Residents and tourists may have noticed Lois Sprague refreshing the mural on the exterior wall of the Ute Pass Cultural Center.  The Woodland Park artist painted “The Story of Us” in 2015, a project that took four months.

Originally funded by the Woodland Park Arts Alliance, the mural is a historical record featuring the main characters in a local story that begins with the Ute Indians.

The first chapter in the story includes the faces of Chief Ouray and his wife Chipeta. Roland McCook became the image of Ouray, his face striking and penetrating even to the casual observer.

“He sat and watched me paint,” Sprague said.

With a walk through the grass, Sprague highlights a few of the people who contributed to the city’s vitality. From the glory days of the railroad to its famed rodeos in the old Saddle Club grounds in the center of downtown, Sprague paints a document.

For instance, there’s Merry Jo Larsen, one of the city’s famous rodeo queens. Today, Larsen continues to run The Cowhand, a generational business known for the customized ten-gallon cowboy hats.

Sprague included the Wildflower Express that brought people up Ute Pass to pick flowers around the area, stopping in Green Mountain Falls before moving on.  

“The express was one of the first trains that came up here,” Sprague said, adding that she painted her five children to be among the “passengers” on the mural. 

There’s Larry Black, who wrote “History of Woodland Park: A journey to the Wild West,” and continues to be involved with the Ute Pass Historical Society.

The images of Nick Naples and his father, Larry Naples, bring up a sad chapter in the story of Woodland Park. Nick, 17, was one of four Woodland Park Boy Scouts killed in a car crash in Wyoming in July 2012. Larry Naples died more than two years later after being diagnosed with cancer.

Other faces include those of the sculptor Paul Hathaway and Green Mountain Falls Marshal Dick Gysin on his horse.

The image of Ralph Holloway honors the man who founded Seven Arrows Art Gallery to promote art in the city. Holloway involved students in the schools to engage in art projects and show their works in the gallery. A member of the WP Arts Alliance back then, Holloway was a powerful force.

“Ralph pioneered the whole project,” Sprague said. “He got things going.”

Sprague has spent the last couple of weeks on the refresh project and is providing entertainment as she paints.

“My favorite part about this is when people walk up and tell me stories,” she said. “Every day is different because of the weather.”

Funded by the Ute Pass Historical Society, the contributors  included the nonprofit organization, Mountain Artists, whose members washed the mural to remove the automobile soot, oil and grime. 

“Our goal is to provide ongoing washing/maintenance of the ‘The Story of Us’ on a consistent basis to assure its vibrancy and presentation are of the highest quality going forward,” said Laurie Glauth, vice president of UPHS. “The WP Arts Alliance gave us this gift in 2015, and we hope to maintain this asset for many to enjoy and for our community to be proud of.”

Glauth credits the city of Woodland Park staff, specifically Melody Klema Campbell at the cultural center, and Steve Varner, facilities staff, for their help.

“They have been gracious, generous and supportive to help get the refresh done,” Glauth said. “It’s been a team effort and a great example of collaboration.”

Sprague hopes to complete the work by Aug. 8.