Stagecoach to Oak Creek and Beyond
VISIT STAGECOACH STATE PARK in the middle of summer and Stagecoach Reservoir will be filled with boats, paddleboarders, people swimming, fishermen and even a kite-surfer or two. Just over 35 years ago, the valley looked very different. The Yampa River flowed unhindered through lush fields of grasses dotted with wildflowers with a few cabins scattered here and there. The remains of a few still stand today.
The history of the valley reflects the growth and development of
much of the surrounding area. According to archaeological findings, over 10,000 years ago nomadic peoples hunted deer and elk here. The rocky outcroppings on the north side of the reservoir were once a quarry for stones used for hunting weapons. In the 14th century, members of the Ute tribe followed the game trails through the area in search of buffalo, elk, deer, antelope and moose. It wasn’t until the late 1700s and early 1800s that fur trappers arrived looking for beavers to meet high demand for fashionable beaver
hats back east. By 1882, northwestern Colorado was attracting white settlers who could claim up to 160 acres of land with proof of improvements and a filing fee. Further expansion happened with the 1862 Homestead Act. As the area was settled, the land was used for agricultural purposes; growing crops and grazing livestock.
As the name Stagecoach suggests, a stagecoach once brought people from Wolcott, sixty miles to the south, through Yampa and on to Steamboat Springs, which was often a two-day passage. Horse teams were swapped out every sixteen miles, giving passengers the opportunity to stretch their legs, have a meal or find lodging. The stagecoach even ran in winter with runners instead of wheels to move through the snow. Eight passengers could fit inside while another six were settled on the roof. Stagecoach was the only easy way to access the area for twenty-one years, until the Moffat Railroad was built.
While the idea of a reservoir at Stagecoach had been in talks for years, the Upper Yampa Valley Conservancy District was formed to make the idea a reality in 1966. John Fetcher, known for his contributions to agriculture and development of the ski area, was instrumental in the Stagecoach Reservoir project. Construction began in 1987. The dam cost $17,983,000 and was built in just over a month. The entire project was completed at the end of 1988 with the reservoir taking eight months to fill. When the reservoir was built, archaeological remains were lost, as were some early homesteads.
Today, houses around the lake remain off the grid with solar panels for electricity. Old game trails are now popular hiking trails and water flow into the Yampa is managed by man and not nature. But sunsets remain the same. The beauty is intoxicating and there is no better place on a sunny summer’s day than being
on the lake in a pontoon boat or paddleboard, or just listening to the water lap onto the beach.
After spending the morning recreating at Stagecoach, take a drive to Oak Creek, founded by brothers Sam and Ed Bell. The areas surrounding Oak Creek were once rich in coal and home to coal fields and mining operations. When the railroad came through in 1908, the mining industry took off. The work available at the mines attracted newly arrived people from around the world and from 1930 to 1940, Oak Creek held the title of largest town in Routt County. As industries changed, growth moved to Steamboat Springs. Oak Creek today has a strong sense of character and community. Find out more of the history of the area at the Tracks and Trails Museum. Have lunch at Lupita’s, then take an afternoon drive south to Yampa, the gateway to the Flat Tops Wilderness.
ELEVATE THE ARTS: Learn more by visiting the Tread of Pioneers Museum Exhibit: The Yampa River: From the Flat Tops to the Green River. This historical and scientific exhibit collaboration between the Tread of Pioneers Museum and Friends of the Yampa explores the Yampa River and its valley, climate change and other impacts on the river, and the efforts of local and statewide organizations trying to protect the river that is so vital to northwest Colorado. Support the Historical Society of Oak Creek and Phippsburg; home of the Tracks and Trails Museum. Buy an annual State Parks Pass and enjoy the outdoors! AwA
Note: Information for this article was sourced from the “Cultural Resources Summary Stagecoach State Park,” compiled and written by Jennie Lay and Arianthé C. Stettner for Colorado State Parks & Wildlife, December 2011.
Page 19: Bob Gay, Jerry Moore, Vernon Summer overlooking area of present day Stagecoach Reservoir, photograph by Randy Dickerson, courtesy of Tread of Pioneers Museum. Page 20: John Fetcher, secretary of the Upper Yampa District, pulls the covering off the plaque near the dam, courtesy of Tread of Pioneers Museum. Page 21: Stagecoach Marina, courtesy of Dagny McKinley.
