Holzwarth Historic Site - The Holzwarth Historic Site Today

Holzwarth Historic Site today

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Explore the Holzwarth Historic Site

When envisioning Rocky Mountain National Park, visitors may initially think of the preservation of mountains and wildlife. But the National Park Service also highlights the human history of a place and how people have impacted the environment.

The story of the National Park Service in this area began in 1974 when Johnnie Holzwarth sold the property to the Nature Conservancy. The nonprofit had raised funding to purchase the Holzwarth Ranch with the intention of transferring the title to Rocky Mountain National Park after congressional funds were approved. The process was completed the next year in 1975.

The land was designated as Holzwarth Historic Site and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 2, 1977. The National Park Service removed many of the buildings that were part of the Never Summer Ranch, but kept the Fleshuts Cabin and many of buildings that were part of the Holzwarth homestead.

Interpretation and education started the year the Holzwarth family sold the property. In the early years, historical interpreters dressed in pioneer outfits and demonstrated homesteading skills such as bread baking, soap making, laundry, and wood chopping.

Today, there are no longer living history demonstrations, but National Park Service staff and volunteers conduct interpretive tours and educational programming all while preserving the Holzwarth family legacy. The grounds of Holzwarth Historic Site are open year-round, and buildings are open during the summer months. Visitors are invited to come to this amazing site to see this legacy for themselves.