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*NOTE: THE DATE OF THIS EVENT WAS CHANGED FROM SEPTEMBER 7TH TO THE 28TH DUE TO A REQUEST FROM LARIMER COUNTY.*Join HLC on September 7 at 10:00am as historian Ron Sladek takes us on a walking tour of Hermit Park. This interesting and scenic historic site is located a short distance southeast of Estes Park along Highway 36. Attendees are encouraged to bring a sack lunch and lightweight camp chair and to dress for the weather (including a light jacket, hat and sturdy shoes). The walk will mostly take place along a graded dirt road, but we'll stray a short distance from the road in a couple places. This is not a long-distance or strenuous hike, but be prepared for some high-altitude walking (about 7,500' in elevation). The property is owned by the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources and is open to the public -- there will be a fee of $10 per car to drive into the site. Head to our website and RSVP if you'd like to be part of a carpool.
Hermit Park was homesteaded in the late 1800s and developed as an alpine ranch. During the 1930s, a legend arose about Dutch Louie, the "hermit" who had lived on this property several decades earlier. That led to it being known ever since as Hermit Park. By the early 2000s, no one understood what the truth was behind the legend. In 2015, Ron Sladek was engaged by Larimer County to look into this question as he developed a historic study of the property. HLC's tour will be the first one ever scheduled that brings to light the real history of Hermit Park, including the story of Dutch Louie and other interesting characters who were involved in the ranch's ownership.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
17 Hermit Park Rd, Estes Park, CO 80517-8863, United States