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Barely out of the village, on the left, is the entrance to Eagles Nest, part of the Larimer Parks and Open Space.  The drive is a couple of miles to an excellent parking lot. The 755 acres include 4.8 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding (but mountain bikes are not allowed). Trails are designated moderate and provide great views of the valley.  About half-way along the trail, high up the cliff an eagles nest is visible.  Eagles have nested here for over a hundred years. A mile of the North Fork River runs through the open space and adds greatly to the charm of the area, and provides water for horses. Natural resources include golden eagles, deer, elk, coyote, mountain lion, brown and rainbow trout.  For more information, go to http://www.larimer.org/parks/openlands. Barely out of the village, on the left, is the entrance to Eagles Nest, part of the Larimer Parks and Open Space.  The drive is a couple of miles to an excellent parking lot. The 755 acres include 4.8 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding (but mountain bikes are not allowed). Trails are designated moderate and provide great views of the valley.  About half-way along the trail, high up the cliff an eagles nest is visible.  Eagles have nested here for over a hundred years. A mile of the North Fork River runs through the open space and adds greatly to the charm of the area, and provides water for horses. Natural resources include golden eagles, deer, elk, coyote, mountain lion, brown and rainbow trout.  For more information, go to http://www.larimer.org/parks/openlands.

Eagle Cliff Ranch

In the Eagles Nest area, on the North Poudre south of 74E, is the Chaffee/Peters Eagle Cliff Ranch, which was homesteaded by Catherine Chaffee in 1887. She sold her relinquishment to Frank Atkins in 1888. Subsequently it was homesteaded or owned by Charles E. Peters, John L. Nightingale and George Nightingale.   It is the site of the First Livermore Woman's Club at the base of the Eagles Nest rock in 1896.

Korth Residence

David and Kathy Korth built the home in the late 1970’s is based on the upon a famous structure in Fort Collins , the old Avery House. 

Sandstone Rock Formations

These formations are slightly out of town, past the Korth House. 

Roberts Ranch

This view, north, from the rocks on the east of the Roberts Ranch shows the beautiful red sandstone rocks and the extent of the broad Livermore Valley Park .  The North Poudre winds its way through the ranch, lined by old Cottonwood trees.  Barely visible is the home of David Lee (“Derek”) Roberts, a real estate broker and grandson of founder R. O. Roberts.  These cliffs are location of the famous “buffalo jump” – there are actually several places where Native Americans would stampede the bison (the proper name for buffalo) off the cliffs as a way of killing them.  The Ranch was established in 1882 by Robert O (R. O.) Roberts, and it has owned and managed by the family since then. 

The Ranch earned an Environmental Stewardship Award in 2006 for granting conservation easements on its entire 16,500 acres.  A conservation easement means the land can not be sold for development purposes, it will continue to be a working ranch, and thus “a permanent legacy that benefits all the citizens of Larimer County ”.  The ranch has a Centennial Ranch designation because has been ranched since 1874 by the same family. (Information from a December 11, 2006, News Release by the Larimer County Board of Commissioners.  The land is in three parcels: Ranch headquarters along the North Poudre between 74E and 80C, north of Halligan Reservoir where Dale, Bull and Mill creeks come together before entering the reservoir (sections 17, 19, 20 & 21 R71W, T11N), and a small parcel east of 287 near Red Mountain Open Space (Larimer County Parks and Open Lands, Annual Report 2005, map page 13.)

  Livermore Park Looking West

Livermore Park area is cattle country with half a dozen active ranches which have been in continuous operation since they were homesteaded in the mid 1860s – early 1870s.  The Lone Pine flows from the mountains in the west near the Baldies of the Larimer Mountains , into the North Poudre . Over the low hills to the right flows Sheep Creek.  After the road leaves the relatively level Part, there are several miles of steep climb, several thousand feet, to surmount the mountains in the distance. 

Livermore Community Hall

Mile 3 where Red Feather Lakes Road crosses the North Poudre River

The present Livermore Community Hall is located on the east bank of the North Poudre , which is evidenced by the cottonwood trees running across the picture behind the Hall. The 30’ X 40’ structure is located on 6+ acres of land donated by the Roberts Ranch.  It was built in 1948 to replace the previous community hall which had been located adjacent to the Livermore Hotel (on the other, west, side of the river and shown in the next photo).  It cost approximately $10,000 in materials to construct with labor donated by the community. 

