Spruce Lodge
Rio Grande County
The 1927 Spruce Lodge conveys the important role played by the Galbreath Tie and Timber Company in the existence and longevity of the South Fork community. The Galbreath Hotel formed an important part of the commercial complex built by brothers Charles and O.S. Galbreath that served as the early basis of the South Fork economy.
Spruce Lodge (2008 photograph.)
Counted among Colorado’s original lumber barons, the Galbreaths utilized the hotel to conduct business, and once deals were made, they utilized the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad to ship their lumber throughout the San Luis Valley and the western United States. In addition to the operation of the Rustic-style hotel, the Galbreaths shipped produce and owned a general merchandise store. The town owes much of its early prosperity to the brothers and their business enterprises.