Status of the Reconstructed Fort

The park is open; the reconstructed fort is open for guided tours only

During the summer of 2025, the reconstructed fort at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site will be open for guided tours only. A temporary safety closure of the reconstructed fort has been in place since December 2024 to address critical structure and safety concerns. We appreciate your patience as we work hard to address these safety concerns and ensure the safety and well-being of our visitors and staff.

Guided tours of the fort will occur at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays. On Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, guided tours will be available at 11:00 a.m. only. Each tour will last approximately seventy-five minutes and begin at the visitor parking orientation shelter. Tours are limited to twenty-five participants and will explore the historic use of the site and the reconstruction of the fort in the 1970s.

Visitors planning to explore the grounds and trails should be prepared for the often-unpredictable weather of the high plains. Bring water, dress in layers, and wear comfortable walking shoes.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About The Reconstructed Fort

Updated May 2025

What can I see if I plan a visit this spring or summer?

In addition to guided tours, a series series of operations modifications are underway for the busier visitation season that begins in the spring and summer. The park is working to establish a temporary Contact Station to be placed at the visitor parking area to provide a base of operations for park staff and the Western National Park Store. At this time we do not have a timeline for the arrival of this facility.

The Stories from the Borderlands programs are continuing both in the park at the back corral of the reconstructed fort and off-site at Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta, exploring different facets of the Fort’s story. On-site programs will return on a regular basis when the weather begins to grow warmer and the temporary Contact Station is in place.

Park grounds and trails remain open daily.

When are guided tours available?

During the summer of 2025, guided tours of the fort will occur at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays. On Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, guided tours will be available at 11:00 a.m. only. Each tour will last approximately seventy-five minutes and begin at the visitor parking orientation shelter. Tours are limited to twenty-five participants and will explore the historic use of the site and the reconstruction of the fort in the 1970s.  

Can I make reservations for a guided tour?

At this time, guided tours are conducted on a first come, first serve basis the day of the tour.

How can groups larger than 25 persons arrange for a guided tour?

Larger groups must contact the park at least 60 days in advance to discuss arrangements to accommodate more than 25 persons through the Special Use Permitting process.

Can I bring my dog on a guided tour?

Pets are permitted on tours, and must be leashed at all times, kept close at hand and away from fort livestock. Pets are allowed inside the fort plaza only. Learn more about our pet policy. 

Where can I get the passport stamp now?

The passport stamp is currently available at the parking area restrooms. 

When will the fort fully reopen?

Given the varying condition of the structure and associated areas of concern, we do not have a timeline for fully reopening the reconstructed fort at this time.

Why is access to the fort restricted to guided tours?

Access to the reconstructed fort is restricted to ranger-led guided tours only due to safety issues stemming from nearly 50 years of use and deficiencies in the design and construction of the reconstructed Fort. A winter weather event in November 2024 accelerated deterioration of previously documented and monitored areas of concern. Staff continue to monitor the condition of the structure for further change.

What happened to the original fort?

Historical records indicate that that William Bent abandoned the original fort after 16 years due to a series of personal tragedies (the 1847 deaths of his wife, Owl Woman and his older brother and business partner Charles Bent), disruptions to the business model of the fort and the region resulting from the US-Mexican War.  Its location relative to the Arkansas River threatened the fort with flooding every spring, and the severe wind and rain common to the climate of the area deteriorated the unprotected adobe at a rapid pace. By 1853, William Bent finished construction of a different fort to the west and travelers along the Santa Fe Trail describe the 1833 fort in “ruins.” However, portions of the remaining structure were used from 1860-75 as a post office and stagecoach station. In the 1880s and 1890s, a rancher used the remaining structure as a line camp. Ruins of the fort survived into the early 1900s; however, all aboveground ruins were washed away by flooding on the Arkansas River in 1921.

What is a the difference between a historic building and a reconstructed building?

No matter how well conceived or executed, reconstructions are contemporary interpretations of the past rather than authentic survivals from it.

There is nothing authentic about the reconstruction of Bent's Old Fort. There is a lot that is accurate about it.

When was the fort reconstructed?

The reconstruction of Bent’s Old Fort was designed in 1973-74 and constructed on site in 1975-76 as a centerpiece of America’s Bicentennial and the Centennial of Colorado Statehood.

How was the fort reconstructed?

Construction of the reconstructed fort by the National Park Service began in 1975 and was completed in 1976. The new fort was envisioned to be an “authentic” and modern reconstruction of the original fort rather than an “accurate” representation of the fort that was built in 1833 by brothers Charles and William Bent. Often, the “design of the new structure diverged from the evidence available on the appearance of the original fort to meet modern safety, engineering needs” and “despite these modifications, it was believed that the reconstruction of Bent's Old Fort was ‘a historical project with the maximum authenticity.’” Although archaeological excavation of the site in the early 1960s found evidence of the 1833 fort’s foundational footprint, construction of the building above ground level was based on limited documentation.

In 1968, the National Park Service managed to obtain an 1845 sketch of the fort which included several interior and exterior details that were previously unknown. Even so, architectural data was still limited, leaving approximately forty percent of the new fort to be constructed based on speculation and guesswork.

The new fort was built over the foundation of the original fort, and the walls were constructed of a Portland cement brick inner wall and an outer wall of stabilized adobe brick clad in adobe render. This resulted from an effort to reduce immediate and long-term costs and maintenance, by utilizing a mixture of Santa Fe adobe and contemporary masonry design. Over time, stucco was applied over the adobe render before the exterior walls were later “repaired” utilizing concrete block and cement stucco. Because of this hybrid design, special attention was required for structural continuity, finishing, and drainage of the walls and roofs. Other design components of the reconstructed fort consisted of concrete foundation, floors, and roof decks, concrete bond beams, insulation and water proofing, radiant heating, exhausting ventilation, plumbing, lighting, and power. These changes to the design aimed to improve the durability of the new fort, yet quickly led to significant engineering and design failures.

The high cost of maintenance and upkeep of the reconstructed fort in the years after its completion led to a push for finding alternative materials that were more resistant to climatic and structural factors. This legacy of ad hoc repair has further complicated the conditions within the reconstruction.