I recently ran across an interesting visit to Palmer Lake by leaders of the Denver and Rio Grande railroad in 1889. It tells of a distinguished party of gentlemen connected with the D&RGW arriving from Denver as guests at the hotel in Palmer Lake.

The party was headed by General William J. Palmer, who had a growing reputation as a railroad man. With him were his friend, Dr. William A. Bell, of Manitou; James T. Gardiner, of Albany, N.Y., consulting engineer of the D&RG; and Clark Mellen, another business leader of Colorado Springs. It was not known what the particular subject of the visit may have been, but it intimated that the meeting may have connections with some new adventures in summer travel.

“The purpose was to involve investors who have plenty of money and are willing to put it into the visitors and resort business. At present it may be said that there are barely enough resort hotels to handle the ever increasing tourist business in Colorado. Governor Routt, who has sent a representative to the meeting, has said there are increasing number of travelers on both the Midland, South Park roads as well as larger out of state railroads, with an interest in developing visits to Colorado’s summer resorts. The resorts were recently shown at a convention in Chicago. The advertisements were very handsome, and will, no doubt, rather surprise eastern travelers who do not know of Colorado’s attractions. The growth of business here in the mountains needs to be built up here.

“The fact that Colorado is an important mining center has overshadowed the tourist industry. The railroads are still expanding into the mining camps. It has not been used to any extent in developing resorts, except for a few spots. As the railroad expands, new houses and business blocks are being planned. There is no reason why this state should not grow into favor as soon as the number of resort hotels are developed.”

It is interesting that only a few years after this meeting the Cripple Creek area exploded into the news. It was an entirely new region of development in one of Colorado’s quiet areas. The whole idea that Colorado could have a strong handle on different aspects of the national economy this early in the settlement of the West is interesting.

Many of you might be able to trace your living here back to either the industrial or social history of this region. I know the ranching business in this area brought my family here at this time.