While he was sheriff of Central City, Colorado, William Zane Cozens earned a reputation as one of best lawmen in the West. Later Cozens left the booming gold rush town to become a rancher in the peaceful Fraser Valley where he and his wife operated a…Read More

While he was sheriff of Central City, Colorado, William Zane Cozens earned a reputation as one of best lawmen in the West.

Later Cozens left the booming gold rush town to become a rancher in the peaceful Fraser Valley where he and his wife operated a hotel, stage stop, and post office on their sprawling 700-acre ranch.

Now their ranch home is preserved as Cozens Ranch Museum, just a few blocks on Highway 40 between Winter Park and Fraser.

The Cozens family left the ranch to the Regis Jesuits, who used it as a summer retreat. Touring the museum brought back memories of times past when we attended a picnic at the ranch as guests of the Jesuits.

Before the railroads and highways were built, stagecoaches carried passengers from Georgetown over Berthoud Pass. One of the major stage stops was Cozens Ranch at the far end of Middle Park.

Attached to the restored 1874 home is the stagecoach stop dining room and the first Fraser post office. Cozens was appointed postmaster here in 1876.

In an adjoining shed is a full-size stagecoach replica like those used by the Middle Park Stagecoach Line. "Notice the stagecoach is built like the original one in the old picture," proudly points out the museum guide. "We use the stagecoach in local parades," she adds.

Since my 7-year-old sister-in-law had to ski in front of her dad in case she fell, I had to be in the very front leading all of us. Well, lets just say my new nickname is "Wrong-way." It didn't really help to have my MP3…Read More

Since my 7-year-old sister-in-law had to ski in front of her dad in case she fell, I had to be in the very front leading all of us. Well, lets just say my new nickname is "Wrong-way." It didn't really help to have my MP3 player on while my father-in-law was yelling, "No! Don't go that way!" Most of the time I didn't hear him telling me which way to go, and when I did hear him, I would somehow still go the wrong way and totally misunderstand the signs in front of me (that is if I even read them). I should have just gone the opposite way that I thought I was supposed to go, and I think that it would have been right!    Close

One day while we were staying in Winter Park we decide to just go driving and looking. First we headed north to the Rocky Mountain National Park. It was wintertime, so the park was closed but we still had a nice, beautiful drive. We got…Read More

One day while we were staying in Winter Park we decide to just go driving and looking. First we headed north to the Rocky Mountain National Park. It was wintertime, so the park was closed but we still had a nice, beautiful drive. We got to see a large heard of elk on the way. After we found that the park was closed, we decided to go west to Steamboat Springs and look around for a while.

We arrived in Steamboat Springs around lunchtime and found a place downtown to get a sandwich. The town of Steamboat is really neat, with a lot of shops downtown that you can park and walk to. We spent a few hours eating and walking around, going to different shops. We visited several different types of shops, including Western shops and souvenir shops. Then a little ways out of town is the ski area that also has many condos, hotels, restaurants, and more shops. I have never gotten a chance to ski here but hope to one day soon. Everything looks really neat and nice. After looking around a while we headed back to Winter Park. On the road between Steamboat Springs and Winter Park we got to see lots of deer. This was an interesting and fun day trip.

Gripping the steering wheel of my rented Dodge Neon, I gritted my teeth and prayed to make it down the mountain as the trucks beared down behind me and the snow fell. I had skied in slush that weekend and now had to return…Read More

Gripping the steering wheel of my rented Dodge Neon, I gritted my teeth and prayed to make it down the mountain as the trucks beared down behind me and the snow fell. I had skied in slush that weekend and now had to return to a business trip in Denver down the mountain. Ambulances, fire trucks, and cars were overturned. And then there was me in a little Neon. In Denver, I-25 closed behind me. And I trudged on with one thought in mind: For all I have endured, I will return up that mountain and ski in this new snow.

