Chaffee County Heritage & Byway

Chaffee County Heritage Area and the Collegiate Peaks Scenic and Historic Byway

As the Board’s administrative arm, GARNA helps to implement a plan to protect the rural landscapes, scenic views, public natural areas and historic places that give Chaffee County its sense of place. Under direction of the Chaffee County Heritage Area Advisory Board, GARNA obtained Colorado Byway designation and administers byway management along the 57-mile corridor highlighting historic sites, scenic vistas, interpretive centers and world-class recreational activities in Chaffee County.

INTERACTIVE MAP!
view the Collegiate Peaks Scenic & Historic Byway Conservation Plan

Key Accomplishments via Federal Highway Administration and State Historical Fund grants:

• 2020 – Completed nominations of the Maxwell Park School, the Irving Barn and the Reidel Bunkhouse  for the National and State Registers of Historic Places made possible with a grant from the Colorado State Historical Fund with the Maxwell Park School successfully listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• 2019 – Completed nominations of the Gas Creek School House, Garfield Miner’s Cabin and Turret Post Office for the National and State Registers of Historic Places made possible with a grant from the Colorado State Historical Fund.
• 2017 – Completed nominations of the Nachtrieb-Kelly Ranch, Smith-Friskey Ranch and Cleora Cemetery for the National and State Registers of Historic Places made possible from a grant from the Colorado State Historical Fund
• 2016 – Completed nominations of the Buena Vista Rodeo Grounds and Pine Hall in Granite for the National and State Registers of Historic Places made possible from a grant from the Colorado State Historical Fund
• 2016 – Completed Collegiate Peaks Scenic & Historic Byway Conservation Plan
• 2015 – Completed Colorado Scenic Byways Economic Development Strategies Plan including the Collegiate Peaks Scenic & Historic Byway
• 2015 – Grant awarded by the Colorado State Historical Fund for the nomination of 5 more historic properties to the National and State Registers of Historic Places
• 2015 – Completed nominations of 7 historic properties for the National and State Registers of Historic Places – Commercial Hotel/Granite Stage Stop, Kelley/Coleman/Wallace/McDonald House, Pease/Dake/Fay House, Comanche Drive-In, Wilber Homestead/Rock Ledge/Franzel Ranch, Salida Livestock Sales, Inc, and Pedro/Botz House
• 2014 – Beginning work on nominations of 7 historic properties for the National and State Registers of Historic Places made possible from a grant from the Colorado State Historical Fund.
• 2013 – Five more interpretive waysides installed at in downtown Salida and Buena Vista, in Poncha Springs at the Crossroads Welcome Center, at the Chalk Cliffs overlook on Hwy 285 and at Fisherman’s Bridge rec site
• 2013 – Chaffee County Historic Resource Survey completed – a survey of 65 properties to determine eligibility for state and national historic registers; view the Historic Resource Survey Report
• August 2012 – Crossroads of the Rockies Welcome Center in Poncha Springs completed
• 2011 – Chaffee County Reconnaissance Survey completed – volunteers documented over 1,000 historic resources county-wide
• March 2011 – Development of Wayside Interpretive Plan adopted
• June 2009 – Three interpretive waysides installed at the Ohio-Colorado Smelter, at the Zebulon Pike Historic Wayside on Hwy 285 and overlooking the Leadville Stagecoach Road near Granite on Hwy 24
• 2009 – Collegiate Peaks Scenic & Historic Byway brochure completed – View the BROCHURE
• November 2008 – Chaffee County Heritage Area / Collegiate Peaks Scenic & Historic Byway Management Plan adopted – Final plan pages 1-101; Final plan pages 102-184
• November 2005 – Colorado’s 25th Byway, the Collegiate Peaks Scenic & Historic Byway was designated

Chaffee County Heritage Area Advisory Board meetings

The Heritage Board usually meets every six weeks on Thursday; alternating between Salida and Buena Vista.

Upcoming Meetings (via Zoom until further notice):

February 11, 2021, 12 pm to 1:30 pm

March 11, 2021, 12 pm to 1:30 pm

April 8, 2021, 12 pm to 1:30 pm

May 13, 2021, 12 pm to 1:30 pm

June 10, 2021, 12 pm to 1:30 pm

July 8, 2021, 12 pm to 1:30 pm

August 12, 2021, 12 pm to 1:30 pm

September 9, 2021, 12 pm to 1:30 pm

October 14, 2021, 12 pm to 1:30 pm

November 11, 2021, 12 pm to 1:30 pm

December 9, 2021, 12 pm to 1:30 pm

Minutes Archive:

August 22, 2019
May 30, 2019
March 7, 2019
January 24, 2019
December 13, 2018
October 4, 2018
August 9, 2018
May 17, 2018
April 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
January 11, 2018
November 9, 2017
September 28, 2017
August 17, 2017
May 18, 2017
April 6, 2017
February 23 2017
January 12, 2017
December 15, 2016
November 10, 2016
October 6, 2016
August 18, 2016
July 7, 2016
May 26, 2016
April 14, 2016
February 25, 2016January 7, 2016

For more information about the Heritage Area and Byway programs, visit:

Chaffee County Heritage Area
Collegiate Peaks Scenic & Historic Byway