History
Winter Park, Colorado, in the Fraser Valley is rich in heritage, ranging from the Ute Indians, logging and pioneers, to mining, ranching and the railroad. The area was inhabited by both the Ute and Arapaho Indian Tribes and was discovered by pioneers around 1820. The first settlers arrived around 1850, and the first post office was established in Fraser in 1876, which is now Cozen's Ranch Museum.
David Moffat pioneered the building of a transcontinental
railroad line from Denver to the West Coast. Tracks over the top of
Rollins Pass were completed in 1905 and used steadily until 1928 when
the 6.2 mile Moffat Tunnel was opened. The railroad provided the
impetus for another industry in Grand County, logging.
While the
railroad was pushing west there was a tremendous need for timber. The
logging industry flourished in the early 20th Century, helping provide
valuable raw materials to Denver, a booming city on the border of the
Western frontier.
Although the first ski hills in Grand County
were built in Hot Sulphur Springs in 1911, the railroad helped the ski
industry flourish, especially Winter Park Ski Area, which opened in
1940. Today, the Ski Train still operates most weekends throughout the
winter, providing guests a historic, unique way to come enjoy the
mountains.
69FOther pages you might find helpful:
Grand County Characters
Grand County Characters is a group of volunteers striving to share an accurate portrayal of local history.
Grand County Historical Association
The Grand County Historical Association offers a full history of the area at the Grand County Museum.
Grand County History
A complete history of Grand County, Colorado.
