MacGregor Ranch - Estes Park, CO - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

"Welcome to one of Colorado's finest homestead ranches. With roots to the 1870's, MacGregor Ranch remains a showplace of early life among settlers and homesteaders in the early Colorado Territory. Founded in 1873 by Alexander and Clara MacGregor, and left in trust by their granddaughter Muriel MacGregor, the Ranch today serves as a working cattle ranch and a youth education center in the beautiful Black Canyon Creek area of Estes Park.

MacGregor Ranch is the last remaining working cattle ranch in Estes Park and one of the few sites operating as both a working ranch and youth education center in the northern Colorado area. It is unique in that its historic collection and structures are original to the 1873 homestead family. The collection is completely intact.

Fortunately Muriel Lurilla MacGregor had the foresight to make provisions in her will requesting her ranch be left in trust for charitable and educational purposes. In 1978, The Muriel L. MacGregor Charitable Trust was formed. In 1983, the Colorado Attorney General's office was instrumental in actions to further safeguard the site as the National Park Service worked with the Trustees to purchase a conservation easement on the main 1,200 acres of the Ranch. The site is maintained in perpetuity as an example of turn-of-the-century, high-mountain ranching." (from (visit link) )

The ranch is open to the public from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It is easily accessed by any vehicle with only a short dirt road to enter the property. Take your time to enjoy the tour (only $5) given by guides who are well versed in the history. I spoke with Estes Park native Rita, who knew Muriel MacGregor. The ranch sponsors a program called the Heritage Camp (visit link) that allow children to work the ranch and learn about homesteading. They make jerky in the smokehouse, cook a meal on the wood burning stove, churn butter, clean the chicken coops, etc. The Heritage Camp is from June to August (visit link) . Other activities for children and young adults run from April to October. This site is truly a treasure from all visitors.

Street address: 180 MacGregor Avenue Estes Park, CO USA 80511 County / Borough / Parish: Larimer Year listed: 1989 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1925-1949, 1900-1924, 1875-1899, 1850-1874 Historic function: Agriculture/Subsistence, Domestic Current function: Agriculture/Subsistence, Recreation And Culture Privately owned?: yes Season start / Season finish: From: 04/01/2011 To: 10/31/2011 Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   10/13/2016 siff visited it 06/26/2016 youkfish visited it 06/22/2014 Memfis Mafia visited it

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