Ten years after that, the country's first high speed quad was installed. Ten years later, visits were up to 221,000 and two more double chair lifts were installed. 17,000 visitors skied at the resort during the first year. The ski area opened in December of the same year with one double lift and a T-bar. In July of 1961, a Kansas based lumber company was issued a permit to build a ski area in Breckenridge, ensuring the town's survival as the county seat. As mining came to an end, ski enthusiasts began to realize the potential the surrounding mountains held. And in 1960, the town's population dropped to 393, creating fear in residents that their home would soon be considered a ghost town. 1942 brought an end to Dredge Boat mining as all metal was melted down during WWII. Today, the school is home to the Colorado Mountain College. In 1909 gold mining funds built a K through 12 school, equipped with an indoor swimming pool. Obviously, no trains arrived in Breckenridge that winter as it snowed every day from November through February. In 1898, aka the "Big Snow Year", residents were forced to build tunnels through town to get to stores and their houses. This same year brought fame to Breckenridge when a 13.5 pound gold nugget was found by local miners Tom Graves and Harry Lytton. In 1882, the Railroad arrived in Breckenridge, climbing up and over what is today known as Boreas Pass Road. The Breckenridge Navy, a failed attempt to navigate a water route from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean in 1869, made its way from Breckenridge to the Colorado River where the trip was cancelled. In 1859, the word spread that gold had been found around the Blue River and a base camp, eventually known as Breckenridge, was set up along this river. Here is an early (pre-ski resort) historical account of Breckenridge. Summit County's Museums and Historic Sites
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