Ashcroft, a small town situated 10 miles south of Aspen, Colorado, underwent a series of name changes, starting as Castle Forks City and briefly becoming Chloride until it permanently adopted the name Ashcroft in 1882. This town’s roots trace back to its founding in 1880 by two Leadville miners who uncovered a valuable silver vein in Castle Creek Valley. The news spread quickly, transforming Castle Forks City, which had buildings and streets within two weeks of its establishment, into a bustling town with 3,500 residents by 1885. However, its decline began as the shallow silver deposits were depleted and residents departed in pursuit of richer strikes in nearby Aspen. The town eventually became a ghost town after the last remaining resident, Jack Leahy, passed away in 1939.