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 Hidden
in the mountains west of the state capital, Evergreen
provides a warm respite from Denver's big-city bustle.
Alpine meadows, cool forests and brilliant wildflowers
create a natural backdrop for this thriving community.
This
town was formerly a Ute and Arapaho hunting ground
until white settlers homesteaded here around 1860.
Its ranches and farms fed Denver's burgeoning population
and its forests supplied the city with lumber. However,
Evergreen's beauty has been its most lasting resource.
Celebrities such as Greta Garbo and Teddy Roosevelt
escaped to the lush resorts here, leaving behind
colorful tales and mementos.
Today,
Evergreen boasts an eclectic community and a rich
cultural existence - local theater, arts, music
and fine dining. For recreation, jog up to Evergreen
Lake: this pristine jewel offers boating and picnicking
in the summer, ice skating in the winter and fishing
year-round. Drive up nearby Mt. Evans (14,624 feet)
or watch as the Maxwell Falls cascade 76 feet into
a rocky canyon.
 Evergreen
offers its own temptations: a scenic public golf
course, attractive galleries, shops, eateries, museums
and nightspots. Whether you like to relax in an
armchair opposite a roaring fire or prefer a breathless
climb through nearby hills, Evergreen has it all.
Thomas
Bergen arrived in 1859, establishing a ranch and
stage stop north of present-day downtown Evergreen.
Bergen's Ranch was recognized as a settled area
at the establishment of Jefferson County, Jefferson
Territory. Subsequent settlers homesteaded south
of Bergen along Bear Creek Canyon and the downtown
area grew around the confluence of Cub Creek and
Bear Creek. Fellow homesteader Dwight P. Wilmot
is credited with naming the area "Evergreen";
his home has been preserved and still functions
as a private residence across the street from his
namesake Wilmot Elementary School.
 The
town grew on the lumber demand for buildings in
Denver and by the 1880s, the town could boast a
population of 200 people and six operating sawmills.
Improvement of the road from Denver up Bear Creek
Canyon in 1911 and electrical service reaching the
town in 1917 spurred further growth and the town
became a popular summer destination for Denver residents.
Resorts like Troutdale-in-the-Pines, Greystone Guest
Ranch and the Brook Forest Inn opened and entertained
Denverites and celebrities including film stars
of the day and Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt
and Theodore Roosevelt, who both vacationed at the
Troutdale. In the 1950s, improved utilities in town
and the rising popularity of automobiles began to
entice more future residents to stay year-round
and the town became known as a commuter community.
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