Colorado State University’s Pingree Park Mountain Campus Receives Colorado Historical Society Grant

Colorado State University’s Pingree Park Mountain Campus recently received a grant of $59,000 from the Colorado Historical Society to renovate the Koenig-Ramsey Ranch Historic District.

Colorado State’s Pingree Park Mountain Campus, which includes the historic Koeig-Ramsey Homestead, was acquired from the Koeig family in 1974 and later designated as a State Historic District in 1996. The homestead structures represent the lives of the early mountain settlers and are preserved as an illustration of pioneer times for visitors of Pingree Park.

"This grant has significance beyond the structural preservation because students of all ages will be able to view, for years to come, what is now the last intact example of

a working ranch at the turn of the 20th century," said William Bertschy, director of Pingree Park.

Colorado State and Pingree Park management are proceeding with a multi-year effort with the goal of preserving and protecting the Koeig-Ramsey Homestead Historic District. Many of the structures have been restored or stabilized but several still are in danger in the heavy snow area and need stabilization.

The monies of the grant will be used in the structural stabilization of five  structures that are part of the Koeig-Ramsey Homestead, including the schoolhouse, three fishing cabins and the Koeig garage. These buildings represent an integral part of the mountain lifestyle of the late 1800s and early 1900s, and stabilizing the structures will maintain the historic landscape of the mountain family ranch.

Previous Colorado Historical Society grants awarded to the park have aided in the stabilization and the restoration on district buildings including the barn, chicken coop, root cellar, tool shop and preservation of the homestead structure.

The Pingree Park Mountain Campus is located 53 miles northwest of Colorado State’s main campus in Fort Collins. The park plays a crucial role in Colorado’s forestry and natural resources history and development through the courses taught at the mountain location every year.

More than 8,000 visitors come to Pingree Park every year including Elderhostel participants, ECO-Week students from the Poudre School District in Fort Collins, as well as Colorado State natural resource students who receive part of their academic training at the park and participate in numerous multi-national conferences and retreats.

-30-