I had first gotten stuck in Evergreen, and I had given up on the slush skiing and gone to find a newfound friend to explore the local hangouts, Little Bear and Cactus Jack's. Both were just exactly what I expected. But that's when the snow started. Ecstatic at first, then I awakened to about 8 inches of snow piling up and afraid that I would be stuck. Thinking of how I had just checked out of my comfortable hotel in Frisco and should be hitting the slopes, my frustration propelled me to dare the snow storm. My local friend said, grab your boots, I'll help you get your car out. You have four-wheel-drive don't you? I shook my head, not exactly. Front wheel? What are you driving? She asked. Then she looked at my stiletto heeled boots and laughed, "You rented a Dodge Neon and you're wearing high-heeled boots. What were you thinking? You're not from around here, are you?" But determination to enjoy that snow made me fight the fear and take that little Neon to places it’s never been before.

Although the drive up the mountain was no treat and it took me until 2 that afternoon to actually get there, I relished that 2 hours like nothing before. And as I returned down that mountain to Denver, one thought was on my mind as I fought the urge to throw up while looking at the emergency vehicles that were helping people in SUV's that didn't make it --- but still, if I somehow survive the ride and don't get hurt if I do wreck, I am going back up this mountain and I will enjoy one full day of wonderful skiing. And so I did.

And it was a birthday present from God that I took just 1 day more at the end of my business trip to go back to Winter Place. I loved it so much. I've been to Breckenridge, Vail, Keystone, and Copper -- They all have their strong points and the skiing is all good, but Winter Place/Mary Jane is the best of all. I still want to try Steamboat because someone recommended it if I liked Mary Jane.

At an early departure of 7am from Denver's Union Station, the ski train rumbled through the Union Pacific yards as it headed up into the mountains. We had sprung for the club car, so all food and drinks (except alchohol) were included in the…Read More

At an early departure of 7am from Denver's Union Station, the ski train rumbled through the Union Pacific yards as it headed up into the mountains. We had sprung for the club car, so all food and drinks (except alchohol) were included in the price. Breakfast was fresh fruit, made-to-order waffles, and pastries.

As the train climbed higher, we could see snow starting to appear, at least when we weren't in one of the tunnels on this route known for the most tunnels of any stretch of rails in the United States. After riding through the second longest railroad tunnel in the US, the train disembarked at the Winter Park ski resort. You can walk off the train and onto a ski lift!!

The ride back was just a wonderful, with tomato basil soup, finger sandwiches, and fresh cheese. The crew of volunteers was extremely friendly and helpful. The food server in our car learned the likes and dislikes of everyone on the car, and when he wasn't busy, would wander the car and chat with the guests. The beautiful refurbished railcars and the friendliness of the crew made us feel like we were in the heyday of railroad travel again.

This area offers a wonderful opportunity to just explore. You can''t really get lost if you are driving in a car as (1)the road you take either makes a circle back to the main road (2)the continental divide makes you turn back or (3)the road…Read More

This area offers a wonderful opportunity to just explore. You can''t really get lost if you are driving in a car as (1)the road you take either makes a circle back to the main road (2)the continental divide makes you turn back or (3)the road simply ends in someone''s driveway. The area is beautiful. The vacation homes which cost $1 Million plus sit empty waiting those weekend jaunts. Some homes are in incredible places. Makes you wonder how the heck they managed to get building materials up/down there and how they manage to get out of their driveways in winter without a big Snow Crawler. The undeveloped areas, with snow covering the ground and trees, just makes you want to grab a camera. There is minimal wildlife during the snowy months. On our Hot Chocolate Sleigh Ride thru the woods the driver stated, "The only big animals stupid enough to stay here in the winter months are of the human species!"    Close

One of the highlights of our Winter Park family reunion was having a catered chuckwagon barbecue dinner with entertainment at a nearby ranch. A van whisked us to a ranch in the mountains just west of Winter Park. Belegian draft horses pulled us…Read More

One of the highlights of our Winter Park family reunion was having a catered chuckwagon barbecue dinner with entertainment at a nearby ranch.

A van whisked us to a ranch in the mountains just west of Winter Park. Belegian draft horses pulled us in an open hay wagon to a mountainside picnic area. Here we feasted on barbecue chicken, ribs, and all the trimmings.

After we gobbled down the food, including corn on the cob and warm cherry cobbler, the kids got marshmallows on a stick to roast over an open fire.

We gathered around a campfire and enjoyed the entertainment. Our hosts sang and played humorous western songs on the guitar, harmonica and hoemamde instruments. They encouraged us to supply the grunts and snorts for the sing-alongs.

For more information, call 970/726-4923.