Winter Park began as two small settlements, Old Town and Hideaway Park. Old Town came into existence because of the construction taking place on the Moffat Tunnel. Hideaway Park was a village that began in 1932 and quickly developed into the fourth town in the valley. Hideaway Park was developed and built by L.O. "Doc" Graves, a merchant in the valley since 1922. Doc began by building 26 tourist cabins and a cafe and service station called "Doc's Place." He also installed a water wheel on Vasquez Creek to generate all the electricity necessary to operate his business. The village grew rapidly, considering that the entire country was in the depth of a serious depression at that time. The construction of a water tunnel parallel to the existing Moffatt railroad tunnel had a positive effect on the local economy. Over a stretch of two years, the village added three more businesses — a saloon, a garage, and a nightclub — and nearly doubled in population.
The Town of Winter Park is a Home Rule Municipality located in Grand County, Colorado, United States. As of 2000, the town had a total population of 662, however during peak tourist season the population grows significantly. It is home to the Winter Park Resort, a well-known ski resort which is owned by the City and County of Denver and managed by Intrawest. Although the town center is at about 9,000 feet[5], Winter Park is the highest incorporated town in the United States after the July 2006 annexation of 5,214 acres of Winter Park Ski Resort to allow new on-mountain improvements. The area also has abundant cross-country skiing opportunities, including Devil's Thumb Ranch. In the spring and summer, Winter Park is known for mountain biking, concerts, hiking and fishing.
Click on any image for a larger view of trails.
Fishing | Golf | Horseback Riding | Wagon Rides
Snowshoeing | Cross Country Skiing | Ice Skating | Hot Springs/Swimming
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Adopted by Chris Robino