Historical Commission Corner - February 2025

Published on February 24, 2025

Black History Month - A Mountain Refuge for Black Citizens 

The only African American resort west of the Mississippi River was located on the northern edge of Gilpin County in the mountains of Colorado. The search for a refuge from the hot summers of Denver’s Five Points neighborhood and the rampant activities of Colorado’s Ku Klux Klan led two African American developers to the banks of South Boulder Creek west of Denver and Boulder. In 1922, E.D. Regnier and Roger Ewalt purchased over 100 acres and platted more than 600 lots which they sold for anywhere from $5 to $100. Around 200 were purchased. The Black land holders then either camped on their lot or built small cabins.  

Old Winks lodge soon after it first opened.

Obrey Wendell “Winks” Hamlet opened the Winks Lodge on the grounds of Lincoln Hills. It was a vacation mecca for such personalities as Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, and Count Basie. They and other talents would come there for a hiatus after performing in one of the clubs in Five Points. Winks Lodge was also featured in the Green Book, which informed African Americas of places throughout America where they would be welcomed to stay. 

Water activities at girl's Camp Nizhoni, Lincoln Hills.

Another unique amenity was an all-girls summer camp. Young ladies could spend a week at Lincoln Hills enjoying sitting by the campfire, feasting on hot dogs, roasting marshmallows and other camp activities.

The Great Depression had a negative impact on Lincoln Hills. Then after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, and more facilities were opened to all, African Americans had access to many other recreational opportunities resulting in a decline in involvement in Lincoln Hills.

After Winks died in 1965, the lodge closed, and activities ceased. A few lived or vacationed there, but the glory days of the resort were over. Black investors have since purchased the Lincoln Hills property and are creating a members only fly-fishing club. They also established a nonprofit, Lincoln Cares, that brings Black youths to the former resort for a mountain experience. This location, not far from Superior as the crow flies, is worthy of recognition during Black History Month.

Historical Commission news

Front of the Asti Park Musuem with its newly landscaped yard.

Did you know that March 1 is the beginning of the meteorological spring?

It is also when the Asti Park Historical Museum and the Grasso Park Interim Museums will both be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Historical Commission invites you to drop by one or both museums and learn more about our town’s history.

There was a robust turnout at both museums on Feb. 1, and we appreciate all our visitors. We continue to develop our collection of artifacts and devise ways to exhibit them. It is a work in progress.

Our Annual Spring Program is coming up soon on March 12, with the Commission hosting author Mary Reilly-McNellan, who will present "If These Stones Could Talk, Tales from the Columbia Cemetery", Boulder, Colorado. Mary will relate stories from Boulder’s Pioneer Cemetery and share with us her involvement in the restoration of headstones at our Superior Cemetery. The Program starts at 7 p.m. in the Superior Community Center (1500 Coalton Road).

Did you know that:

  • African American mountain man Jim Beckwourth explored much of the Colorado mountains?
  • Lone Eagle Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park is named for Charles Lindbergh? It was first called Lindbergh Peak, but the name was changed because the pilot was so sympathetic to Adolph Hitler prior to World War II that one of his nicknames, the Lone Eagle, was chosen as a more acceptable alternate.
  • The South Park community of Como was settled by Italian immigrant coal miners who wanted to remember the scenic lake of their homeland?

Written by Larry Dorsey with help from Susan Stanish and Jennifer Garner. 

For more information about the Historical Commission and its activities, contact Commission Liaison Jennifer “JG” Garner at 303-499-3675, ext. 167, Commission Chair Larry Dorsey at 303-499-1969, or just click on the “Historical Commission Info” button below.

 

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