The old structure, lying on much lower land, was destroyed by a flood in 1904. It was soon rebuilt by owner Charles Ramer. In 1945 it was dissembled and the material used by Gammons to convert the hotel into residence. The Hall is used for many community functions including dances, meetings,

The Livermore Hotel & Post Office

Mile 3, on west side of North Poudre River

The Livermore Hotel and Post Office were built by William Brelsford in 1890 and for years was considered the social center of Livermore . In 1891 James Swan & son Herbert purchased the property along with barn (which was on the south side of the road, no longer present) and added a blacksmith shop. In 1901 it was purchased by Charles & Rachel Ramer and about 1909 it was traded to Malcolm Bellairs for his Ranch in Red Feather Lakes who traded back 1917.  (This mobility of property was fairly common for the region.) The Hotel, which included a general store, was a regular stop for Casper Zimmerman's stage on route to his own hotel in the Poudre Canyon ; it was he who built the barn for his horses.  

In 1952 John Elliot and Josephine (“Jo”) Lamb together bought the Livermore Hotel & 120 acres.  Upon his death in 1961, Jo became manager of 12,000 acre Elliot Ranch, per his will, and eventually bought what had not been willed to her.  She managed the ranch and lived in the Livermore Hotel for twenty years 1953 -1973 until her death.   Absent a will, with several heirs, entire ranch was sold. 

The property was vacant for a period of time until Frieda & James Miller purchased it in 1979 and began restoring the vandalized house. 

A nice of Josephine Lamb, Kay, and her husband Dr. Thomas Quan purchased it in 1988, and began restoring the post office with help from the community.   It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.  In 2008 the Quans moved to Fort Collins and sold to Bernadette Lamb and husband Bill Greensward and their five young children.  The historic structures have thus been in the Lamb family for over fifty years.

Rabbit Creek County, Three Ranching Lives in the Heart of the Mountain West  is a book by Jon Thiem with Deborah Dimon about the Lives of John Elliott, Ida Meyer, and Josephine Lamb. For more information about Jo Lamb, see Rabbit Creek County Summary.  

Fisk's Livermore House

Left or south side of road, just past the North Poudre

This is the land homesteaded by Adolphus Livernash and Steven S. Moore circa 1863. They built a small cabin on the River which is in the background behind the buildings. In 1871 Russell Fisk acquired the claims of Livernash and Moore and others and built the 1st hotel in the area which he called Livermore House (also called the Livermore Hotel). It served as a hotel for local travelers until the county moved the road crossing upriver ¼ mile north, to its present location, thus putting hotel out of business. The hotel was converted to a residence and the property was purchased by Josephine Lamb and John Elliot in 1952.  Current owner is Linda (Mrs. Francis) Lamb, who lives in Fort Collins . Her daughter Bernadette and husband Bill Greensward lived in the house until 2008 when they purchased the Livermore Hotel from the Quans .  Francis Lamb is buried on the property.

Eagles Nest Open Space

Mile 4, approximately, looking southeast back towards the open space area.

Johnson Ranch

Mile 3, right, not visible from the road.

The Ranch lies along the Lone Pine Creek behind low hills beside the road, and includes land on left (south) of 74E on backside of McNey Hill where the stage road used to go before routed up the steep cut of McNey Hill.  Previous owners were Horsley (probably the homesteader), Williams, Becksted and Goodwin.  The  original house was boxed two-story built in1889 with several remodels over the years.  In 1951 A. J. Becksted sold to Jack & Bettie Goodwin who had dairy cattle and supplied milk to Ingleside daily. In 1965 George Coon purchased ranch. 

In 1967 Dr. Alvin Johnson (dentist) and Dr. Albert Wolfson (surgeon) formed a partnership and purchased Godwin ranch plus parcel south side of McNey Hill.  Both continue their practices in Denver .  In 1968 they purchased the old McNey Ranch at bottom of Kahler hill from Sonny Mapelli, including a 1896 house built for Harry Gilpin-Brown.  They referred to as the West Ranch (now Ptasnik, Scottdale).  In 1969 they purchased 2,000 acre Haystack Angus Ranch in Platteville and name operation Scottdale Ranches. More partners added, and bought out over next 10 years.  Cows are trailed up 74E, which was still a dirt road to graze on Roosevelt National Forest land during summer months. Note: as of 2006 this practice continues.  In 1978 a fire destroys barn.  In 1986 they dissolve the partnership, Al sells dental practice and moves to ranch to live full time and more actively manage operations, initially living at the West Ranch.  In 1987 he remodels house on East Ranch, adds 2,000 to east side of home and moves there, now known as the Johnson Ranch, Wolfson retains ownership of West Ranch until killed in riding accident in 1988. He  marries Virginia Moffitt in 1989. Al and Virginia and daughter Raechel Ann are current owners and continue to raise cattle, Gelbvieh bulls on Angus and Hereford / Simmental cows.

