welcome

Virtual Tour (below)
For the best experience, click the menu (top right of image) then 'Full Screen' button. Next, click the front of any building to open up the history, and the X to return to the street.

Take a walk through the history of Estes Park

Each building is one of the characters in the history of our community. Stroll along West Elkhorn and take a look beyond the front door into the past.

Browse from the comfort of your home by clicking along between properties. If you're standing in front of the building, select the address, or scan the QR code in the front window (of participating buildings) to see history on your device and learn as you stroll.

A printed summary of this walking tour is available at The Taffy Shop (121 W Elkhorn Ave) if you're a hold-it-in-your-hand kind of person.

Additional facts, pictures and stories are being added regularly, check back often.

We want to tell you an entertaining story that brings the history to life. Our information comes from any source who makes it available- newspapers, ads, ebay listings of old Estes Park items- anything which shares the truth about the places around us. Research and writing are provided by volunteer hours, if you find an inaccuracy, please let us know!

We want to acknowledge the resources and broad knowledge of those who have enabled us to collect the stories about West Elkhorn Avenue. We're doing the legwork and research as they provide the resources to share these colorful, accurate stories. Many property and business owners (and even some loyal old customers) contributed their piece of history to the project, and are in some cases the only record of the story that has been handed down for many years- THANKS to each of those history buffs!

Official thanks:

A nod to The Taffy Shop for underwriting this website and tour project. Say "Thanks" when you visit them at 121 West Elkhorn Ave- its like visiting a museum who makes great candy, The Taffy Shop opened in 1935. 

Estes Park Museum as the official repository for local newspapers, images, local archives and stories in their original form- what a local treasure! Lots of their collection is online, and makes for a fun evening (or week) of local history entertainment. The museum is responsible for having local newspapers digitized for online research- a history treasure hunters gold!

Bobbie Heisterkamp's amazing postcard collection book

Cabintique's owner Carey Stevanus is the lady with the tidbits, tips and samples of history that help tell our story accurately. Her store includes historic pieces of Estes Park that are available to take home- each comes with a rich story about the past. Do not miss your chance to take home a one of a kind piece, and chat with the lady who knows everything about everyone, and loves to share. Looking for something specific? She has it or knows who does.

Manish Shankar recorded and setup the virtual tour images, where visitors can look around them in 360 degrees before stepping into the history of our neighborhood. He does virtual tours and videos with a very personal touch.

If you have any information to contribute, or would like to add to the information shared on this tour, please contact us here.