Old Crystal Mill | Colorado

The photogenic Crystal Mill is an 1892 wooden powerhouse perched precariously on an outcrop above the Crystal River. One of the most photographed mills in the world, the Crystal Mill’s unique location and bizarre shape make it a favourite for photographers. The mill was used in the mining industry to power an air compressor for the nearby Sheep Mountain and Bear Mountain mines. Miners would bore holes for dynamite in the rock using compressed air. The mine ceased operation in 1917, and the Crystal Mill has been abandoned here ever since. The mill is on privately owned land, so it is essential to respect signs and barriers. The Crystal Mill can be photographed from the roadside, and sometimes the owner is there collecting $10 donations to let photographers shoot from the river. There is also the nearby ghost town of Crystal just up the road, where you can find a gift shop and some other abandoned buildings to photograph. (Carbondale, Colorado, USA)