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Tours & Events

Historical Site Tours

When the weather permits, generally May through September, the Society visits historic sites.  The schedule for 2012 has not be established, but you can get an idea of our activities by examining what what have done in prior years. When the 2012 schedule has been established, there will be a form to complete indicating your interests.

Previous Historical Tours; blue means a link to photos from the visit.    

Deadman Lookout Tower & American Camp (July 2011) The Tower was built in 1938 for the purpose of locating forest fires, it was replaced by a new tower in 1963, and now it now longer serves its original purpose since the process of fire spotting is automated. It has gorgeous views. American Camp was an area that produced railroad ties for the Union Pacific Railroad. It operated year round and they depended upon the road to Wyoming and one closely following the current Cherokee Park and Sand Creek roads for their access."

Laramie Kiwanis Ranch Tour (August 2010) we were guests of this Club for their 60th Ranch Tour. We visited three ranches along the Wyoming-Colorado border: Two Bars Seven, Weaver, and Sheep Creek (prominent in James Galvin's novel The Meadow, see Frydendall Meadow). 

Virginia Dale (July, 2009) was an important Stage Station on the Overland Trail.

Owl Canyon Pinyon Pine Grove  (May, 2008) is a State of Colorado Natural Resource Area of 658 acres protecting dense population of thousands of Pinyon pine, many in the 200 - 500 year range. The tallest is 25 feet with a crown spread of 37.5 feet and trunk diameter of 11 feet at 3 feet above the ground.  The grove is at the northeastern extremity of its range in North America. Its status as a Natural Area is due to the efforts of the Livermore Women’s Club over a 2 ˝ decade effort.

CCC Camp  (July 2008) is the site of a former CCC Camp located on present day Indian Prayer Ranch. The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program for unemployed men, focused on natural resource conservation from 1933 to 1942. Other CCC Camps in the area were Manhattan after mining ceased, and near Sand Creek.

Lake Parvin Fishery (July 2008) is a Division of Wildlife research station at Lake Parvin, and fishing is allowed on the lake.

Fox Acres (July 2008) is a private gated residential community and destination resort in the Red Feather Lakes area. It once a commercial fox raising enterprise.  

Trails End (June 2007) Trails End is where 80C, Cherokee Park Road , meets the North Poudre and Trails Creek. Frank and Peggy Miller made the ranch  famous as a showplace with a zoo of wild animals, wild birds, and pet fish.  For many years it was one of the best known tourist attractions in the Rockies .”

Red Mountain Open Space (June 2006): The 13,500 acres of land is north of the City of Fort Collins with a northern boundary on the Wyoming border.  It is adjacent to the City-owned Soapstone Open Space.  Together they are part of Laramie Foothills Mountains to Plains Partnership Project which aims to protect 55,400 acres to maintain migratory pathways across important ecological zones. The area was opened to the public in 2009.

Pingree Park (August, 2006) is a mountain campus of Colorado State University situated on the South Fork of the Cache la Poudre in the Mummy Range at 9,053 ft (2,759 m).  It is named after George W. Pingree, who had a tie-hack camp there and built the Pingree Hill Road which was the main way from Fort Collins to the upper Poudre Canyon until 1920 when the road up CR 14 Poudre Canyon was completed to Rustic.

Ranch Tour (July 2005) Ranches visited were Al Johnson, Roberts, Stonewall, and Rennels.  

Elkhorn House (2005) see Elkhorn hotels for photos and information about the first of two Elkhorn hotels.

Glacier View Meadows (July 2004): Batterson Barn & Homestead (1870), Morrison Homestead (1870s) Ayers Homestead (1908), Bush Homestead (1912), Currie Ranch (1906) buildings: LOX House (ranch headquarters) and Western Ridge Restaurant (formerly a feed, livestock and machinery shelter) – these places, and photos, are part of the 74 E McNey Hill to Red Feather Lakes to Red Feather Lakes.

Cemeteries: Adams, Manhattan, Livermore, Bingham Hill (Laporte & Bellevue)


Events 

These activities occur each year with slight changes in dates.

Red Feather Greening Holiday Craft Fair in Red Feather Lakes Village

  • December, 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday.

