Mr & Mrs Ed Evans

SPRUCE LODGE, late 1890's or thereabouts, probably October or early November based on the snowpack. Prior to the arrival of the railroad in 1905, the wagon road over Berthoud Pass was a lifeline of travel and transport of basically 100% of anything you needed but couldn't grow, make, or otherwise obtain in the Fraser Valley (and all of Grand County).
Per Robert Black's history of Grand County, "Island in the Rockies",Thanks to state funds, the road was purchased by the state of Colorado substantially "improved" in 1891. Bridges were built and a few grades were mellowed, but it still took 12 hours to get from Georgetown to Hot Sulphur via the 4 Bar 4 Ranch route--which seems surprisingly quick when you think about it. Horses were changed twice in Grand County: once at the 4 Bar 4 and once at "Idlewild", a stage stop near today's campground of the same name.
Just up the river from Idlewild, near the foot of Berthoud Pass, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Evans ran a "rest stop" called Spruce Lodge offering meals at all hours and maintained a corral for livestock. Spend a minute with this image...check out the heavy fur coat on that wagon driver, the beard on the driver behind him, the rock wall in front of the lodge, the sturdy construction of the lodge itself, and the general mountain vibe. Folks worked hard back then that's for sure.

 

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