Not All of Colorado is Burning!

Not to downplay the seriousness of the multiple fires that are currently underway and receiving massive publicity, but be aware that there are many areas of the state untouched by the tragic flames. Mountains stand tall, wildflowers are in bloom and communities eagerly await your visit.

I share a few photos taken by Eric Yackel on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 in the West Elk Mountains southwest of Crested Butte.

More than ever Colorado appreciates and needs all the positive effects of tourism. Want to help? Include Colorado in your summer itinerary.

Opening to the Public

Highlands Ranch Mansion

After a highly successful grand opening and dedication the renovated Highlands Ranch Mansion opens to the public on a regular schedule June 26, 2012.

Shea Homes conveyed the Mansion to the Highlands Ranch Metro District and provided six million dollars for renovation as well as establishing an endowment for future upkeep. Massive work projects began in 2010. The completed project including a new 5,000-square-foot event pavilion, was unveiled to the community June 8th.

Beginning June 26 the mansion’s doors swing open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 3pm. A brochure will be available for self-guided tours of the first floor and several of the historic rooms on the second floor. Guided tours will become available at a later date. Check the website for select public weekend dates. No admission is charged during open public hours. Wander through the refurbished rooms, admire the craftsmanship and detail or picnic on the lawn.

For the first time in 30 years furnishings appear in many of the mansion rooms. The Highlands Ranch Park and Recreation Foundation continues fundraising to purchase additional furniture and art work that reflect the mansion’s earlier eras.

The Highlands Ranch Mansion, Carriage House Pavilion and back yard are available for weddings, private events, business meetings and conferences.

     Upcoming scheduled community events include:

•      Jazz at the Mansion – August 16, 2012

•      Highland Ranch Days – September 6-8, 2012

     Sponsored by the Highlands Ranch Community

     Association, admission charged for both events.

Brief Mansion History

The often enlarged and altered domicile dates back to the 1880s when Samuel Allen Long (re-enactor let) built a simple farm house on his homestead acres and named it Rotherwood. Succeeding owners of the home and expanding ranch land included politicians, Confederate colonel, bankers, oil entrepreneurs and businessmen – John Springer, Colonel William Hughes, Waite Phillips, Frank Kistler, Lawrence Phipps Jr. At one time the property was thought to be the largest ranch in Colorado.

Prominent Colorado business leader, Lawrence Phipps Jr. owned the ranch from 1937 until his death in 1976, naming it Highlands Ranch. The Mission Viejo Company purchased the property in 1978, beginning the creation of a new Douglas County community that today has a population of nearly 100,000.

Final Day

The final day of our 17-day Canyon Country trip started with the best Crested Butte breakfasts. McGill’s is located downtown on Elk Avenue.

I selected one slice of French toast and sausage patties. McGill’s French toast is dipped in cinnamon sugar before going on the grill. The sweet, crisp crust is perfect. The thick cut pieces makes the one slice serving all I could handle.

Eric ordered the breakfast tacos served with hash browns. The tacos looked terrific and I noticed they disappeared even more quickly than my French toast.

We head to Denver via Cottonwood Pass, while we’re use to the 14-miles of gravel road on the west side of the pass we didn’t know that miles of the road east of Harmel’s Resort  is under major construction this summer. Delays were not an issue since this was Sunday but the rough, dusty, slow surface would make us consider the longer Monarch Pass route this summer.

Cloudy skies and a few sprinkles accompanied us all the way to Buena Vista. We decided to make a side trip to St. Elmo 20 miles southwest of Buena Vista. On the National Register of Historic Places St. Elmo is known as one of Colorado’s best preserved ghost towns. Founded in 1880, the town grew to 2000 residents – mostly gold and silver miners.

All the remaining buildings are in private ownership and are in various degrees of repair/disrepair. The original Town Hall burnt down in 2002; Buena Vista Heritage has built a replica complete with jail cell in the rear. The St. Elmo General Store opens from mid-May to October offering an eclectic mix of antiques, souvenirs, ATV  and cabin rental, cold drinks and ice cream bars.

Winding Down

Travel can be hard work with the busy agendas we try to keep. After a couple of weeks we will both admit to wearing down, moving slower and accomplishing less each day. We have explored:

• 6 National Parks

• 7 National Monuments

• 1 National Recreation Area

• 1 Tribal Park

• 1 State Park

In addition to numerous trails, backroads, museums, restaurants and trading posts.

Today’s itinerary included two National Monuments. Our first stop was Hovenweep NM on the Utah/Colorado border, the site of six pre-historic villages perched on canyon rims or balanced on massive boulders. I’ve always been fascinated with the intricate masonry.

We also visited Canyons of the Ancients National Monument which encompasses a large area in the southwestern corner of Colorado. Located within the monument are literally thousands of archeological sites. Most have not been excavated and appear only as rubble heaps. The most accessible of the sites is Lowry Pueblo housing 8 kivas (circular ceremonial rooms), 40 rooms and a Great Kiva.

The Anasazi Heritage Center, 10 miles north of Cortez, is the best place to start a Canyons of the Ancients visit. The AHC contains interactive exhibits, artifacts from excavations, galleries for temporary exhibits, a theatre showing two introductory films, and a gift shop. We found detailed information on sites to visit within the monument including a one-mile interpretive trail to Escalante Pueblo.