Winter Park in Grand County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Grand County Tourism, Scenic Byways & Water

Gateway to Grand County's Heritage

— Grand County History • Experience Our Heritage —

Grand County Tourism, Scenic Byways & Water Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 30, 2025

1. Grand County Tourism, Scenic Byways & Water Marker

Inscription.
Grand County Tourism
Since the opening of Berthoud Pass in 1874, Grand County has been a draw for vacationers and tourists. Ranchers, such as the Cozens Family, or pioneers such as the Kauffman's of Grand Lake, housed early guests.

The years following both World Wars were the height of the dude ranch era and by the late 1950s, Grand County had as many as fifteen guest ranches — many, like the Drowsy Water, Bar Lazy J, and C Lazy U, still thrive today.

Grand County attracts visitors from all over the world for outdoor adventures, western charm, and the splendor of its high country lakes and rivers in the Arapaho National Forest and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Activities Around Grand County
Nowadays, Grand County's wonders are explored by train, car, bike and foot. Travelers can follow the Trail Ridge Road Scenic Byway (located in Rocky Mountain National Park) and the Colorado River Headwaters Scenic and Historic Byway.

The mighty Colorado River begins near Grand Lake. Its water is a resource essential for wildlife, agriculture, tourism, recreation, industry and development. Due to long standing water rights agreements, a

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majority of Grand County's water "belongs" to distant, arid, urban and agricultural centers. Winding its way through the Grand Canyon to the Pacific Ocean, dams capture the Colorado River creating Lake Powell and Lake Mead.

Residents of Denver, Fort Collins and the Eastern Plains of Colorado are also major recipients of Grand County water.

[photo captions]
• Grand Lake Shore: Horse and buggy on the shore of Grand Lake, circa 1890s.
• Woman Fishing: On the North Fork of the Colorado near Grand Lake.
• View of Gore Canyon: From west of Kremmling, circa 1903, prior to installation of railroad tracks.

See our website for related stories: www.GrandCountyHistory.org

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas • Sports • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location. 39° 55.952′ N, 105° 47.454′ W. Marker is in Winter Park, Colorado, in Grand County. It is on Zerex Street (U.S. 40) 0.1 miles north of Grand Park Drive, on the right when traveling north. The marker is on the north side of the Gateway to History kiosk in front of the Cozens

Marker detail: String of Fish image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: String of Fish

Early 20th century fish fry in Grand County.

Ranch Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 77849 US Highway 40, Winter Park CO 80482, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Colorado High Rockies and on the Continental Divide.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cozens Ranch Museum (here, next to this marker); Grand County Skiing (here, next to this marker); Cozens Ranch (here, next to this marker); Gone Fishin' (approx. 1.2 miles away); Jim Bridger (approx. 1½ miles away); Sheriff Billy Cozens (approx. 1½ miles away); Doc Susie (approx. 1½ miles away); Jeremiah (John) Johnson (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winter Park.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Grand County History Stories (GrandCountyHistory.org).

Excerpt: Welcome to the Grand County Historical

3. Marker detail: Victory Highway
Entering Victory Highway at Byers Canyon, west of Hot Sulphur Springs, circa 1920s.
Association (GCHA) stories page! Explore the History & Culture of Grand County Colorado.

(Submitted on November 12, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Riding Burros image. Click for full size.

4. Marker detail: Riding Burros

Fashionable tourists riding mules at Cozens Ranch, in Fraser, circa 1900.

Marker detail: Natural Sulphur Springs Bath House image. Click for full size.

5. Marker detail: Natural Sulphur Springs Bath House

A popular destination and place to relax, Hot Sulphur Springs, circa 1916.

Gateway to History Kiosk (<i>north side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 30, 2025

6. Gateway to History Kiosk (north side)

Looking south from the Cozens Ranch Museum. This marker is on the left side of the north side of the Gateway to History kiosk.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 50 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 12, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.