Marble | Gunnison County

Marble has real estate in two distinct areas: the downtown core and the surrounding mountainside. The core area is from Onyx Lane and Juniper Court on the west side to Beaver Lake on the east end. The main streets running east-west through town are Park Street, State Street, Main Street, Silver Street, Marble Street and Hill Street. North-south streets are numerically named, ranging from East 5th Street to West 2nd Street. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town of Marble has a total area of 0.4 square miles.

Homes on the mountainside just outside of the town's core often have wonderful views of the town and the surrounding mountains. Private homes on Serpentine Trail, West Village Drive, Marble Village Drive, Feldspar Road and Perry Road are spread out and more remote. There is ample space on the mountainside for future construction.

Marble is an intimate community tucked away near Mount Baldy, south of Carbondale on Colorado State Highway 133. The small town has less than 150 residents but is well known for the world-class metamorphic rock that has been mined there since the 19th Century. Unlike most of Gunnison County, Marble is on the north side of Schofield Pass, which is inaccessible to most vehicles, and thus is separated geographically from the rest of the county.

Marble is a growing vacation destination, but there currently are not many condominiums for sale. Most of the residences are single-family homes with three or more bedrooms. There are a few smaller duplexes and townhouses, usually with two bedrooms. There are some second homes in the area that are rented by the owners or through a management company for the owners to generate additional revenue from vacation rentals.

Homeowners in the Marble area are typically permanent residents who want to enjoy the serenity of high-altitude living without all of the commercialism and tourism. Or, they are second homeowners who want to utilize the property during their favorite season. For some, it's summertime hiking, biking and playing in the lake, while others live for the powder days of winter.

The town of Marble is probably best known for the ore that is mined there. The uber-pure marble mined in the area has been used at the Equitable Building in New York City, the Colorado State Capitol Building in Denver, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. The marble is so good, it is still exported in large quantities throughout the world. A marble sculpting event every summer in Marble showcases breathtaking craftsmanship.

Neighborhood Highlights

• Marble sits at an elevation of 7,992 feet. It is almost the same elevation as Aspen (8,000 feet).

• Marble had a ski resort from 1971-1974. Originally, plans called for a full resort with a golf course, hotels and vacation condos. The project was not overly popular with the town, public or the Forest Service, and never got off the ground. Today, remnants of the resort remain on private property near town.

• Marble has seven sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Haxby House, William D. Parry House, St. Paul's Church, Marble High School, Marble Mill Site, Marble Town Hall and the Marble City State Bank building.

• Any local will tell you the best eats for miles are at Slow Groovin' BBQ, Marble friendly barbecue joint on 1st Street. Other businesses in town include a Jeep tour guide and a few hotels and inns.