Fascinating heritage: Estes Park, Colorado
While staying at Rocky Mountain Park Inn in Estes Park, CO if you take in the Enos Mills Cabin Museum and Gallery you'll take away a fundamental understanding of the heritage of northern Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park's place in it. Enos Mills played a pivotal role.
From the museum you can “look back”10,000 or more years and envision the native Ute and migrating Arapahoe peoples who frequented the area for summer hunting and fishing. Think of what it must have been like for Rufus Sage, the first “documented” American visitor to the region, arriving in 1843.
Several area trading posts were established by the 1830s (thus Fort Lupton, Fort St. Vrain, etc.) but actual homesteaders did not begin arriving until mid century and beyond, propelled in great part by a gold and silver rush. In summer 1860 Joel Estes “settled his family on a high ground” with views of a beautiful valley below. Thus, Estes Park. The winters were too difficult for ranching and the Estes family moved on in 1866. Griff Evans became caretaker to the Estes homestead; he added a few cabins and began hosting “tourists” interested in mountaineering, hunting and fishing. Then, in 1872, a young wealthy Englishman namedThomas Wyndham-Quin, the Fourth Earl of Dunraven conducted a land grab, some say trying to create his own personal Rocky Mountain hunting preserve. Ultimately foiled by legitimate homesteaders who had a different plan for Estes, the Earl opened the area’s first resort: the “Estes Park Hotel” (commonly known as the "English Hotel") in 1877. It wouldn't be the last.
The word was out. By the mid 1880’s over 200 tourists visited Estes Park every summer! In 1879, another influx was prompted by a local silver find. A short lived little mining town mushroomed and “died” within just 3-4 years! By 1885LuLu City was declared "dead." Hikers can visit what remains along a LuLu hiking trail in the National Park.
Several other homesteaders influenced the growth of Estes Park. A well-travelled Englishwoman named Isabella Bird visited Estes Park in 1873. She ventured to climb Mt. Evans and created interest in the region by writing A Ladies Life in the Rocky Mountains. Frederick Chapin, a wealthy East Coast businessman, had the time, interest and will to explore Colorado over consecutive summers. He recorded his mountaineering adventures in a popular book titled Mountaineering in Colorado.
But most significantly, the MacGregorshomesteaded near Lumpy Ridge (still a great place to hike!) and Alex MacGregor’s company, beginning in 1874, built a toll road (today’s US Rte. 36), from Lyons, Colorado to Estes, following a well-trodden pack-horse trail. This new road meant more visitors and more new residents, including the hero of our missive, Enos Mills, who moved to Estes in 1884. Enos evolved into a naturalist and conservationist and, after 1909, devoted his entire life to preserving nearly a thousand sq. miles of Colorado as Rocky Mountain National Park. His relentless advocacy for conservation succeeded—and, thankfully for thousands of people who visit the area every year, the Park was dedicated in 1915 and the NPS Organic Act (1915) was drafted soon after.
Today Estes is one of Colorado’s most family-friendly destinations. Outstanding recreation, sightseeing, relaxation and fun are hallmarks of the area. Plan to visit the remarkable attractions that will engulf you in their fascinating histories. Besides Enos Mills Cabin Museum check out MacGregor Ranch, The Estes Historical Museum, and the Stanley Hotel. And if you’re in the area, plan to attend the annual Estes Park Heritage Festival held mid-August. You may want to consider a fascinatingWestern Circle Tour that includes the Northern Rockies, Wyoming and South Dakota heritage adventures.
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