Weymouth Lane , CR 37

Mile 4, on the right (north)

This dirt road, next to the Poudre Valley REA substation, travels due north a few miles to connect to Cherokee Park Road (CR 80C).  About midway north, CR 76H, School House Road goes right, east to 287.  Mysteriously, CR 37 picks up again more than 10 miles north on Highway 287 as Red Mountain Road.  Weymouth has also been known as Mitchell Lane, after John Mitchell who homesteaded here and built ditches here and in Red Feather Lakes.  The ditch he built in 1888 brought water from the upper Lone Pine to Lake Hiawatha, thereby establishing the water claim for the entire Red Feather Lakes system, (RFL 100, p. 8).  The ditch in the Livermore Park Area area was constructed in 1873, and called Weymouth-Mitchell.  The first ditch constructed in the area was Burnham-Emerson, 1871.

Visible immediately to the north is a three-story white house built in 1893 by English remittance man Charles Gilpin-Brown, also once known as the Fanning Place, and is now the home of Chris Hansen and his family.  

  Chris Hansen (Charles Gilpin-Brown) Ranch

Hansen (Emerson, Sackett) Ranch

Mile 5 on right side of road, along Lone Pine Creek

Ed & Marilyn Hansen and their sons and daughters-in law live on the ranch which occupies a substantial amount of land in Livermore Park on the right side of the road along Lone Pine Creek (marked by the cottonwood trees in foreground). 

The land was homesteaded by Horace & Charles Emerson who both built distinctive two-story homes.  They were English remittance men with substantial money (see book summary).  Charles house was closer to Livermore, not visible from the road.  Horace built the house further west which is now owned by Ptasnik.  The Emersons built several ditches: Burnham-Emerson (1871), Weymouth-Mitchell (1894), Emerson (1882).  Horace’s daughter Dorothy married Thorwald Sackett who subsequently lived in the father’s house which burned in 1933 and was soon rebuilt. 

In 1940 Sam Hansen & son Castor (Ed’s father) purchased the ranch. In 1949 they acquired Civil Conservation Core barracks located in Red Feather Lakes and moved them to the ranch to serve as calving sheds. They are the one-story brown buildings on the right side of the driveway. Ed and Marilyn moved from their home in Denver to the ranch in1966 and begin acquiring additional ranch property including Gilpin-Brown/Fanning, Griffith, and Elliot (part). In 1973 the Hansens incorporated as Circle Ranches.

Hansen Cattle Spring 2009

Ptasnik or Scottdale Ranch 

Mile 6 on Lone Pine Creek

The Ranch is owned by Dr. and Mrs. Michael Ptasnik and managed by Ryan Kelley.  Mrs. Ptasnik is the daughter of Dr. Wolfson who was the partner to Al Johnson (see Johnson Ranch).  During the Wolfson-Johnson partnership, this portion of the ranch was known first as the West Ranch, then later as the Scottdale, named after a son of Dr. Wolfson.

Harry Gilpin-Brown homesteaded the land in 1883, purchasing it for $10,000.  He was an English remittance man (thus he had money) and was a nephew to the first Territorial Governor, William Gilpin.  He came to Livermore explicitly because of glowing letters from his cousin.  In 1893 he married Sylvia Swan, daughter of Livermore Hotel proprietor, James H. Swan and then in 1896 he built the two-story house, white, red roof, and distinctive steeple, which still stands and operates as ranch headquarters.

Old Stage Road to Antelope Springs and Adams Place

In the early days the Zimmerman Stage Line branched off to the left above Kahler Hill (just before what is now, on the right side of the road, a parking lot for the Lone Pine State Wildlife Area) to avoid the steep climb up McNey Hill. The stage road is still visible on the ground. The land on the south (left) of 74E is owned Al Johnson and every year he runs his cattle up this property to the National Forest land along Boy Scout Road.  This early branch of the road went by Adams Place at Antelope Springs. 

The dark line is 74E and the red lines are dirt roads and trails.  You can see a read line dropping south going through section 16, which is blue indicating it is a school section.  Notice also more blue to the right, more school sections.  The Lone State Wildlife Area (SWA) will be discussed right after Adams Place.

Adams Place from a distance

The group of trees in the center of picture just below the hill indicates the location of Antelope Springs, where Adams homesteaded in 1877. He had sheep, ran a dairy, and built a “hotel.”  Note the climb is fairly gradual, especially compared to McNey Hill.

