Green Mountain Falls Colorado

Green Mountain Falls Colorado was the dream of entrepreneur W.J. Foster. In 1887, Foster bought the valley in order to build a resort where tourists could come in the summer and enjoy the beauty of the Ute Pass Trail valley. The Colorado Midland Railroad was being built in the valley about the same that Foster was constructing the cabins of the dream resort he named Green Mountain Falls.

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Fosters resort was a huge success, people were flocking to this new Colorado mountain resort! In 1888, the town lake was excavated and the island with its Gazebo, became a central feature of this growing Colorado vacation destination. The Colorado Midland Railroad was dropping hundreds of visitors off at the towns small train depot as it traveled from Colorado Springs to Leadville Colorado. By 1889 the Lakeside and Green Mountain Falls Hotels we built to help accommodate all the tourist wishing to visit this high mountain valley. By the early 1900′s, Fosters’ dream had blossomed. There were several hotels, multiple grocery stores, a school, church, newspaper and other flourishing businesses. After the Green Mountain Falls Hotel burned down, they even established their own Fire Department.

Ute Indians were the first to travel through this area. The Ute Pass Trail provided them access between their summer hunting grounds and their sheltered winter home. The steep valley walls of the Ute Pass valley provided excellent protection from the harsh winter elements. Riding their  horses with teepee poles and supplies dragging behind created a wide trail as the Ute tribe traveled in and out of the valley. Colorado Highway 24 follows the same basic route established by that Indian tribe. Eventually, because of the Meeker Massacre in 1879, all the Ute Indians were rounded up and confined to reservations by the early 1880′s. In time, trappers, prospectors, settlers and the Colorado Midland Railroad followed the Ute Pass Trail. All in an effort to access the riches that existed within this southern Colorado mountain range. W.J Foster was only one of many who saw this valley as a place of beauty and commerce.

Today, what were once vacation homes, are now year round residences. Despite the progression of time though, the ambiance of this Colorado mountain town still provides that old time mountain resort feel. As you stand across the lake looking at the Gazebo, you can easily envision women with parasols and ornate hats strolling around the town with their dapper male escorts. Even though there might be many visitors walking around the center of town, you still get a feel of solitude. Hard to imagine since thousands of cars are flying past Green Mountain Falls on Highway 24, just up the mountainside. Do yourself a favor and take a slow, leisurely ride through the small Colorado towns of Cascade, Chipita Falls, and Green Mountain Falls. You’ll be glad you did!

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