YOUR AD HERE »

This week in history: Shootout at ranch, plans for Rocky Mountain National Park

Trail Ridge Road is pictured May 31, 2024, when it opened for the season. Plans for the road were first released by the forestry department in January 1915, just weeks ahead of Rocky Mountain National Park's establishment.
Rocky Mountain National Park/Courtesy photo

1 year ago: Winter Park Resort’s new lift officially opens

The Wild Spur Express officially opened the afternoon of Dec. 27, 2023. The lift has the capacity to move 2,800 people up the mountain in an hour. It is the only lift that grants access to the challenging Vasquez Ridge territory after the four-passenger Pioneer Express was retired after the 2022-23 season. Vasquez Ridge includes nearly 285 acres of mostly intermediate trails and more advanced, steeper bump runs. The territory is off the beaten path, where guests can enjoy more solitude and find secret powder stashes.

— From the Dec. 28, 2023, edition of Sky-Hi News

5 years ago: Popular snowmobile trail remains closed

The Grand Lake town trail has not yet opened to snowmobiles, raising ire in the Snowmobile Capital of Colorado. The trail, officially known as the North Supply Access Trail, connects Grand Lake to a network of snowmobile trails in Arapaho National Forest and makes the town a popular destination for enthusiasts. Concerns have grown to the level that Town Manager John Crone wrote a memo to citizens on the status of the trail last week. As the trail is maintained by Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake has no control over the operations of the trail, but Crone expressed its importance. According to Rocky Mountain Public Affairs Officer Kyle Patterson, park staff always wait for a minimum of 24 inches of snowpack before allowing snowmobiles on the trail.



— From the Jan. 3, 2020, edition of Sky-Hi News

10 years ago: Snowmobile accidents occur before, after Christmas

A pair of snowmobile accidents marred the Christmas holiday for a few Grand County visitors who were riding on the Grand Lake Trail System. On Dec. 24, 2014, a woman from Arkansas was thrown from the snowmobile they were riding after the driver lost control. Both ended up at the bottom of the embankment, and the passenger was taken to Denver via Flight for Life with severe injuries. Two days later, on Dec. 26, a Lakewood teenager struck a tree — the injury was originally reported as a spinal injury, but was later downgraded to a knee injury.



— From the Dec. 31, 2014, edition of Sky-Hi News

90 years ago: Man shot dead at Bridinger Ranch near Radium

One man is dead after a confrontation led to shooting on Dec. 31, 1934. That afternoon, Archie Davis arrived at the William Bridinger’s ranch, located about 7 miles from Radium. Bridinger had previously told Davis to keep off of his place, and it is not know why he came to the ranch. Shortly after Davis arrived at the house, he left to his saddle horse and returned with a rifle. Davis pushed the door open and fired at Bridinger, who was armed with a double-barreled shotgun. The bullet struck the barrel of the gun and fragments of lead struck Bridinger’s right hand and forearm. Bridinger then shot Williams in the heart with his shotgun — Williams died almost instantly. An inquest was held in Kremmling Jan. 1, 1935, with the jury delivering a verdict of justifiable homicide.

— From the Jan. 3, 1935, edition of Middle Park Times

110 years ago: Map issued for new national park in Colorado

The forestry department recently issued a map showing, in detail, the roads, trails and shelter houses which the department proposes to make in a Colorado national park within the next six years. Among the many items incorporated in the plan is the construction of a trail from the Arapahoe peaks to Grand Lake at a cost of $8,000. The trail is supplementary to a more enlarged and complete system of roads, which will connect Grand Lake and other points on the Western Slope with Estes Park and other points to the east. It is estimated to require an average annual expenditure of roughly $55,000 for roads alone.

— From the Jan. 1, 1915, edition of Middle Park Times

Sky-Hi News is working to digitize Grand County newspaper archives and make them available to the public for free. Support the project at SkyHiNews.com/donate.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

The Sky-Hi News strives to deliver powerful stories that spark emotion and focus on the place we live.

Over the past year, contributions from readers like you helped to fund some of our most important reporting, including coverage of the East Troublesome Fire.

If you value local journalism, consider making a contribution to our newsroom in support of the work we do.