  • 30+Booths, Food/Drinks,  Bake Sale, Santa, Homestead House, Holiday Treats 

  • Craft & Sale Items: Cutlery, Seasonal Gifts, Pottery,  Jewelry, Dolls, Wreaths, Soaps, Photography, Paintings, Baked Items,  Book Bags, and Much Much More

This is an event for the whole family, pick up those special gifts and decorations and cut your own tree during the Forest Service Tree Cut. For info on tree cutting call 970- 498-2770. For Greening and Craft booth info call Pat Clemens 970-495-0560. 

Craft Fair Times & Places: 
Red Feather POA, Youth Center & Fire Barn
Saturday    9:00 Am - 4:00 Pm
Sunday     10:00 Am - 3:00 Pm

Library Times And Events:
Saturday 9:00 Am - 5:00 Pm
Children's Craft Table - 11:00 Am - 3:00 Pm
Santa 11:00 Am - 2:00 Pm

The village of Red Feather Lakes is 23 miles west of Highway 287 on County Road 74E.

Greening of Red Feather History
The Greening of Red Feather was started to get the community together during the Holidays.
The Red Feather Historical Society organized leaders in the area to start the Greening, coinciding with the Forest Service Christmas tree cut in April 1986.  The first year they decorated the entire town with greens, wreaths and  had a Christmas tree ornament contest with craft tables.  Funds made from the Greening were used for preservation of the area. See article Red Feather Greens.

  Annual Holiday Dinner

To make a reservation call Pat at 970-495-0560, and send a check payable to
Red Feather Historical Society to Pat Clemens, 135 Mt. Apiatan Ct. Livermore CO   80536.

For more information on any of the Red Feather Historical Society events, contact Pat Clemens at 970-495-0560.


ADDITIONAL HISTORICAL EVENTS & CLASSES IN COLORADO:

If you are interested in historic preservation, here are some resources.

Colorado Archaeological Society
Colorado Archaeology
Loveland, CO
September 9-October 21, 2008
http://coloradohistory-oahp.org/programareas/paac/classinfo/coarch.htm

Colorado History Museum
Stephen H. Hart Library
preservation workshop
Denver, CO
February 19, 2009

For more information see:
http://coloradohistory-oahp.org/programareas/paac/paacindex.htm
http://coloradohistory-oahp.org/programareas/paac/programinfo.htm

or, contact  Bruce at earthgeo@frii.com


Last Years Tours and Programs for Historical Interest.   

2011 SUMMER TRIPS & PROGRAMS  

MAY 28 - SATURDAY - 2:00 pm - Wandering on the Dinosaurs’ Last Seashore with author/illustrator Gary Raham in RFL POA.   Help kick off the RFL Historical Society Tours & Programs  and Library Summer Reading Program.   Everyone Welcome. Register below or in the RFL Library.  

JUNE 3 - FRIDAY - 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Historical Society Dinner.

JUNE 15 -WEDNESDAY -  9:00 am - 3:00 PM - Manhattan, Grave Sites,  Goodell Corner,  Log Cabin, Lady Moon with Wayne Sandberg.  Meet at the Red Feather Historical Robinson Cabin parking lot to car pool at 9:00 am. Bring water, sunscreen, sack lunch, wear hat and good walking shoes. Cost $5  RSVP by June 12, 2011.

JULY 20  - WEDNESDAY  -  Tour the Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum at Berthoud and the McCarty Fickel Home  Meet at Red Feather Historical Cabin parking lot at 8:30 AM or meet at Glacier View Office, Gate 8 at 9:00 AM  sharp. We will car pool or meet at the Berthoud Museum arriving by 11:00 AM . Lunch at Mi Cocina Mexican Restaurant (historic doctor’s home) or picnic in the park. Cost - Museum donation and $5 per person at the McCarty Fickel Home. RSVP by July 17, 2011.  

AUGUST 6 - SATURDAY - 2:00 pm - Indiana Bones, “Keeper of Legends,” in the Red Feather POA.

AUGUST 12 - FRIDAY - 3:00 pm - “Jonathan Edwards,” an enactment by Jack Van Ens. in the Red Feather POA. 

AUGUST 17 - WEDNESDAY  - 9:00 am - 4:00 pm -  Logging camps in the national forests by Nicole Branton of the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests.  Meet at the RF Historical Robinson Cabin parking lot to car pool at 9:00 AM. Bring water, sunscreen, sack lunch, wear hat and good walking shoes.  Cost is $5 per person.   RSVP by August 12, 2011


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