https://www.nps.gov/beol News releases from Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site. en-us https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/padre-martinez-program.htm Tue, 17 Feb 2026 04:49:00 EST Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces a special presentation for Friday, February 27th, 2026, as part of its “Stories from the Borderlands” program series. This presentation will be offered at 2:00 p.m. in the Ed Stafford Theater at Otero College, in La Junta, Colorado. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/padre-martinez-program.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/2026-programming-at-bent-s-old-fort-national-historic-site.htm Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:47:00 EST Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site is excited to announce our program schedule for 2026! There will be something for everyone and a wide variety of programming and topics. Programs will mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, the 150th anniversary of Colorado Statehood, and the 180th Anniversary of the US-Mexican War. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/2026-programming-at-bent-s-old-fort-national-historic-site.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/program-mountainmanmyth.htm Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:53:00 EST Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces special presentations—"Separating Legend from Fact: Mountain Men and Bent’s Old Fort," for Saturday, December 6th, 2025, as part of its “Stories from the Borderlands” program series. This presentation will be offered at 10:00 a.m. in the corral at the rear of the Fort, and 2:00 p.m. at Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta, Colorado. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/program-mountainmanmyth.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/invisibledeath-program.htm Tue, 05 Aug 2025 08:34:00 EST Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces special presentations for Saturday, August 9th, 2025, as part of its “Stories from the Borderlands” program series. This presentation will be offered at 10:00 a.m. in the corral at the rear of the Fort, and 2:00 p.m. at Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta, Colorado. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/invisibledeath-program.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/pompey-program-2025.htm Mon, 30 Jun 2025 20:00:00 EST Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces special presentations for Saturday, July 5th, 2025, as part of its Stories of the Borderlands program series. This presentation will be offered at 10:00 a.m. in the corral at the rear of the Fort, and 2:00 p.m. at Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta, Colorado. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/pompey-program-2025.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/army250-programs.htm Mon, 02 Jun 2025 05:18:00 EST Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces a special program hosted from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. These programs will commemorate the 250th Birthday of the United States Army, which is also Flag Day. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/army250-programs.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/guidedtours-summer2025.htm Fri, 09 May 2025 10:40:00 EST Guided, park ranger-led tours of the reconstructed fort will begin on Saturday, May 24, 2025. For the summer of 2025, guided tours of the fort will occur at 9 and 11 a.m. on Saturdays and at 11 am on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Each tour will last approximately 75 minutes and begin at the visitor parking orientation shelter. Tours are limited to twenty-five participants. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/guidedtours-summer2025.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/nr_jr-ranger-day.htm Fri, 02 May 2025 08:16:00 EST Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site is excited to announce a special program in the park from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. This free program will be the official launch of our brand-new bilingual Junior Ranger book! https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/nr_jr-ranger-day.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/entertainmentprograms_boggsville.htm Fri, 28 Mar 2025 09:42:00 EST Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces a special program hosted at Boggsville Historic Site from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, on Saturday, April 5th, 2025. This program will focus on historic forms of entertainment enjoyed and influenced by the different cultures of the Southwestern Borderlands. Gambling and competitions were often among the first interactions between different peoples, and participation was often a path to learn about each other’s cultures. They often learned each other’s games before they were able to learn their languages. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/entertainmentprograms_boggsville.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/temporary-closure_12-2024.htm Fri, 13 Dec 2024 10:07:00 EST The reconstructed fort at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site is temporarily closed to the public in response to safety concerns that stem from structural deficiencies that were exacerbated by a recent heavy snow event. Stabilization work is underway so the fort can be reopened. The park's trails and grounds are open seven days a week from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m., except for holiday closures. All entrance fees are waived while the reconstructed fort is temporarily closed. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/temporary-closure_12-2024.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/offseasonhours_24-25.htm Wed, 09 Oct 2024 10:28:00 EST Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site will begin off-season hours of operation on Monday, October 28, 2024. During the slower off-season the fort will be open weekly Friday through Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. During the winter season, park trails and grounds will still be accessible 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m., excepting holiday closures. This winter schedule will be in effect through March 9, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/offseasonhours_24-25.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/hpg_economic_benefit.htm Fri, 30 Aug 2024 06:28:00 EST A new National Parks Service report shows that visitor spending among the four parks within the High Plains Group contributed to 60 jobs and a cumulative economic benefit of $5.3 million. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/hpg_economic_benefit.