Colorado is home to countless abandoned homes, towns, and buildings, but it isn’t often that we get an inside look at these places that have seen better days. However, we recently stumbled upon a fascinating video that offers a rare, in-depth look inside one such dwelling, so we simply had to share it. This abandoned sugar mill in Colorado is so fascinating and you’ll want to see inside for yourself!
Please note similar to many other abandoned places in Colorado, the sugar mill is private property, so be sure to follow the “no trespassing” signs on the buildings.
Located in Longmont is the old Great Western Sugar Mill, which once employed hundreds of Coloradans, but is now on the verge of collapsing.
Google Maps / Joe Alsko
Incorporated in 1905, the Great Western Sugar Mill (or Longmont Sugar Company) was not only a producer of beet sugar, but the main producer for all of Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming.
YouTube/The Longmont Channel
By 1920, the mill was processing nearly 2,500 tons of beets per day, which in turn created an estimated 750,000 pounds of sugar!
Flickr/Coralie Ferreira
Sadly, there is no sugar-coating what happened to the Great Western Mill, as sugar producers around the country began closing their doors over the decades, with Longmont sugar mill following suit in 1977.
YouTube/The Longmont Channel
Since its closing, the factory - which is located at 11801 Sugar Mill Rd. in Longmont - has received quite an… err… “makeover” due to years of graffiti…
Michelle S/Google
…dilapidating walls and decaying shelves…
Google Maps / Chelle
…and well as some surprisingly eye-catching artwork.
Google Maps / Cole Steffey In 2020, there was a panel of volunteer experts Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) that discussed efforts to revitalize the Longmont Sugar Mill. A report was generated with the findings and the City of Longmont hopes to see the buildings restored for possible reuse.
To get a better look inside the Great Western Sugar Company, check out this stunning video from ShutterMafia:
Google Maps / Joe Alsko
YouTube/The Longmont Channel
Flickr/Coralie Ferreira
Michelle S/Google
Google Maps / Chelle
Google Maps / Cole Steffey
In 2020, there was a panel of volunteer experts Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) that discussed efforts to revitalize the Longmont Sugar Mill. A report was generated with the findings and the City of Longmont hopes to see the buildings restored for possible reuse.
To learn even more about the Sugar Mill – and to see it in its prime – we also recommend checking out this short, informative video by The Longmont Channel:
To see even more abandoned places, check out our previous article about a hike that leads to an abandoned power plant in Colorado.
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Address: Western Sugar Co-Op, 11801 Sugar Mill Rd, Longmont, CO 80501, USA
