South Park National Heritage Area

09/14/2026

🌿 Places like this are part of what makes South Park so special.

The sweeping grasslands, winding waterways, and wide-open views of 63 Ranch State Wildlife Area reflect the landscapes that have shaped life in South Park for generations. These working and natural landscapes provide important habitat for wildlife while preserving the character that makes this region unlike anywhere else in Colorado.

Protecting places like these helps ensure future generations can experience the same sense of wonder, open space, and connection to the land that defines the South Park National Heritage Area.

📍 63 Ranch State Wildlife Area, South Park National Heritage Area

📸 Joshua Cantu | Mt. Bailey Productions LLC

09/12/2026

❖A Timeline of Park County History❖⠀
• Panic of 1857 Hits •⠀
"The Panic of 1857 results in widespread unemployment throughout the United States, encouraging many individuals to head west with hopes of finding new economic opportunities and a fresh start."⠀
Make sure you follow us as we update our stories with our Historical Timeline on Instagram!
📸⠀⠀⠀

09/08/2026

🍷 History, preservation, and local flavors come together next Sunday at NoLo - North London Mill Preservation, Inc.!

Join NoLo - North London Mill Preservation, Inc. for a free w**e tasting featuring Malia Brown, with cheese and bread from bristlecone bake shop. Explore the historic site during the open house and support the continued preservation of this important piece of South Park history.

📅 Sunday, September 13
🏛️ Open house: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
🍷 W**e tasting: 12 to 2 p.m.
📍 North London Mill, 6632 County Road 12
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Join us next Sunday for a w**e tasting at NoLo! We'll have 2 reds and 2 whites. We're changing it up from our usual hot dogs and b**r.
South Park National Heritage Area
Even in the End Liquors
Malia Brown
bristlecone bake shop

09/07/2026

⛏️ Every photograph has a story, and some stories have been overlooked for far too long.

This historic image offers a glimpse into Colorado's mining era and accompanies the Park County Local History Digital Archive's online exhibit exploring the lives of Chinese immigrants in Park County.

From the early 1870s through 1914, Chinese immigrants played an important role in the history of South Park, contributing to mining, local businesses, and the growth of our communities. The exhibit explores their experiences, occupations, and the lasting impact they had on Park County.

If you enjoy discovering the people and stories that helped shape South Park, we encourage you to explore this fascinating online exhibit.

🔗 https://pclha.cvlcollections.org/exhibits/show/chinese-immigrants-park-county

📸 Wood Mountain Gulch Mine on the line of the Colorado & Northwestern Railway, c. 1897–1904. Photograph by Joseph Bevier Sturtevant, courtesy of Stanford University Special Collections, featured in the Park County Local History Digital Archive exhibit.

09/05/2026

🌲 Meet one of South Park's oldest living treasures.

Bristlecone pines have survived for thousands of years in some of Colorado's harshest environments. Twisted by wind, protected by resin, and growing at an incredibly slow pace, these remarkable trees are a testament to the resilience of nature.

Found high in the mountains near South Park, bristlecone pines are among the oldest living trees on Earth and an important part of our region's natural heritage. Watch to learn what makes these ancient trees so extraordinary.

📄 Slide captions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HXt1gybGPlNgIwbUprUvYdOcgOMG-1JQjzFP6jYG0jY/edit?usp=sharing

📍 Have you ever seen a bristlecone pine in person?

09/03/2026

🎻 Voices of the Bayou Salado is almost here.

Join us for an unforgettable evening that brings three remarkable women from South Park's past to life through music and storytelling.

Experience the stories of Chipeta, Marie Antoinette Guiraud, and China Mary in a unique performance conceived by cellist Elizabeth Byrd with vocalist Emma Kelleher. Blending live music, narration, and archival research, this immersive program offers a fresh perspective on the diverse people who helped shape our region's history.

The performance takes place on the top floor of the historic Fairplay Courthouse, making it a rare opportunity to step inside one of Park County's most iconic historic buildings while enjoying an evening unlike any other.

📅 Saturday, September 5
🕔 5:00–7:00 PM
📍 Historic Fairplay Courthouse, Fairplay
🎟️ Free to attend (Registration via the QR code is available but not required.)

We hope you'll make plans to join us for this special celebration of South Park's rich and diverse history.

09/02/2026

🏛️ Every cemetery has a story to tell.

In this fascinating post, Parked in the Past takes a closer look at Bordenville Cemetery, where approximately 60 people are believed to be buried, though only a handful of graves remain marked today. Through historic photographs and thoughtful research, the post explores the lives of some of the individuals connected to this quiet piece of Park County history.

If you enjoy discovering the people and places that shaped South Park, be sure to follow Parked in the Past for more stories from across Park County.
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📸 & historical research: Laura Van Dusen of Parked in the Past

09/01/2026

🏛️ Have a historic property or preservation project in mind?

Park County Historic Preservationist Kate McCoy is available to answer questions about historic properties, preservation projects, and available resources. Whether you're just getting started or exploring ideas for the future, it's always worth reaching out to learn what's possible.

Every preserved building helps tell the story of Park County and keeps our shared heritage alive.

📧 Keep Kate's contact information handy for your next project or preservation question.

08/31/2026

⏳ A Glimpse Back in Time: Salt Works Ranch

Long before today's highways and communities, ranches like Salt Works Ranch helped shape daily life in Park County. This photograph, taken in the late 1870s or 1880s, shows two individuals standing in front of the ranch buildings, offering a rare glimpse into one of South Park's early ranching operations.

Ranching has been woven into the fabric of South Park for generations. The region's open grasslands, abundant water, and high mountain valleys made it well suited for raising livestock, creating a way of life that continues to influence the landscape and culture of Park County today.

🔗 Explore the original photo and archive:
https://pclha.cvlcollections.org/items/show/743

📍 Salt Works Ranch, Park County, Colorado
📸 Late 1870s–1880s
Courtesy of the Park County Local History Digital Archive

Have you visited any of South Park's historic ranches or know stories passed down through generations? We'd love to hear them in the comments. 👇

08/31/2026

💜 Some of South Park's most fascinating stories bloom at your feet.

Pictured here is Purple Locoweed, a native wildflower that thrives in South Park's high-elevation landscape. Its soft, silvery leaves and vibrant purple blooms are just one example of the remarkable plants that have adapted to survive the region's short summers, thin air, and unpredictable mountain weather.

Our native wildflowers are more than beautiful. They help support pollinators, reflect the health of our ecosystems, and are an important part of South Park's natural heritage.

🌼 Want to discover more of the wildflowers that make South Park so unique? Read our blog, Rare and Resilient: South Park's Native Wildflowers Tell a Deeper Story, and explore the incredible plants that bloom across the valley.

🌿 Learn more about South Park's incredible native wildflowers:
https://southparkheritage.org/south-park-wildflowers/

📸 Photo by Stephanie Cantũ of Mt. Bailey Productions