Near Granby in Grand County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Not Even Ghosts, But Rather Phantoms
Photographed by Leslie Eudy, September 17, 2026
1. Not Even Ghosts, But Rather Phantoms Marker
”It gave us a queer feeling to realize that substantial things like railroads and buildings that we helped build have vanished. Was it all a dream? Monarch and the railroad are not even ghosts, but rather phantoms that now exist only in memory and imagination.” ~Frank Wolcott
Frank Wolcott was one of the original workers of the Rocky Mountain Lumber Company that constructed the town of Monarch. In 1904, they had created a minor empire based on timber harvesting. They built a company town complete with a sawmill, box factory, offices, homes, an assembly hall and their own railway company. Using Japanese and Bulgarian laborers, a dam was built across Arapaho Creek creating Monarch Lake. The lake, along with a system of man-made canals and flumes, served to transport logs to the sawmill. They also imported the bulk of the town’s population, en masse, from the timberlands of Michigan.
Unfortunately, when the box factory burned in 1908, the town collapsed like a house of cards. There was an attempt to reorganize, but it failed. Eventually, the remains of the town and railroad
this page online
From Ashes to Resort
In 1912, what was left of the town of Monarch was converted into the plush Ka Rose Resort. The resort catered to the elite. Celebrities such as Charles Lindbergh frequented the resort. Lindbergh would land his plane on Harry Knight’s ranch, who was of the Mumm’s Champagne family and who helped finance Lindbergh’s flight to Paris. In 1946, when construction of the Granby Reservoir began, Ka Rose was moved and the land was purchased by the government.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 40° 9.192′ N, 105° 53.322′ W. Marker is near Granby, Colorado, in Grand County. It is on U.S. 34, on the right when traveling north. The marker is along Grand Lake, south of the Indian Peaks Marina. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Granby CO 80446, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally,
Photographed by Leslie Eudy, September 17, 2026
2. Not Even Ghosts, But Rather Phantoms Marker Wide View
Marker is on the right
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Against the Flow (here, next to this marker); The Nation's Backbone (here, next to this marker); Ancient Peoples Lived Near Windy Gap (approx. 5.7 miles away); The Smith-Eslick Cottage Camp (approx. 7.6 miles away); The Smith Eslick Cottage Court (approx. 7.6 miles away); Why Did They Come? (approx. 7.6 miles away); The Smith-Eslick Family (approx. 7.6 miles away); Automobiles Come to Grand Lake (approx. 7.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Granby.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2026, by Leslie Eudy of Golden, Colorado. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 18, 2026, by Leslie Eudy of Golden, Colorado. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
