Perry Park Chronology
65 million years ago – Land forms during Upper Cretaceous Period
Indian Country: Ute, Kiowa, Arapaho, and Cheyenne
1803 – Part of the Louisiana Purchase.
1815 – John D. Perry Born in Virginia.
1820 – Stephen H. Long Expedition travels up West Plum Creek to explore Louisiana
Purchase. Area remained quiet until discovery of gold in 1848.
1858 – Pikes Peak Gold Rush Begins. Coberly family operates half–way house in “Pleasant Park.“
1863 – Various Ranchers – George Ratcliffe, Ben Quick.
1868 – Indians – Ute, Kiowa, Arapaho and Cheyenne.
1869 – Kansas Pacific Railroad surveys proposed rail line from Palmer Lake.
1870 – John D. Perry of St. Louis visits Colorado
1872 – Perry buys 4000 acres from several ranchers to found Perry Park. Son
Charles manages shorthorn cattle ranch. Perry was President of Kansas Pacific
Railroad.
1876 – Charles Perry dies after being kicked by a horse
1888 – Red Stone Town, Land and Mining Company begins resort development.
John Perry was chief stock holder. Large hotel was built in 1889
costing over $7,000. Dam built across Bear Creek forming Lake Wauconda.
1891 - Manor House built (now the country club) built by Charles A. Roberts.
1904 – Col. William E. Hughes (Texas lawyer) renovates the Perry Park Hotel
and calls it the Clifton Inn. He also raises Shorthorn Cattle. Mr. Hughes
Purchases the Perry Park Ranch for $14,000 and later sells for $37,500.00
1912 – J. George Leyner (mining equipment inventor), a Colorado Native –
the first white child born in Boulder County introduces hog and dairy farming
(rattlesnakes in decline) replacing cattle. Shortage of funds in 1918
necessitates the sale of Perry Park Ranch.
1918 – Robert P. Lamont, Jr. a military man from a wealthy steel family
comes to Perry Park and is interested in ranching. He becomes a Hereford
breeder, country gentleman. Lamont attempted to drill for oil in 1925 – no
success. Sold “Quick Ranch“ to Reginald Sinclaire in 1936. He
sold the remainder of his holdings to Walter Paepcke in 1937.
1936 – Reginald Sinclaire acquires several ranches and now has 4500
acres. He later gives the land to daughter Jeanne Sinclaire Paulk and
husband John as a wedding gift in 1946.
1937 – Walter Paepeke (Container Corp. of America, Aspen developer) used
Perry Park as a summer home. Built the Guest House. In 1941 he
remodels the Perry House. In 1951 he moves to Aspen for good.
1946 – Jeanne & John Paulk sold to Colorado Western Development CO in 1970 retaining the Perry Home and 200 acres.
1951 – Boyd E. Cousins (Kansas City businessman) bought Perry Park Ranch
as a vacation retreat for his family. Personal and health problems
caused the sale of the ranch in 1967 to Lee Stubblefield, (a retired Air
Force Officer) for 2 million. Mr. Stubblefield forms Colorado Western
Development Company. Mr. Cousins retained the guest house and 78 acres.
1967 – Colorado Western Development was a new career in Real Estate Development
for Mr. Stubblefield. His Plans were similar to ones by Red Stone Company
in 1888 to create Country Club Living. In 1974 there were 147 homes
built and 44 under construction.
1974 – Real Estate in Douglas County in a slump. Mr. Stubblefield flees
to Mexico leaving outraged investors behind. Perry Park makes a slow
comeback but today it is one of the most sought after areas to live in.
1992 – Building boom begins for Colorado and Douglas County becomes the fastest growing community in the United States. |