Last updated on .
Estes Park, Colorado, is the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park and northern terminus of the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway.
Overview of Estes Park
When the first non-Natives arrived in the area as fur trappers, the Arapaho lived there during the summer. The first settler was Joel Estes and his son Milton, who arrived in October 1859 while on a hunting trip. He returned the next summer with his wife Patsey, six children, five slaves, and a few friends. They built two cabins and raised cattle in the meadows. Estes also hunted deer and elk to sell their meat and hides in Denver. He left the area in 1866 because the winters were too harsh.
Griff Evans arrived the following year as a caretaker for the Estes ranch and moved into the cabin in 1868. He built more cabins after realizing the potential for tourism, converting it into a dude ranch with guides for hunting, fishing, and mountaineering.
Windham Wyndham-Quin, 4th Earl of Dunraven and Mount Earl (1841–1926), an Anglo-Irish aristocrat, arrived in late December 1872 and attempted a land grab to create his own personal hunting reserve. The move was unpopular, and he eventually converted his 6,000 acres into a resort, the Estes Park Hotel, which burned down in 1911.
Enos Mills (1870–1922) arrived in 1884. It was a formative move, with Mills becoming a naturalist and conservationist. After 1909, he was instrumental in preserving nearly 1,000 square miles of land in Colorado, and Rocky Mountain National Park was established in 1915.
Today, Estes Park is quite a contrast to the pristine nature that surrounds it. The small city has several hotels, restaurants, and shops catering to tourists visiting the area for its natural beauty. About 3 to 4 million people visit Rocky Mountain National Park annually, and most use Estes Park as their base.
Elkhorn Avenue
The majority of the shops and restaurants are located along Elkhorn Avenue, which is the main street through town.
Bond Park
Bond Park is a wide-open green space along Elkhorn Avenue. It was donated to the city by Earl and Ethel Bond in 1947. It holds events such as summer concerts and festivals, holiday celebrations, farmers’ markets, and art fairs.
A sculpture on the northeast corner honors naturalist Enos Mills, the “Father of Rocky Mountain National Park”. It was created by sculptor Bonnie Fulford and installed in 2004. The sculpture depicts Mills standing with his dog, Scotch, while looking at Longs Peak.
Park Theatre
Along Moraine Avenue is the historic Park Theatre, which is the oldest operating movie theatre in the United States. It was built by J.L. Jackson, with construction starting in 1913, and completed by C.H. Bond. Fred Jackson purchased the theatre in 1918 and in 1922 sold it to Ralph Gwynn, who added the lobby. He also built the iconic tower in 1929.
After Gwynn’s death in 1963, the theatre was acquired by Vic Walker. He hired Gwynn’s friend John Ramey to keep it running. Mickey and Ola Stanger leased the theatre from Walker in 1967, completing major renovations and eventually purchasing it in 1982. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Mickey and Ola passed away in 2003 and 2005, respectively, and a Stanger granddaughter, Jenna MacGregor, later took over.
Estes Park Aerial Tramway
The Estes Park Aerial Tramway takes visitors to the top of Prospect Mountain for incredible views of the town and natural surroundings. It was built by the Heron family and opened in July 1955. They ran it until March 21, 2024, when it was sold to Gondola Ventures, who reopened it on May 25 of that year.
We didn’t have a chance to ride up because it was closed for the season. It’s typically open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Tickets cost $37.95 for adults, $29.95 for seniors age 65+, $19.95 for kids age 6–12, and free for kids under 6 (as of June 2025). Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Estes Park Riverwalk
The Fall River and Big Thompson River both flow through town, adding to the scenery. The Estes Park Riverwalk winds through downtown following their paths.
Stanley Hotel
The top attraction in Estes Park is the Stanley Hotel. It was built in 1909 by Freelan Oscar Stanley (1849–1940), the co-founder of the Stanley Motor Carriage Company, which produced Stanley Steamer automobiles.
The 140-room Georgian Revival hotel was the inspiration for the Overlook Hotel in the 1977 Stephen King novel, The Shining. In 1974, King and his wife spent a night in Room 217 as the only overnight guests in the hotel. The eerie silence and emptiness inspired him to write the novel. The hotel has a channel dedicated to the 1980 movie adaptation starring Jack Nicholson. The uncut version is played on a loop 24 hours a day. Visitors can wander around the lobby and peer into the Music Room and MacGregor Room.
The hotel is said to be haunted with several reports of paranormal activity. Tours of the hotel can be reserved in advance on the official website. Hotel guests get a discounted rate. All prices are current as of June 2025:
- Historic day tours cost $25 for adults and $20 for kids age 8-17. Kids under 8 are not permitted.
- Night tours are $30 per person. Kids under 8 are not permitted.
- The Shining tours are $30 per person. Kids under 8 are not permitted.
- Frozen Dead Guy tours are $20 per person and visit the International Cryogenics Museum. Kids under 12 are not permitted.
- The Vault at the Stanley is $60 per person for a private tasting of rare whiskeys. It’s limited to visitors age 21+.
