The 1908 park, a popular gathering place, is geographically important as a highly visible component of the local landscape and focus of the downtown commercial core.  Such centrally located public parks are a rare resource in Colorado.

Extending for 407 feet over the Colorado River, the 1945 steel rigid connected Parker through truss structure features two 200-foot long spans.  The bridge was designed by the Colorado Department of Highways, fabricated by Minneapolis-Moline Power Implement Company, and built by A.S. Horner. 

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.  

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.

Constructed in 1939, the Rustic style comfort station was one of three built at the Timber Creek Campground at that time.

Constructed in 1939, the Rustic style comfort station was one of three built at the Timber Creek Campground at that time. 

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. 

The Smith-Eslick Cottage Court (SECC) building is architecturally significant as an excellent and rare example of one of Colorado’s earliest auto-tourist accommodations constructed in the Rustic style.  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 found on the Cottage Camp building.  Designed with carports placed directly between lodging units all sh

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. 

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.