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Grand County
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Cozens Ranch House Built in 1874, the house is considered to be one of the few remaining planked log buildings in Colorado. From 1874 to 1905, the house played an important role in the development of Grand County. During this period, it functioned as a stage stop and the only post office between Georgetown and Hot Sulphur Springs. William Z. Cozens was a pioneer in the Fraser Valley. Eventually, the ranch was willed to Regis College, who used the main house as a chapel for the local Catholic parish for twenty years. The home site was deeded by Regis College to the town of Fraser, and then to the Grand County Historical Association in 1987. (1986 photograph.)
Dutchtown The site consists of four recognizable cabin ruins that were built starting in approximately 1879 in answer to a promising silver strike. Racial differences subsequently caused some of the miners to leave Dutchtown and move to Lulu City. Listed under Rocky Mountain National Park Multiple Property Submission and Mining Industry in Colorado Mining Multiple Property Submission.
East Inlet Trail The East Inlet Trail was one of the more difficult trails in Rocky Mountain National Park during the early part of the 20th century, but it still drew travelers due to the scenic beauty along the way. The dangerous nature of the trail led to Depression-era funding for improvements with Public Works Administration labor. Dry rock walls and intricate bridge abutments were constructed in the early 1930s and allowed for continued use by tourists to the Park. In 1940, Civilian Conservation Corps crews made further improvements that sustained the trail through the rest of the 20th century. Associated with the early resort industry and tourism in the Grand Lake area, the 6.9-mile East Inlet Trail is also representative of the Naturalistic Design philosophy of the National Park Service from the 1920s through the 1940s. The property is associated with the Rocky Mountain National Park and the Historic Park Landscapes in National and State Parks Multiple Property Submissions. More information (PDF, 673 kb).
Grand Lake Community House Located in the center of the historic Town Square, the large one-story Grand Lake Community House is a log Rustic Style meeting hall originally built in 1922. The building hosted club meetings, wedding receptions, political debates, planning hearings, youth activities, bingo games, and live theater productions. Additions have been constructed in the recent past.
Grand Lake Lodge The Rustic style Grand Lake Lodge was originally built between 1919 to 1926 to service organized tours to Rocky Mountain National Park. Situated on approximately 50 acres, there are some 103 buildings in the lodge complex, including the main lodge, 40 guest cabins, 47 employee cabins, and several outbuildings. The lodge remains in operation as a popular local resort.
Grand River Ditch / Specimen Ditch Often considered to be the largest early engineering project designed to divert water from the western slope of the Rocky Mountains to the South Platte River, the 14.3 mile long Grand Ditch was first used to divert water across La Poudre Pass by the Larimer County Ditch Company in 1890. Over the years, the ditch was extended south along the Never Summer Range. In 1936, the Water Supply and Storage Company extended the ditch to Bear Creek, thus completing its construction. Listed under Rocky Mountain National Park Multiple Property Submission.
Greenwood Lodge The 1932 Greenwood Lodge is significant for its association with politics/government and entertainment/recreation as an excellent example of the United States Forest Service Recreation Residence program. The cabin was built during the second phase of the program, which was called Rapid Development and Aggressive Promotion during the period from 1915 to 1940. The cabin is one of two "isolated cabin" properties classified as such by the Forest Service remaining today within the Arapaho National Forest. The Cabin is also significant for its Rustic style architecture and Landscape Architecture, both of which were important parts of the Recreation Residence Program. Character-defining features of the Rustic style on the cabin include V-notching, a native stone chimney, rubble stone foundation, and multiple-paned windows.
Holzwarth Historic District In 1917, the Holzwarths established their homestead claim. In 1919, the Holzwarth Ranch began operations as a guest ranch. There are a number of guest cabins, a taxidermy shop, a wood shed, and an icehouse that were constructed in the years between circa 1902 and 1944. Most were designed by J. Holzwarth. In 1974, the homestead was purchased by the Nature Conservancy, and in 1975 ownership was transferred to the National Park Service. Listed under Rocky Mountain National Park Multiple Property Submission.
Kauffman House The Kauffman House is a large resort hotel constructed in 1892. The log building is typical of early tourist accommodations which sprang up around Grand Lake. There was considerable rehabilitation work performed on the building in 1994, and it continues to be used as a hotel. (ca. 2000 photograph.)
Little Buckaroo Ranch Barn The 1942 Little Buckaroo Ranch Barn is an unusual hybrid, representing a rare melding of a type of barn found almost exclusively in southern Louisiana with materials characteristic of the Rocky Mountain National Park area of Colorado. The barn’s small size, square shape and monitor roof reflect the influence of the barns of Louisiana, while its use of rustic materials represents an excellent local adaptation to its Colorado setting. The barn is also one of the few barns remaining in Rocky Mountain National Park. More information (PDF, 1.41 MB).
