In this enthralling narrative, James H Pickering traces the development of Estes Park as a mountain resort community, from the time of its first recorded discovery by Joel Estes in 1859 to the establishment of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1915. Though Estes and his family stayed only briefly, others quickly followed: hunters, homesteading settlers, lumbermen, mountaineers, artists, writers, and vacationers. They came for many reasons: first for settlement, exploration, and exploitation and later for escape, health, recreation, and renewal. Their collective experiences and accomplishments-their successes as well as their failures-are chronicled in this book. The book also explores the conquest of Longs Peak and the first explorations of other high and remote places; and the people and circumstances that led to the establishment of the town of Estes Park in 1905 and Rocky Mountain National Park a decade later. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Colorado.

A biographical history of entrepreneur, philanthropist and transportation innovator Freelan Oscar (F.O.) Stanley of Kingfield, Maine, who together with his twin brother, F.E., achieved success manufacturing photographic dry plates and the Stanley Steamer automobile. Forced to move West with tuberculosis, Stanley found refuge in Estes Park, Colorado, and spent the rest of his life building up the small, rustic western town into a world-class resort. With the palatial Stanley Hotel as his centerpiece, Stanley promoted the West and fostered the new industry of automobile tourism. This book brings to life one of the West's (and East's) true fascinating characters.