Trails End
The Historical Society visited
Trails End June 2007
Trails
End is where 80C,
Cherokee Park Road
, meets the
North Poudre
and Trails Creek. (The name perhaps chosen because this is where Trails Creek
ends?) The
North Poudre
continues west while 80C follows Trails Creek northwest for several miles to a
junction with CR 59. At this point
80C splits and follows Devils Creek west and 59 continues along Trails Creek for
a while in a northwest direction to the Wyoming Border. Interestingly, maps show
the name
Cherokee Park Road
goes with CR 59 at this point, not 80C.
Lafi Miller has seven pages on “Trails End with Frank Miller, the Legend”
(52 -58) including two pictures: Frank and Peggy Miller, Frank Miller kissing
his pet bear. According to Lafi, the
ranch “has been operated as a cattle ranch, horse ranch, guest ranch, and
mountain home and 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
.”
Miller
owned the property from 1920 to 1938 and made it famous because of his
collection of wild animals who he “tamed” in varying degrees, witness his
kissing bear. He was a marksman and
entertainer, including time with the Buffalo Bill Show of Col. William F. Cody
where he traveled throughout the
U.S.
and
Europe
. His other pursuits, according to
Lafi, included range riding, ranching, miner, garage owner (Northern Garage,
North College and Pine Street), and artist.
In 1981 Wayne and Phyllis Schrader bought a
portion of the ranch which included the main ranch buildings, and they are the
present owners, as of the date of the tour.
The Main House.
The Guest House
Turkey
Roost Rock
The
North Poudre
flows in front of this very prominent rock.
Animal Enclosure
Frank Miller kept many types of animals such as
bear, lions, in enclosures such as this one.
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