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Ghost of the Mosquito Range - South Park City

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Contributed by: Ingrid Mcdonald on 7/13/2008

South Park has been a favorite vacation spot for many residents and tourists of Colorado. In the shadow of the Mosquito Range, the history of this area goes back far before the gold discoveries and the establishment of little towns to support miners and trade. Ocean fossils have been found at 13,000 feet along Mosquito Pass. The largest Indian conflict between tribes was witnessed where the town of Hartsel now sits. The Espinosa brothers committed atrocities upon claiming the Virgin Mary appeared to them and told them to kill. Gold was discovered at Tarryall, Buckskin Joe, and other small settlements. The rush was on. Many of the people who traveled to, worked, and died in Colorado came here because of its minerals, the Homestead Act, and the Civil War.

The book "Bayou Salado" chronicles the history of this unique and beautiful area where so many came and died. Cemeteries dot the area and the towns have gone the way of the gold rush. Today only Hartsel, Fairplay, and Alma remain. If you haven't had the opportunity to visit this area, it is only 1 1/2 hours away!
Fairplay, Colorado is located along US 285 and CO 9. One takes US 24 west to get there. An hour out of town is Wilkerson Pass and it is a great place to take a break before driving on. Continuing west leads you into a great valley which is a 100-year flood plain and on the other side is the small town of Hartsel. Just west of Hartsel is CO 9 and it pulls away from US 24 and leads to US 285. Turn right and you are there. Fairplay holds a treasure that many have not seen. "South Park City"

South Park City has nothing to do with the cartoon on T.V. It is a town within a town. In 1957, a man named Leon Snyder from Colorado Springs and a historian, Everett Bair from the area of Fairplay saw an urgency to save the area's history.The biggest problem was where to put it. The old towns of Balfour, Garo, Dudley, Buckskin Joe, Leavick, and many others were falling apart. A piece of land was set aside and the task began. Through many volunteer hours and donated equipment, buildings were brought, intact, from these ghost towns and set in the area now known as South Park City on permanent foundations. They have been painstakingly restored by volunteers and experts who saw the importance of the project. Residents of the area then scoured their attics, basements, barns, and outsheds for the items now displayed within the buildings. No cars travel its streets in this century.

Rev. Dyer was known as the "Snowshoe Itinerate" and preached in the area. He delivered mail over Mosquito Pass via long skis to make ends meet. His son was a judge who was murdered in Granite during the Lake County wars. Horace and Augusta Tabor ran a store in Buckskin Joe before moving over the range to Leadville, Colorado. The lynching of John Hoover for the murder of a driver named Bennett was conducted from the second floor of the court house which now houses the library for Fairplay. This area is steeped in history.

The town buildings face each other and clapboard sidewalks border the entrances. There is a saloon, railroad station, a combination furniture and coffin maker store, a drug store, a school, and a homestead. Blacksmith bellows and offices for the local dentist, doctor, washwoman, and newspaper. It is almost as good as actually stepping back in time. Words do this town no justice for it has to be experienced to be appreciated. Children love it as much as the adults. Comments like "I remember using that" are heard often. A lot of tender loving care still goes into every presentation and display. All for a sum of $7.50 a person. http://www.southparkcity.org/ghosttown_tour.htm

On Sat., Aug. 9 2008 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., the volunteers at South Park City will dress up for Living History Days and share stories, demonstrations, and special exhibits. The Ladies of "A Perfect Era" will be traveling in our bustles and bonnets to attend also. We will represent three well known women of the time. Grace Greenwood, Anna Dickinson, and Eliza Greatorex.

As history comes alive for visitors, we hope you will be one of them. Get into the spirit and dress up yourself. Pose at the saloon next to the painting of the "soiled dove." How many opportunities like this come along? You can't beat the scenery.

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Showing 1-2 of 2 comments

Submitted By: Travis Duncan

posted on 7/15/2008 @ 5:12:57 PM

Rated Story

I loved this story, too. I'm planning on taking my family after reading this article.

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Submitted By: Dianne Hartshorn

posted on 7/14/2008 @ 5:11:44 PM

Rated Story

As usual an excellent story. We visited Fairplay and South Park City this summer and fell in love with it. South Park City is 100's of times better than Buckskin Joe's near Canon City. It is well worth the trip and the scenery will make you speechless.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFO

Ingrid Mcdonald

colorado springs , CO

Ingrid Mcdonald has posted 19 stories and 51 comments since joining on 5/30/2007. Ingrid Mcdonald 's average story rating is 5.

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