Popular ski areas are close to the reservoir, including Copper Mountain, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, and Breckenridge.

In 1859, a large party of gold-seekers led by Ruben Spalding discovered gold near the headwaters of the Blue River,[1] which prompted a population surge in Summit County, Colorado.

[3] Dillon was moved a second time in 1892 when the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad arrived from the northeast.

The town was located at the confluence of three rivers: the Blue, Snake, and Tenmile Creek to provide one station for the two railroad lines.

By then, the board had already acquired most of the water rights in the valley; in 1956, it notified the remaining residents and business owners they must sell and leave by September 15, 1961.

Tunneling began from the east portal, just west of Grant on the North Fork of the South Platte River, but was eventually done from both ends as well as from a 916-foot (279 m) deep access shaft 1.7 miles (2.7 km) northwest of Montezuma.

At its deepest, the tunnel passes 4,465 feet (1,361 m) below the surface near Santa Fe Peak on the continental divide.

The original church building is now a museum operated by the local Historical Society with many Dillon artifacts of the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Keystone Ski Resort is a large tourist destination that is located approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) away.

Breckenridge, one of the largest ski resorts in Colorado, is located approximately 7 miles (11 km) from Dillon Reservoir.

Starting in Frisco and going clockwise, it goes behind the Summit Middle School, marshlands, and continues across the Dam road.

Dillon Reservoir has a maximum elevation of 9,017 feet (2,748 m) above sea level and a capacity of 257,304 acre-feet (320 million cubic meters).

In 2008, residents of surrounding areas found Dillon Dam Road closed on numerous occasions for security reasons.

found two men videotaping a music video on the dam road, already closed at the time for weather purposes.

The men were cleared of any suspicious activity though the dam remained closed for a short time afterward.

[12] On July 8, Denver Water closed the dam road to all traffic apart from emergency vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists, leading to a lawsuit against the utility company by Summit County representatives.

Emergency vehicles requiring the use of the road during the closed hours must lower the steel barricades on both ends to get through.

[15] In 2011, the Dillon Dam Road was closed completely for several weeks while security was revamped with new guard shacks on either end of the structure, improved lighting and roundabouts.

With the completion of the project in October, the road was reopened 24 hours a day with guards stationed on either end around the clock.

[17] To reach that level, Denver Water uses several sources of which Dillon Reservoir provides forty percent of the total amount, or 106,000 acre-feet (131,000,000 m3).