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/2024_programming.htm Fri, 21 Jun 2024 06:52:00 EST Beginning July 4th, the public is invited to discover stories from the borderlands along the Arkansas River in the 1800s throughout 2024. “Stories from the Borderlands” is a regular series of programs which will explore the complex histories found at the fort. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/2024_programming.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/asbestos-removal-closure-2024.htm Fri, 14 Jun 2024 12:32:00 EST From Monday, July 8 through Friday, July 12, 2024, the reconstructed fort at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site will be closed for an asbestos removal project. During this time, park trails and grounds will still be accessible daily from 9:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/asbestos-removal-closure-2024.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/2023-2024_winter_park_hours.htm Mon, 04 Dec 2023 02:52:00 EST Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site has new winter hours. Starting on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, the fort will be open weekly Friday through Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This winter schedule will be in effect through March 17, 2024. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/2023-2024_winter_park_hours.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/holiday_event_2023.htm Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:00:00 EST The sights, sounds, and smells of what the Holiday Season may have been like at Bent’s Old Fort in the 1830s and 1840s will be on full display for park visitors to enjoy on Saturday, December 2, 2023. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/holiday_event_2023.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/experience-the-second-life-of-bents-old-fort.htm Wed, 23 Aug 2023 09:40:00 EST The public is invited to visit Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site on Friday, September 8 and Saturday, September 9 for our program on the Second Life of Bent’s Old Fort! Bent’s Old Fort had a long history after its days as a trading post were over. From 1860 to 1875 the site was used as a home station by a series of stagecoach lines. It also served as a US Post Office for much of that time. We will attempt to bring that era to life for a weekend, with over 80 living history volunteers demonstrating to visitors how they lived at that time. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/experience-the-second-life-of-bents-old-fort.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/buffalo-robes-for-beads-programs-august-2023.htm Tue, 01 Aug 2023 05:23:00 EST The public is invited to join the inhabitants of Bent’s Old Fort on the next two Saturdays, August 5th and August 12th at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm for Buffalo Robes for Beads! This immersive program teaches kids about the fur trade on the High Plains and how the Native Americans would trade here at the fort. Kids can make their own bead necklace to keep (a $12.00 value). Space is limited. Reservations are required. Please email us to make a reservation at BEOL_Interpretation@nps.gov and include your name, phone number, how many children you would like to sign up, and which time slot you request. We will send you an email confirmation. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/buffalo-robes-for-beads-programs-august-2023.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/first-colorado-bat-tests-positive-for-white-nose-syndrome.htm Mon, 24 Apr 2023 06:04:00 EST A bat infected with white-nose syndrome, a disease caused by an invasive fungus that has killed millions of bats in North America, has been confirmed in a bat in Colorado for the first time. The bat was an adult, female Yuma bat (Myotis yumanensis) found March 29 by National Park Service (NPS) staff at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site in Otero County outside of La Junta. It was on the ground and unable to fly. It appeared to have a white powdery substance on its forearms. NPS staff euthanized the bat and sent it to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Wildlife Health Center for testing. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/first-colorado-bat-tests-positive-for-white-nose-syndrome.htm https://www.nps.gov/amch/learn/news/national-park-service-selects-superintendent-of-high-plains-group-in-colorado-and-new-mexico.htm Wed, 19 Apr 2023 08:28:00 EST The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Eric Leonard as superintendent of the High Plains Group of parks in Colorado and New Mexico. The High Plains Group includes Amache National Historic Site, Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, Capulin Volcano National Monument and Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. https://www.nps.gov/amch/learn/news/national-park-service-selects-superintendent-of-high-plains-group-in-colorado-and-new-mexico.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/veterans-day-military-timeline.htm Fri, 14 Oct 2022 07:17:00 EST In commemoration of Veterans Day, the public is invited to come out to Bent’s Old Fort and learn about some of the military units that operated in the locality of the fort during its years as a Fur Trade Post and later as a Stagecoach Station. Volunteers and staff will present a military timeline showing the evolution of uniforms and equipment from 1833-1875. The timeline will take place from 1-4 on Friday, November 11, and from 9-4 on Saturday, November 12. Starting in November, the park will be offering the new Lifetime Military Pass for Veterans and Gold Star Families. The Annual Military Pass for those currently on Active Duty are available as well. Both passes are free with documentation. https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/veterans-day-military-timeline.htm https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/fungus-linked-to-fatal-bat-disease-found-in-se-co.htm Thu, 21 Jul 2022 06:52:00 EST The fungus that causes a disease deadly to bats has been detected for the first time in Colorado. Laboratory tests conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed that Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) was found on a bat captured at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site in Otero County outside of La Junta, Colorado. Pd is an invasive fungus that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS) in hibernating bats. It can spread rapidly, primarily through bat-to-bat contact. There has not yet been a confirmation of a bat with WNS in Colorado, but the presence of Pd usually precedes confirmation of disease by one or two years.  https://www.nps.gov/beol/learn/news/fungus-linked-to-fatal-bat-disease-found-in-se-co.htm