Windsor Colorado

Windsor, Colorado is an old community in the northern section of the Front Range. Incorporated in 1890, it sits in the middle of a triangle of towns which include Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland. The Cache La Poudre River runs through this town and is part of the early success of Windsor. Having both a good source of water and a railroad coming through this town made it possible for the growth and development of wheat farming in the region. In the year 1882, the Windsor Railroad Depot was built, and the town was platted. It was named for the Rev. Samuel Asa Windsor. The agriculture continued to be varied and well watered, and with the need for more local production of sugar, Windsor was about to be even more successful.

More Town Facts

Region: Front Range	County: Weld
Latitude: 40.477222	Longitude: -104.911944	Elevation: 4,797 ft (1,462 m)

In nearby Fort Collins, at the Colorado Agricultural College, many advances were being made in cultivating good sugar beets. The production and manufacturing of the beet sugar would be a key element for Windsor when a sugar factory was constructed in 1903. The new beet fields were planted, immigrant Germans and Russian laborers were employed and within a very few years, Windsor would have one of the highest producing beet farms and factory around, The Great Western Sugar Company. It was a great success for the next 60+ years. In the mid 1960’s, the Kodak corporation opened a very successful manufacturing plant and took over the local economy when the sugar company closed their doors.

Today, because Windsor is well located near vibrant cities and sits directly off a main Interstate (I-25), it continues to be a thriving community. The town limits stretch west to Loveland, and Fossil Creek Open Space public land borders the southeast side near Fort Collins. When you visit Windsor, the Main Street still has the Victorian style commercial buildings of the late 1800’s and the train is just to the north of Main Street. Main Park, the Town Hall and older residences are all close by. People who enjoy outdoor activities will want to visit Windsor Lake for fishing, biking and walking along the path which extends to a network of paths that take you along the north bank of the Cache La Poudre. The incredible views of the Front Range area and Longs Peak keep people coming back again and again.

Current Windsor Colorado Weather Forecast

Windsor Local Attractions

Windsor Lake – Come enjoy the beauty of Windsor Lake. The path that surrounds the lake is great for a stroll or a nice bike ride. There is a swim beach, boating, canoeing, fishing and picnicking space for all.

Kaplan-Hoover Buffalo Kill Site
A world-renowned archaeological site, the Kaplan-Hoover Buffalo Kill Site, is located along Windsor’s towering bluffs giving testament to a native presence as early as 835 B.C. The later presence of native peoples is scantily documented and early settlers make little or no reference to interactions with native tribes.

Windsor Depot & Museum
The train is coming! Visit Windsor’s original 1882 Railroad Depot that serviced the Colorado & Southern Railway and the Great Western Railway. The railroad played an important role in the growth of Windsor, specifically providing wealth, travel, and opportunity to the small community. The restored Depot includes a freight room, waiting room, and station agent’s room where all types of local business was transacted. Walk through the Depot and imagine what it was like to travel by train.

German from Russia Beet Shanty
Who were the Germans from Russia? Pay a visit to the turn-of-the-century restored beet shanty that the German from Russia immigrants called home. Two small rooms held large families who toiled in the sugar beet fields for their livelihood. German engravings, photographs, and needlework decorate the simple “shanty” that typically sat at the edge of town as the Germans from Russia slowly integrated their culture with the new traditions in America. Knock on the shanty door and experience immigrant family life in 1905.

Whitehall Schoolhouse and Teacher’s Quarters
Hurry, the school bell is ringing! Step into the restored one-room schoolhouse and take out your chalk and slate. Children from all over the Windsor region gathered together in one room schoolhouses to learn about the world around them. New turn-of-the-century teaching methods urged hands-on learning using the natural environment to prepare children to be productive in the swiftly growing United States. The small quarters connected to the schoolhouse served as home for many isolated teachers in the west. Sit in a wooden desk; can you hear the children whispering?

Pioneer Church
A day of rest and guidance. Early Windsor churches acted as gathering spots that encouraged and supported new immigrants in the area. German speaking newcomers carved out church communities based on the traditions of their homeland. They became homes away from home. The restored Pioneer Church offers a glimpse into the importance of religion to Windsor residents. Walk through the pews and imagine families gathered together in their Sunday best.

Bring your family and experience the many parts of the Windsor Museum at Boardwalk Park – For more information or to schedule tours, call (970) 674-2443.