Lulu City Site A silver strike in 1879 prompted the arrival of prospectors and entrepreneurs such as Benjamin F. Burnett and William Baker from Fort Collins. They organized the Middle Park and Grand River Land Improvement Company for the purpose of establishing Lulu City, which was named for Burnett’s daughter. By 1881, there were forty cabins and a variety of businesses. High transportation costs and the generally low grade ores resulted in a rapid decline. In 1949, the site became part of Rocky Mountain National Park. There are only three recognizable cabin ruins, with lesser remains of six other buildings, and it is the only platted ghost town within the park. Listed under Rocky Mountain National Park Multiple Property Submission and Mining Industry in Colorado Multiple Property Submission. (1889 photograph.)
Milner Pass Road Camp Mess Hall & House Constructed in 1926, the log building is one of the earliest structures in the park reflecting National Park Service Rustic style architecture. Plans were drawn by the Los Angeles Landscape Engineering Division, under the supervision of Daniel P. Hull. Listed under Rocky Mountain National Park Multiple Property Submission.
North Inlet Trail The Ute and other indigenous groups most likely traveled along North Inlet. In 1868, an audacious mountaineering party perhaps followed the trace of a prehistoric North Inlet Trail. It is generally believed that Major Wesley Powell and a small group of students and associates–the first group on record to successfully climb Longs Peak–approached their objective by tramping up the drainage of the North Inlet. The National Park Service (NPS) began working on the modern alignment of the 11.5-mile trail in 1926. The trail’s design reflects the principles of Naturalistic Design as practiced in the 1920s through the 1940s, specifically in the implementation of the trail design of NPS landscape architect Allison van V. Dunn and trail crew supervisor Bert L. Moses. The property is associated with the Rocky Mountain National Park and the Historic Park Landscapes in National and State Parks Resources Multiple Property Submissions. (2006 photograph.) More information (PDF, 1.35 MB).
Shadow Mountain Lookout Located near the summit of Shadow Mountain, the lookout is the last of four fire detection towers constructed in the park during the Great Depression. Completed in 1933, the three-story lookout was reportedly built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Rustic style lookout consists of a concrete foundation, two lower stories of uncoursed rubblestone masonry, and a frame upper story. Because of its remote location, the construction of the tower was particularly difficult, with mules packing in many of the materials. It remained in use until 1968. Listed under Rocky Mountain National Park Multiple Property Submission.
Shadow Mountain Trail The trail, constructed in 1930, is part of the 20th century movement to develop national parks for public enjoyment. Shadow Mountain-known as Pine Ridge (aneXu haw a) in Arapaho-has probably functioned as a lookout since prehistory. Its 360-degree view surveys Grand Lake, Middle Park and the national park. The 3.3-mile trail accesses Shadow Mountain Lookout (also National Register listed), a fire lookout tower completed in 1933. The trail reflects National Park Service Naturalistic Design principles of the 1920s through the 1940s. The property is associated with the Rocky Mountain National Park and the Historic Park Landscapes in National and State Parks Resources Multiple Property Submissions. (2003 photograph.) More information (PDF, 5.3 MB).
Smith-Eslick Cottage Camp Building The Smith-Eslick Cottage Camp building is important for its role in providing lodging accommodations for motoring tourists to the newly opened Rocky Mountain National Park. The Cottage Camp building is the oldest known early mountain Rustic Cottage Camp building with an integrated carport in Colorado. Built circa 1911, just prior to the 1915 opening of Rocky Mountain National Park and the development of more and better roads in the area, the Smith-Eslick Cottage Camp building is an good example of Rustic style architecture and the first known Grand Lake building designed to accommodate both the tourists and their automobiles. It is a very early and rare example remaining in Colorado. The lodgepole pine construction, vertical, unpeeled half-round, lodgepole siding with complimentary horizontal, unpeeled, half-round, lodgepole siding, gabled roof, exposed rafter tails, and multi-paned windows are the character-defining features of the Rustic style found on the Cottage Camp building. The design includes carports placed directly between lodging units, all sharing one roof. Finally, the Cottage Camp building is important for its long association of offering lodging accommodations for the traveling public. With its original location along Grand Avenue, which later became the main road into town, it was designed to make it easily accessible to the automobile tourist. The Cottage Camp building opened in circa 1911 and continued operating until circa 1965.
Timber Creek Campground Comfort Station No. 245 One of three comfort stations constructed in 1939, the 25 by 10 foot Rustic style building features board and batten walls with vertical, diagonal, and horizontal exterior bracing. Windows are wood framed, and the gabled roof is covered with wood shingles and has exposed log rafter ends. Listed under Rocky Mountain National Park Multiple Property Submission.
