away.