Less than three years later, the fort was abandoned.īy 1872, the former fort site had a small hotel, general store and post office, a mill, school and brick yard. A flood in June 1864 sent the soldiers to higher ground near present-day Old Town. In 1862, Camp Collins was built by the 9th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry to protect travelers and settlers along the Colorado branch of the Overland Trail. To lighten their load, they buried large amounts of gunpowder (“poudre” in French) in a hiding place (“cache”) along the banks of a river – the Cache la Poudre River, which runs through modern-day Fort Collins. Legend has it that in the early 1800s, French-Canadian fur traders were caught by a tremendous snowstorm. Fort Collins prides itself on the plethora of restaurants, outdoor activities, a vibrant downtown and of course, our beer. Experience world class whitewater rafting on the nationally designated “Wild and Scenic” Cache La Poudre River (the best whitewater rafting near Estes Park, Colorado), taste award winning beers at one of nine breweries, or explore the fanciful creatures at the Swetsville Zoo. Situated at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Fort Collins is home to fabulous recreational opportunities, diverse cultural attractions, a vibrant nightlife scene, and family fun galore.