Timber Creek Campground Comfort Station No. 246 Constructed in 1939, the Rustic style comfort station was one of three built at the Timber Creek Campground at that time. Although the architect is unknown, it is assumed that it was designed by Howard W. Baker, who was responsible for many of the park’s structures during the 1930s and 1940s. Listed under Rocky Mountain National Park Multiple Property Submission.
Timber Creek Campground Comfort Station No. 247 Constructed in 1939, the Rustic style comfort station was one of three built at the Timber Creek Campground at that time. Although the architect is unknown, as with stations No. 245 and 246, it is assumed that it was designed by Howard W. Baker. Listed under Rocky Mountain National Park Multiple Property Submission.
Timber Creek Road Camp Barn Constructed in 1930, the one-story Rustic style building was designed by National Park Service personnel under the supervision of Thomas C. Vint, Chief Architect. The exposed, undressed log frame walls feature board and batten detailing. The 56 by 20 foot building rests on a poured concrete foundation. The National Park Service moved the building in 2004. The property is associated with the Rocky Mountain National Park and the Historic Park Landscapes in National and State Parks Multiple Property Submissions. (1982 photogrpah.) Additional documentation (PDF, 93 kb).
Tonahutu Creek Trail The trail, established in 1880, is associated with the late 19th and early 20th century resort industry around the Grand Lake region. Like most trails on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, the Tonahutu Creek Trail gained popularity with tourists later than its eastside counterparts. However, tourists were not the first people to use and appreciate this trail. The Arapaho historically preferred the Tonahutu Creek Trail to its alternative, the North Inlet Trail, for reaching Flattop Mountain from Grand Lake. Later work on the 13-mile trail reflects the National Park Service’s Naturalistic Design philosophy of the 1920s through the 1940s. The property is associated with the Rocky Mountain National Park and the Historic Park Landscapes in National and State Parks Resources Multiple Property Submissions. (2003 photograph.) More information (PDF, 964 kb).
Trail Ridge Road Trail Ridge Road, deriving its name from the Ute route through the mountains, was begun in September of 1929 and completed in July of 1939. Featuring spectacular scenery, the road runs through the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park. Listed under Rocky Mountain National Park Multiple Property Submission. (1983 photograph.)
Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Snowplow AX-044 In 1918, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad constructed Snowplow AX-044 to meet its specific needs for dependable snow removal equipment to maintain its mountainous route. Sixty years of continuous service on such difficult terrain as Tennessee Pass demonstrates the success of the plow’s design and construction.
The Barger Gulch Locality B The Barger Gulch Locality B site is significant in the area of Prehistoric Archaeology as it has and will continue to yield information about the early Paleoindian prehistory of the Rocky Mountains. Characterized by repeated use it is also important in the areas of settlement, social history, and industry. The site provides a rare glimpse into the Folsom time period. The Folsom archaeological culture is known worldwide for its unique fluted projectile points (universally known as one of the most difficult to produce items of prehistoric stone technology) and mobile bison hunting lifestyle. The site can inform our understanding of Folsom technological organization, settlement patterns, and mobility, and more generally provide information on Folsom adaptations to mountain environments to compliment the more well known record of Folsom archaeology on the Great Plains.
McElroy Barn Completed as a livery stable in 1904, the walls of the post and beam barn consist of eight inch diameter unhewn logs. A hay loft exists beneath the steeply pitched gabled roof. Initially, Henry McElroy’s livery and feed operation served the increasing population brought about by the coming of the railroad. The barn was the center of activity in Kremmling’s early days. (2004 photograph.)
E.C. Yust Homestead Considered one of the most complete pioneer homesteads in Middle Park, Edward Charles Yust and his family originally settled on the property in 1885. Yust was a prospector and blacksmith who fabricated many of the tools and equipment necessary for ranch operation. Before the town of Kremmling was founded, the main house hosted many social events, including dances. As recently as 1982, the homestead was still being used for agricultural production and was still owned by the Yust family.
Kenjockety The "Kenjockety" cabin property is significant under politics and government and entertainment/recreation as an excellent example of the United States Forest Service Recreation Residence program. The cabins are one of two "isolated cabin" properties classified as such by the Forest Service remaining today within the Arapaho National Forest. Kenjockety is the only such cabin property in the Arapaho National Forest continually used by several generations of the same family for the purpose of seasonal recreational use. The cabins are architecturally significant as good examples of Pioneer Log constructed cabins exhibiting such features as hand hewn logs with saddle, crowned, and V-notch construction, and for the main cabin with Rustic influences of a stacked stone chimney and log construction. The property is also significant for its potential to yield information important to history and prehistory regarding pioneer settlement and seasonal recreation of the area.
Rollinsville & Middle Park Wagon Road - Denver Northwestern & Pacific Railway Hill Route Historic District / Moffat Road |
Rocky Mountain National Park, roughly along Tonahutu Creek to Flattop Mountain, Grand Lake vicinity
