Chapter 34.40
MESA COUNTY, NATIONAL AND STATE HISTORIC REGISTER, REDLANDS AREA

Sections:

34.40.010    Mesa County, National and State Register – Properties located in the Redlands area.

34.40.010 Mesa County, National and State Register – Properties located in the Redlands area.

(a)    Fruita Bridge.

County Road 17.50, over Colorado River

National Register 02/04/1985, 5ME4532

This three-span, pinned Parker through truss was completed in 1907 and served the main highway south of Fruita until the road was realigned in 1970. Since then, the bridge’s beams and stringers have suffered fire damage, but the truss is still intact. It is one of the few spans left in the State associated with the engineer M. J. Patterson. Listed under Vehicular Bridges in Colorado Thematic Resource.

(b)    Devils Kitchen Picnic Shelter.

Colorado National Monument

National Register 04/21/1994, 5ME1173

Constructed in 1941 with Emergency Conservation Works funding, the Rustic style shelter is significant for its association with the CCC and WPA. Built of locally quarried sandstone, to serve as a comfort station and picnic shelter, it is the only such structure in Colorado National Monument. Because of its size and unusual design, it is atypical when compared with picnic shelters found in other National Park Service properties. Listed under Colorado National Monument Multiple Property Submission.

(c)    Grand Junction Country Club (Redlands Women’s Club).

2463 Broadway

State Register 09/13/1995, 5ME7370

Also known as the Redlands Women’s Club, the building has served as a gathering place for community groups and events for over 60 years. The 1920 clubhouse is an example of the relatively rare Mission Style in the Grand Junction area.

(d)    Rim Rock Drive Historic District.

Colorado National Monument

National Register 04/21/1994, 5ME5944

Constructed between 1931 and 1950, the district is significant for its role in the development of automobile access and tourism in Colorado National Monument and its contribution to the local economy during the Great Depression. The district’s contributing features are representative of National Park Service Rustic style architecture in its use of native building materials. Also significant for its engineering, Rim Rock Drive is considered to be the first modern road within the Monument and includes three stone tunnels blasted through solid rock that conform to the rugged terrain. Listed under Colorado National Monument Multiple Property Submission.

(e)    Saddlehorn Caretaker’s House and Garage.

Colorado National Monument

National Register 04/21/1994, 5ME1170

Built by the CCC in 1935 and 1936 as the first permanent buildings in Colorado National Monument, the caretaker’s house and garage are significant for their association with public relief projects of the Great Depression. Constructed of sandstone blocks quarried locally, the buildings are excellent examples of National Park Service Rustic style architecture and reflect the craftsmanship of both CCC members and local workers, some of whom were reportedly stonemasons of Italian descent. Listed under Colorado National Monument Multiple Property Submission.

(f)    Saddlehorn Comfort Station.

Colorado National Monument

National Register 04/21/1994, 5ME1174

Built by the CCC in 1937 to accommodate the recreational needs of visitors to Colorado National Monument, the station is significant for its association with CCC and WPA relief programs during the Great Depression. It is a strong example of National Park Service Rustic style architecture. Listed under Colorado National Monument Multiple Property Submission.

(g)    Saddlehorn Utility Area Historic District.

Colorado National Monument

National Register 04/21/1994, 5ME7084

Significant for its association with the CCC and WPA, the district includes four good examples of National Park Service Rustic style architecture. The structures were constructed of locally quarried sandstone by the CCC with Emergency Conservation Works funding. The 1937 Roads and Trails Shop, 1938 Oil House, and 1941 Open Storage Building functioned as garages, warehouses, storage facilities, and maintenance buildings for the park. Completed in 1942, the Building and Utilities Shop housed the primary administrative offices for Colorado National Monument until 1963, when a Visitor Center was completed. Listed under Colorado National Monument Multiple Property Submission.

(h)    Serpents Trail.

Colorado National Monument

National Register 04/21/1994, 5ME100

Constructed between 1912 and 1921, Serpents Trail provided the only automobile access to Colorado National Monument until 1937 when the Fruita Canyon portion of Rim Rock Drive opened. Serpents Trail reflects engineering techniques used in the construction of early automobile roads in difficult terrain and was specifically designed to optimize the scenery of the park. John Otto, the original booster of the park’s scenic wonders and the custodian of Colorado National Monument from 1911 to 1927, designed the original route and was involved in its sporadic construction. The project also provided access to the Glade Park region, and local engineers and citizens contributed to its construction and funding. Serpents Trail now functions as a 1.6 mile foot trail. Listed under Colorado National Monument Multiple Property Submission.

(Res. 62-02, 6-26-02)