Steamboat Springs, Colorado City Guide
For over 20 years, Pamela Lanier's Steamboat Springs, Colorado Travel Guide has been your connection to Steamboat Springs's tourism community with invaluable details on local attractions, restaurants, shopping, museums, history, outdoor recreation and more.
Steamboat Springs History
 Steamboat Springs, located in the Yampa River Valley was the summer hunting grounds of the Ute Indians prior to the arrival of French trappers. The name was derived from the chugging sound heard by the trappers, with the notion they were about to find a large navigable river with steamboats. Instead, they discovered a natural mineral spring and called the place Steamboat Springs. James Crawford was the first permanent settler of European extraction to arrive in the year 1875. The town of Steamboat Springs was laid out in 1884. Steamboat Springs’ biggest attraction was always the “medicine springs”. In 1909, the arrival of the train brought health conscious travelers eager to partake in the touted medicinal benefits of the hot baths and mineral springs. In winter, the only means of travel in these parts were skis or snowshoes as they were often referred to. In 1914 when Carl Howelsen, a Norwegian, moved to Steamboat Springs, he introduced ski jumping and built the first ski jump on Howelsen Hill. Thus, Steamboat Springs’ reputation as a recreation area and the birthplace of organized skiing was established. Howelsen was also responsible for founding Steamboat Springs’ annual Winter Carnival, which bed and breakfast visitors can enjoy every year. Although Steamboat Springs is most noted as a recreational area, it still contains deep roots in cattle and sheep ranching. This is evident by the cowboy boots and Stetsons worn by the ranchers who come into town, who aren’t trying to make a fashion statement. In 1963, Storm Mountain underwent development and Steamboat Springs’ future would be linked to skiing. The unfortunate death in an avalanche of Olympic skier Buddy Werner resulted in the mountain being renamed Mount Werner in 1964. Today Steamboat Springs bed and breakfast visitors Springs can enjoy year round activities in this scenic resort town. |
