Colorado Preservation, Inc. recently announced the spots it’s featuring on its 2026 “most endangered places in Colorado” list, and among the five inclusions are a fort, a castle, a church, a pharmacy and a theater.

CPI’s ‘Most Endangered Places’ program has highlighted a total of 149 historic spots in 29 years, with 57 saved and nine ultimately lost over the course of the program.

“Long before Colorado became a state 150 years ago, this land was home to people whose stories, traditions, and stewardship continue to shape this place today,” Endangered Places Director Katie Peterson said. “From Indigenous nations and early settlers to miners, ranchers, railroad workers, and visionaries who followed, Colorado’s history has always been one of resilience, creativity, and connection. As Colorado marks 150 years of statehood, the Endangered Places Program stands as a reflection of that milestone.”

Here are the five spots highlighted on this year’s ‘Most Endangered Places’ list:

1. Bent’s Old Fort

Located in Otero County and near La Junta, Bent’s Old Fort is well-known among Colorado’s history buffs. It’s found within a National Historic Site and played an important role in trade and community along the Santa Fe Trail in the 1800s. What many people don’t know, however, is that the structure on the plains dedicated in 1976 is a reconstruction of the actual fort. The original fort was constructed in 1833, but as CPI puts it, was lost to time and flooding.

The reason for Bent’s Old Fort’s inclusion on the list comes from increasingly complex repairs that are needed at the destination. Materials used to rebuild the fort and create an authentic feel include compressed dirt and wood, along with plaster, concrete and composites, all of which are said to age in different ways. This aging has made some parts of the structure unsafe and has significantly restricted access, according to Colorado Preservation.

2. Hartman Castle

Constructed in Gunnison in 1894, Hartman Castle was the home of Alonzo and Annie Hartman, with this couple playing a key role in the town’s early days.

Serving time as a government employee, Alonzo became good friends with Chief Ouray and his wife. Over his time in Gunnison, he was a postmaster, banker and rancher. He was also one of the founding members of the Gunnison Cattlemen’s Association. Meanwhile, Annie was an artist and philanthropist – said to be the brains behind that castle’s design, too. Both were key leaders in community development.

Hartman Castle is privately owned, but vacant, and in need of preservation, according to CPI. There’s a group that’s working to purchase it, restore it, and open it for the community, with CPI hoping to collaborate with local partners to help raise awareness of the situation.

3. La Morada

Located in the area of San Luis – Colorado’s oldest town, La Morada was constructed in the 1860s as a humble place for religious gatherings, including those of the Penitentes.

Moradas were once a staple of Colorado’s Hispanic communities, but today, only two remain active. La Morada has fallen into disuse, now vacant for more than half a century. Its issues include collapsed walls, eroded plaster and fragile woodwork.

While the building’s owner has already secured some emergency funding for the restoration effort, CPI hopes that its partnership will help bolster the building’s preservation and community awareness of its presence.

4. Ordway Pharmacy

Found in Crowley County’s town of Ordway, this pharmacy played an important role in the community for more than a century, though it’s been empty since 2020.

With a failing roof and crumbling brick walls, the town remains determined to save it. Plans are in place to fix it up and turn it into the town’s first laundromat since 2004, also adding an arcade and a snack counter as a nod to the spot that once housed a soda fountain.

Revamping this building is part of a larger project meant to improve much of Ordway’s downtown area, bringing it back to life.

5. Pearl Theater

If you’ve been to Buena Vista, you’ve probably spotted the red sign for the Pearl Theater on Main Street. Originally constructed during the town’s Wild West heyday of the 1880s, this building once housed an all-encompassing mercantile that sold groceries, alcohol and many other items. As CPI notes, there was even a basketball court upstairs.

This former life ended when the building was purchased in 1951 and turned into the Pearl Theater, which soon became a beloved facet of the local community. While a failing wall and a compromised roof led town officials to deem the Main Street theater unsafe, the same family behind its original transformation still operates the Comanche Drive-In nearby.

Today, the Pearl Theater faces potential demolition if it’s not stabilized soon, and the family that owns it is searching for ways to bring the theater back to life. CPI is working with them to help preserve the building, which is what the organization describes as an “irreplaceable piece of small-town Americana.”

Learn more about Colorado Preservation, Inc. and its ‘Endangered Places’ program here.