When silver and gold were found near the headwaters of the Conejos River in the early 1880’s, the name Platoro was given to the little town that sprung up on the flats below the mines.  Between the early 1880’s and 1917, Platoro went through 3 mining booms.   Following the last major activity in 1917, there was very little interest in mining until 1959, when Alfred Hoyle of Contract Engineering Co. came to the old Mammoth mine and began his the Platoro Project. 

Even while Platoro was trying to become a mining town, it became better known as a great place to fish.  Believing Platoro’s future might be brighter as a resort town, two minners, Sam Mix, for whom mix lake is named, and Otto blake, fixed up some old mining cabins and rented them out to fishermen.  During the 1930’s the National Forest Service improved the old Stunner pass road making Platoro much more accessible.  Sportsmen began to discover that the Platoro area was one of the best spots in the state to go for trophy elk and deer.

In 1945, Mr. and Mrs. Clint Wiley built the Skyline lodge. From the day the Skyline Lodge  opened it was a success and quickly gave Platoro resort status.

In 1947 a 135-foot Dam was built, at the direction of The Bureau of Reclamation, a crossed the narrow canyon just above town, forming the Platoro Reservoir.  About that same time the new road was completed through Conejos Canyon to the town of Antonito.  Already an established resort town, with a new road and reservoir Platoro continued success was a guarantee.

The reservoir is stocked each year with over 150,000 Rainbow trout, Brown trout and Kokonee Salmon, additionally the Conejos River just below the dam is also stocked annually.  However some of the best fishing in the area is reached only by horseback, Glacier, Tobacco, and Blue Lake are three very popular and productive destinations.