In 1907, Squeaky Bob Wheeler opened the Hotel de Hardscrabble (later known as the Phantom Valley Ranch) in the Kawuneeche Valley for tourists.  As in the past, Colorado's established and more fashionable resorts catered to these new seasonal vacationers. Places such as Colorado Springs had long cultivated a reputation for being accessible and affording stylish comfort. Somewhat more difficult to reach in the 1890s, Grand Lake and Estes Park started to attract fun seekers in the same way. The Kaufman House, built at Grand Lake in 1892, matched the Grand Lake House, the Fairview House, and the Garrison House in supplying summertime accommodations, along with a growing number of small cabins.

Up along the North Fork, Robert L. Wheeler, or "Squeaky Bob," established one of the first dude ranches in that region. Called Camp Wheeler or "Hotel de Hardscrabble," Wheeler's ranch opened in 1907. Although often described as primitive, resorts such as Camp Wheeler proved more than sufficient for visitors in a holiday mood. The atmosphere was perhaps exemplified by signs on Squeaky Bob's cabins that read, "Blow your nose and clean your shoes. Use all the grub you need and leave things as you find them." Dudes spending days on horseback hardly ever complained of crude food or lumpy beds. Resort owners with a sense of humor helped make vacations memorable. According to historian Lloyd Musselman, Squeaky Bob ran a camp more memorable than most; he was notorious for not changing the sheets on his beds, merely scenting them with talcum powder.

Credits and Sources:

“Timeline of Historic Events.” National Park Service: Rocky Mountain, Colorado. Stories. Accessed May 31, 2015. http://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/historyculture/time_line_of_historic_events.htm

“Rocky Mountain National Park: A History. Chapter 5: For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People.” National Park Service. Park History Program. Accessed May 31, 2015. http://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/romo/buchholtz/chap5.htm

“Rocky Mountain National Park: A History. Chapter 6: Paradise Founded.” National Park Service. Park History Program. Accessed May 31. 2015. http://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/romo/buchholtz/chap6.htm