Perry Park Chronology

�         65 million years ago � Land forms during Upper Cretaceous Period

�         18^th  � mid-19^th Century - Indian Country: Ute, Kiowa, Arapaho, and Cheyenne

�         1803 � Part of the Louisiana Purchase.

�         1815 � John D. Perry born in Virginia.

�         1820 � Stephen H. Long Expedition travels up West Plum Creek to explore Louisiana Purchase. Area remained quiet until discovery of gold in 1848.

�         1858 � Pikes Peak Gold Rush begins. Coberly family operates half�way house in �Pleasant Park.�

�         1863 � Various Ranchers � George Ratcliffe, Ben Quick.

�         1868 � Indians � Ute, Kiowa, Arapaho and Cheyenne.

�         1869 � Kansas Pacific Railroad surveys proposed rail line from Palmer Lake.

�         1870 � John D. Perry of St. Louis visits Colorado

�         1872 � Perry buys 4,000 acres from several ranchers to found Perry Park. Son Charles manages shorthorn cattle ranch. Perry was President of Kansas Pacific Railroad.

�         1876 � Charles Perry dies after being kicked by a horse

�         1888 � Red Stone Town, Land and Mining Company begins resort development. JohnPerry was chief stock holder. Large hotel was built in 1889 costing over $7,000. Dam built across Bear Creek forming Lake Wauconda.

�         1891 - Manor House (now the country club) built by Charles A. Roberts.

�         1904 � Col. William E. Hughes (Texas lawyer) renovates the Perry Park Hotel and calls it the Clifton Inn. He also raises Shorthorn Cattle. Mr. Hughes Purchases the Perry Park Ranch for $14,000 and later sells for $37,500.00

�         1912 � J. George Leyner (mining equipment inventor), a Colorado Native and the first white child born in Boulder County introduces hog and dairy farming (rattlesnakes in decline) replacing cattle. Shortage of funds in 1918 necessitates the sale of Perry Park Ranch.

�         1918 � Robert P. Lamont, Jr. a military man from a wealthy steel family comes to Perry Park and is interested in ranching. He becomes a Hereford breeder, country gentleman. Lamont attempted to drill for oil in 1925 � no success. Sold �Quick Ranch� to Reginald Sinclaire in 1936. He sold the remainder of his holdings to Walter Paepcke in 1937.

�         1936 � Reginald Sinclaire acquires several ranches and now has 4500 acres and latter sells his ranch (Plum Creek Ranch) to Lee Stubblefield.

�         1937 � Walter Paepeke (Container Corp. of America, Aspen developer) used Perry Park as a summer home. Built the Guest House. In 1941 he remodels the Perry House. In 1946, Reginald Sinclaire buys the Perry home and 160 acres from Walter Paepke, giving the property to John and Jeanne (Sinclaire�s daughter) Paulk as a wedding present. In1951, Paepeke moves to Aspen for good.

�         1951 � Boyd E. Cousins (Kansas City businessman) bought Perry Park Ranch as a vacation retreat for his family. Personal and health problems caused the sale of the ranch in 1967 to Lee Stubblefield, (a retired Air Force officer) for 2 million dollars. Mr. Stubblefield forms Colorado Western Development Company. Mr. Cousins retained the guest house and 78 acres.

�         1967 � Colorado Western Development was a new career in real estate development for Mr. Stubblefield. His Plans were similar to ones by Red Stone Company in 1888 to create country club living. In 1974 there were 147 homes built and 44 under construction.

�         1970 � Jeanne & John Paulk sold to Colorado Western Development CO in 1970

�         retaining the Perry Home and 200 acres.

�         1974 � Real estate in Douglas County in a slump. Mr. Stubblefield flees to Mexico leaving outraged investors behind. Perry Park makes a slow comeback

�         1977 - Stubblefield is sued by the Perry Park Metro Dist. and sells remaining assets.

�         1992 � Building boom begins for Colorado and Douglas County becomes the fastest growing community in the United States.