Have any of you been to South Park City in Fairplay, CO?

Green River Powell aka RonC · May 17, 2011, 01:52:46 PM

South Park City is a restored town located in Fairplay, CO. Fairplay, itself, is in South Park, a 9-10,000 plateau of grasslands surrounded by 12,000-14,000 ft mountains. Yes, it is the namesake of the cartoon of the same name. The real region of South Park is much more rural than what it is made out to be in the cartoon. There are about 500 people in Fairplay, the largest town in South Park.

South Park City was created by restoring buildings that were part of the historic, gold mining era Fairplay. Where a building was missing or in such poor repair that it couldn't be restored, they found corresponding buildings in the area, like in Alma, Co, another mining town above 10,000 ft. Either the dentist's office or the funeral parlor came from a surrounding town.

They have board walks and a dirt Main St., as was the case back then. There is a narrow gauge railway and train at the end of town. The descendants of the owner of the town Apothecary were found. Fortunately, they had stored all the pre-1900 goods and bottles from the store which now are part of the original shop. Nothing like a bottle of Dr. Sweeney's Liver Pills in the front window to draw you in.

The saloon is just as it was. You can just imagine yourself walking up to the bar to order a sarsaparilla (or harder liquid, as you prefer).

If you are in Colorado, South Park City should not be missed.

Jane and I are standing in front of the Stage Barn in South Park City (not in period costume, and photo taken 4 years ago):

Ron

GunClick Rick · May 17, 2011, 03:18:46 PM

Aparently that gal there had to much to drink~~~

"THEY ALL START LOOKIN BETTER AT CLOSIN TIME~~~~~~~~~~

Green River Powell aka RonC · May 17, 2011, 03:26:51 PM

Actually, I found her down at the house of ill repute on the corner of Main St. in South Park City.

Of course she didn't work there, but was just passin' by.

It's the third house from the left.

And, she wasn't drinking, she was imbibing Dr. Sweeney's Liver tonic from here:

Ron

GunClick Rick · May 17, 2011, 03:34:01 PM

Wow nice pictures!! I could live in a place like that.You done real well on that purty gal!

Green River Powell aka RonC · May 17, 2011, 03:41:28 PM

People say that I made a great choice when I married her 40 years ago. It was not a great choice - back then, I made two kinds of choices: bad and lucky!

Ron

joec · May 17, 2011, 03:51:46 PM

Quote from: Green River Powell aka RonC on May 17, 2011, 03:41:28 PM
People say that I made a great choice when I married her 40 years ago. It was not a great choice - back then, I made two kinds of choices: bad and lucky!

Ron

I can relate Ron to the woman considering I'm married 48 years with 4 kids, 17 grand kids and 4 great grand sons.

Got to love the pictures though and if I ever get back to Colorado I will surely look it up. Thanks for posting the pictures.

Green River Powell aka RonC · May 17, 2011, 04:08:43 PM

To me, going to Fairplay is a must if you are in the Denver region.

If you are coming in from Denver, you ride Rt 285 that goes SW. The highway eventually narrows to a twisty, two lane, beautiful road. Then, you ride up to Kenosha Pass, at about 10,000 ft altitude and South Park spreads out before you - a true, high plains surrounded by mountains. You pass some small, mountain towns and cattle ranches. It can't be easy raising livestock at that 9,000 ft altitude.

On a trail at Kenosha Pass, overlooking the NE most end of South Park:

Ron

GunClick Rick · May 17, 2011, 06:25:15 PM

All ya need in that pic is some indians and buffalo.Dang what a view,you can see em comin from anywhere..

GunClick Rick · May 17, 2011, 06:31:50 PM

There is a feller here that has a program called Californias Gold,he travels to little known places and farms that are out of the way and is on PBSTV ,i watch him all the time,He was at Ferndale a couple weeks ago and i thought man that's where i wanna go.Probably about 3-4 hours north.They really have it goin on..Especially when the customers open the coffee shop every morning at 5 and get things ready for the gal that cooks..Nice story Ron and cool pictures,would like to be somewhere like that..

http://www.victorianferndale.com/

Green River Powell aka RonC · May 18, 2011, 10:17:45 AM

Quote from: GunClick Rick on May 17, 2011, 06:25:15 PM
All ya need in that pic is some indians and buffalo.Dang what a view,you can see em comin from anywhere..

Actually, there are buffalo being raised up in South Park. Here is a herd in Tarryall, in South Park. I saw them on a motorcycle ride into the back roads of South Park:

Ron

knightmare · May 18, 2011, 11:13:44 AM

Thanks, Ron. It's a neat place. I was just up there last month for "ice out" on the 'dream stream'. great fishing up there. I got skunked, but had a blast anyway. Two of the officers I work with still have family there and they still maintain the family home. They plan to move back when they retire in a year or two. Great pictures

FYI, sometimes those buffalo wander so be careful! Had one walk alongside my truck for a ways on the way back to camp. Took a picture or two and went about our business.

GunClick Rick · May 18, 2011, 11:32:52 AM

Well hell now i gotta go,i've never seen a buffallo ride a motorcycle into the backwoods $:-\$

Green River Powell aka RonC · May 18, 2011, 11:39:17 AM

Quote from: GunClick Rick on May 18, 2011, 11:32:52 AM
Well hell now i gotta go,i've never seen a buffallo ride a motorcycle into the backwoods $:-\$

Hee, hee, hee!!

Green River Powell aka RonC · May 18, 2011, 11:43:58 AM

Quote from: knightmare on May 18, 2011, 11:13:44 AM
Thanks, Ron. It's a neat place. I was just up there last month for "ice out" on the 'dream stream'. great fishing up there. I got skunked, but had a blast anyway. Two of the officers I work with still have family there and they still maintain the family home. They plan to move back when they retire in a year or two. Great pictures

FYI, sometimes those buffalo wander so be careful! Had one walk alongside my truck for a ways on the way back to camp. Took a picture or two and went about our business.

I've been up there in the Winter, but never fishing. If I ever fished during the Winter, I would freeze my (b)ass off.

I have had my dual sport motorcycle up there in the Winter, trying to ride in the snow over Boreas Pass from Como. Didn't make it, thought. The snow and cold was too much for this old guy. In fact, I didn't get very far at all before I turned back.

Ron

knightmare · May 19, 2011, 09:56:29 AM

Boreas Pass, winter, hmm... and this surprised you? (LOL) I haven't been up there during the winter in quite a while. Like you, I'm too old for that now. Heck, I've been up there on the bike in high summer and have seen snow and hail in the high passes. At least in summer it doesn't stick around --but cold is cold!

Green River Powell aka RonC · May 19, 2011, 10:04:32 AM

Quote from: knightmare on May 19, 2011, 09:56:29 AM
Boreas Pass, winter, hmm... and this surprised you? (LOL) I haven't been up there during the winter in quite a while. Like you, I'm too old for that now. Heck, I've been up there on the bike in high summer and have seen snow and hail in the high passes. At least in summer it doesn't stick around --but cold is cold!

I let myself be egged on by some young fellers who had done the Guanella Pass Winter ride. They had studs in their knobby tires. I didn't. The only stud on my bike was me.

Ron

GunClick Rick · May 19, 2011, 08:20:50 PM

Must have been an old bike~~BAAAA HAAA HAAA HAA