Page 41 - Lariat Loop

Kittredge 80457
KittredgeCivic.org
During the 1800s, Bear Creek Canyon changed as often as a toll collector could rebuild bridges destroyed by sudden oods. Many travelers chose to travel south from Bergen Park to Kittredge and then south through Indian Hills to Turkey Creek (U. S. Hwy. 285). John Parmalee was granted a wagon road charter along
Turkey Creek during 1866-1886.
Denver persuaded the governor to have state prisoners improve the road along Bear Creek to become Hwy. 74 in 1911. Denver created a mountain park system in 1912, and acquired 320-acre Pence Park, 300-acre Little Park, and 300-acre Corwina Park. The Bancroft family donated 860 acres contiguous with Pence and Corwina.
The primary “government-like” service was the Mountain Parks Protective Association from 1926 until 1975 when a Je Co Sheri substation was established in Evergreen. Landowners donated modest dues for MPPA, which cooperated with sheri deputies, and state parks and wildlife. It also published a newsletter, fought forest res, and helped stop mountain pine beetle infestations. After Je Co Open Space began in 1972, the county acquired 2,220-acre Mount Falcon Park and more land along Bear Creek.
Research conducted by Evergreen Naturalists Audubon Society volunteers convinced Je Co to acquire the 393-acre wetland ecology of Lair O’ the Bear Park between Denver’s Corwina and Little Parks in 1987.
Lariat Loop Scenic & Historic Byway 37