History
The history of Evergreen, CO
People were first drawn here by the immense beauty of the mountains, and they still keep coming just four miles north of present-day downtown Evergreen when Thomas Bergen homesteaded in what is now Bergen Park - - he never imagined that he was creating the foundation for one of Colorado's most unique communities. It was 1860 when he arrived, at a time when most people were only passing through here on their way to the Rocky Mountain gold country in search of their fortunes.
The surrounding hills never produced much miner-enticing precious ore, but the enterprising Bergen made a different kind of gold mine. He built a ranch and hotel on what was once the summer hunting range for the Ute and Arapaho Indiana, and became the first of many ranchers, lumbermen, and fanners to settle in the high valleys. In the old days, legend explains, Evergreen’s pine, spruce and fir forests were so dense that you couldn’t even, walk· a horse between the tree trunks. Harvesting those forests kept many a family from going hungry.
Evergreen's economy had a good head start in the beginning. The town's sawmills produced enough lumber to fuel Denver's enormous appetite for new homes and commercial buildings. Hay, potatoes and peas that farmers could coax from the soil, along with cattle raised in local ranches also went to Denver for sale. A short while after Bergen’s arrival, some settlers decided to move south of Bergen Park to build homes and establish businesses in Bear Creek Canyon the present site of downtown Evergreen. D.P Wilmot, who bought a large tract of this land in 1815, first called the area "Evergreen."
The name has stuck ever since. By the 1880's, the new town was populated by about 200 people. Six sawmills operated in two neighboring mountain valleys, and downtown there was a blacksmith a barber, a carpenter, two summer hotels a Methodist church and two general stores. The small mountain town grew rapidly with the improvement of the Denver-Evergreen road up Bear Creek Canyon in1811, and the advent of electrical service to the area in 1917. By the 1920’s, Evergreen had become more than a rural logging and ranching community was now also a popular summer resort for Denver residents.
Celebrating the seasons is very special in Evergreen. The community takes great pride in its spirit-capturing events of the high country. Summer events start in June with the Evergreen Rodeo.
The event begins with a parade down Main Street, and then moves to the arena for two days of professional rodeo action. Additional events follow on the week of Fourth of July, including Summerfest, an arts, crafts, food and entertainment festival. A 5-kilometer race-walk that draws more that. 1,500 participants, called the Freedom Run, also takes place every year on the week of the Fourth. In early August, runners and walkers congregate for the Evergreen’s, other athletic event the Town Race. August also is the time for Mountain Rendezvous, a festival that celebrates early frontier Iife. The Evergreen Artists Association's Pine Arts and Crafts Fair signifies the end of summer. Annual circus performances are sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce, and give the residents the opportunity to see spectacular acts. Winter events begin with the decorating and lighting of the 100-foot community Christmas trees creating a beautiful holiday ,scene on the shores, of Evergreen Lake. The Winterfest arts and crafts fair also goes on at this time and is a great place to purchase gifts for friends and relatives. Decembers Chamber of Commerce International Dinner features dishes prepared by fine local restaurants.
Troutdale-in-the-Pines, a stylish resort hotel on beautiful Upper Bear Creek has catered to, Hollywood movie stars and America's elite. Other summer resorts reside in the area as Went including the Greystone Guest Ranch and the Brook Forest Inn. Throughout the '20's and 30'st Evergreen remained mainly a resort community; its population of about 600 year-round residents regularly doubling during the summer months. In the '40·s and ·50's as roads were improving and automobile travel became more popular the identity of the isolated mountain town changed. Those big city dwellers whose jobs might otherwise have kept them trapped in the city suddenly with the advent of automobiles found themselves able to live in more rural areas. Some became the first of the Evergreen-Denver commuters. By the 1970's" Evergreen was established as a year-round commuter community. Evergreen has a lot to offer whether you're thinking of a summer getaway or a full time residence. Those who live here have chosen to live in Evergreen for the Same reasons Thomas Bergen did - for the quality of life.
The staff of The Whippletree welcomes you to Bergen Park and hope that you enjoy your time in our fine little town.