Adams Place Close Up 

If you look closely you can see a rock wall snaking up the hill from the trees diagonally to the upper left to keep in Adams’ sheep.  After Adams established his homestead he discovered the land was on a School Section, and also he didn’t like the land.  Once he “proved up” the land in 1882, he sold to J. J. Bush.  While Bush was the owner, he established a post office at his place and a school house. 

Adams School District #28 was established here in 1895.  John McNey was a primary organizer.  Twenty-three children from seven families were in attendance the first year: Ismert (5), Riddles (5), Tibbits (3), McNey (3), Sheets (3), Kahler (2), Bush (2).  (Ismert homesteaded on the Lone Pine, built up a ranch which John Elliot latter acquired.) 

Their school building was a log cabin “claim shanty” built by William Breslford (who built the Forks).  He abandoned it and left it here when he discovered the land was a School Section. So he must have preceded Adams. Subsequently a new frame structure was built and located ½ mile west of McNey Hill.  In 1912 it was moved 3 miles down the road (east, below the hill) to between McNey and Tibbits ranches.  It was the custom to move schools to the geographic center of the school population to reduce travel time for the kids.  In 1917 it moved to a draw west of its first location.  Its final destination was Virginia Dale, to serve as school house there, after Poudre R-1 was organized, eliminating District # 28.  One winter school was held at Batterson Ranch.  Wesley Swan was secretary for 30 years. This information is from Memoirs of an Old Timer, by Wesley Swan.

Lone Pine Wildlife Area

At mile 9, on the right side of the road, is a parking lot that provides access to the 6,654 acres of the Lone Pine Unit of the Cherokee State Wildlife Area. 

In 2000, the Division of Wildlife acquired the 6,120-acre Circle Ranch, part of the Hansen Ranch, which had been part of John Elliott's Ranch (see below). The DOW renamed it the Rabbit Creek Unit of the Cherokee Park State Wildlife Area (SWA). The acquisition connects the Lone Pine and Lower Unit and enables protection of a total of 20,000 contiguous acres of prime wildlife habitat. The property provides winter range for big game, habitat for the threatened Preble's meadow jumping mouse and hunting, fishing and wildlife watching opportunities. (Information about the Rabbit Creek acquisition comes from the State website: http://wildlife.state.co.us/About/Reports/2000WildlifeHabitatandSpeciesConservation.htm

The State Wildlife Areas are open to the public for hunting from September 1 to May 1 and the rest of the time for fishing, hiking and horseback riding.

This picture from the Division of Wildlife's website  http://wildlife.state.co.us/LandWater/StateWildlifeAreas/.  

The view is northwest up the Lone Pine Creek, several miles from the parking lot.  It is a lovely area, little used (excellent for hiking and horse riding), and has beautiful flowers in the spring. 

This area was once part of the 12,000 acre John Elliott Ranch.  It was later owned by Josephine Lamb who died unexpectedly without a will, and with a number of heirs, the estate had to be sold.  The most recent DOW acquisition was the Rabbit Creek portion (and original piece) of the Elliott Ranch. 

Rabbit Creek County, Three Ranching Lives in the Heart of the Mountain West  is a book by Jon Thiem with Deborah Dimon about the Lives of John Elliott, Ida Meyer, and Josephine Lamb.  For more about their lives, see  Rabbit Creek Country).  

Tibbits Homestead

Mile 9, lower McNey Hill, left side of road is the homestead of William E. & Alomina (Batterson) Tibbits and 9 children. The only remains of this homestead are lilac bushes. Members of the Tibbits family lived along 80C, Cherokee Park Road, where there is a lake named with their name.

McNey Homestead

Mile 10, right side of road

John McNey I owned two different ranches, at Lone Pine Creek, and this location at “Head of Livermore Park.”   By 1896, when John McNey II was living there, the Antelope Springs loop was dropped in favor of a road right up the hill past the McNey place.  The top of the road was still quite steep so it bent south around the top.  (It wasn’t until 1999, 103 years later, that the county lower the top and straighten it into its present course.)  John I died in 1901 and was buried in Adams cemetery.  His wife in 1904 sold to son John McNey II, who had married Nora Mae McCullah. They left the ranch in 1923, after 19 years.  During this time he expanded the ranch by buying the Batterson Ranch to the west and the Gilpin-Brown/Bellairs Ranch to the east at the bottom of Kahler Hill.

To continue the tour to Red Feather Lakes, go to 74 E McNey Hill to Red Feather Lakes.