Historical Information
Visitors to Grand County are quick to realize the magnificence of their surroundings - being engulfed by the Continental Divide - it is hard not to. Visually it can be overwhelming and done can easily neglect the history behind the rustic mountain towns that make Grand County what it is.
The Fraser Valley was first inhabited by the Ute and Arapaho Indian Tribes and was discovered by pioneers around 1820; the first settlers arrived around 1850. A transcontinental railroad line from Denver to the West Coast was finished in 1905 after being pioneered by David Moffat. The tracks that went over the top of Rollins Pass were used until 1928 when the 6.2 mile Moffat Tunnel was opened. The railroad helped the logging industry as well as the ski industry to flourish in Grand County. The first ski hill in the County was built in Hot Sulphur Springs in 1911. The ski train especially helped the Winter Park ski area, which opened in 1940, to gain popularity. The ski train still operates most weekends today throughout the winter as well as some dates in the summer; it provides people an opportunity to enjoy a unique and historic way to get to the Fraser Valley.
WINTER PARK
Winter Park began as two small settlements, Old Town and Hideaway Park. Old Town came into existence because of the construction-taking place on the Moffat Tunnel. This Tunnel named after David Moffat was constructed to connect Denver and Salt Lake City. It is over six miles long and travels underneath the Continental Divide. Today, it is visible from the base of Winter Park Resort. Hideaway Park came to be simply because it is located near the ski resort. It began as a small settlement with only a handful of buildings and people.
On August 1st 1978 the town was founded and became Winter Park. Shortly after that Nick Teverbaugh was elected mayor and has remained the mayor for over twenty years. In 1980 Winter Park grew again incorporating the West Portal Village. The West Portal Village became the home of the Mary Jane Base and various other buildings at the resort such as the Iron Horse Resort.
With the mission statement being, “To actively develop as a quality resort community, which reflects the beauty of our natural surroundings” visitors can be certain to have a unique experience taking in the culture of such a passionate town.
FRASER
At an elevation of 8550 feet Fraser is nicknamed the Ice Box of the Nation for obvious reasons. This is a quiet town with a colorful history. Fraser was founded by loggers and railroaders who originally named it Eastom. During World War II Fraser became the home of a German prisoner of war camp. The prisoners were captured in Italy and forced to become labors for the production of lumber. It is stated that for the prisoners it was a time of learning about independence and the unforeseen kindness of the locals. Even though the Germans were prisoners of war they were paid seventy-five cents a day for their labor. They were also aloud to form a dance band and take trips to the movie theater. Many of the prisoners stayed in Colorado after the war was over.
Fraser was also home to Susan Anderson in the early 1900s. She was called Doc Susie and was one of the first female physicians. She is described as a tough woman who would travel by snowshoe for her patients no matter what the weather conditions were.
TABERNASH
Tabernash is interesting because it has never been incorporated, there is no mayor, no town council, and has no tax. It was named after a Ute Native American. Author Robert Black, in “Island in the Rockies: the Pioneer Era of Grand County,” stated that a cowboy shot Tabernash in 1878 after a dispute that was responsible for the death of both the settlers and Native Americans.
In 1913 the railroad was moved from Fraser to Tabernash. During this time Tabernash reached its highest population with over six hundred people. There were actually three areas of Tabernash called Tabernash, the Swamp Town, and Sunnyside.
GRAND LAKE
Grand Lake is a small town that is located on the west side of the Continental Divide next to the Colorado River. It is named after the largest natural lake in Colorado that was formed by a glacier. The first person to settle in Grand Lake was Judge Wescott. He then set his land up in plots for people to come and live. Grand Lake’s population grew in the 1880s when miners moved in. This made Grand Lake the center of activity for a while which caused a rivalry between Grand Lake and Hot Sulphur Springs. Today Grand Lake is popular to visit in the summer time with its breath taking views and Western style town.
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