AUGUST THEME
Summit County
SUMMIT COUNTY COLORADO 150
Old Summit County Courthouse. Colorado Governor Ed Johnson gathered at the Summit County Courthouse lawn to officially “welcome” Breckenridge back into the United States after a local women’s club humorously publicized that the town had been accidentally left off an 1880s map.
Celebrating 150 Years of Summit County History
Summit County
In 1876, Colorado entered the United States as the 38th state and by 1883 with the creation of other counties, Summit County became its current size. New technologies in mining ushered in hydraulic, hard rock, and dredge mining from the early days of gold panning.
By the middle of the 20th century, local entrepreneurs realized that Summit County’s future lay above the ground, and the ski industry was born. The environment was not only reshaped by mining and skiing, but also by the two major water diversion projects that formed the Green Mountain Reservoir and Lake Dillon.
Summit County is constantly balancing continuity with change; preserving heritage and identity while adopting to new circumstances and opportunities.
This month we offer stories that highlight the evolution of recreation, government, brewing and distilling, and schools.
AUGUST: WEEK 1
Pre-Statehood
Man on skis, date unknown, Summit Historical Society Collection
Balce Weaver and Christian Weaver
The Weaver brothers cut a spruce tree into boards, steamed the board tips to curve upward and added long thong bindings. Their introduction of “snowshoes” as skis were called, allowed them to traverse snowy depths.
Their first “ski trip” in February of 1860 culminated in the discovery of gold in nearby Gold Run Gulch. The Gold Run district became one of the most lucrative placer mining areas.
1876-1926
Slate Creek Baseball Team, 1910, Summit Historical Society Collection
Early Days of Baseball in Summit County
In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s there were over 20 baseball teams in Summit County. Towns, mining camps and companies, and ranches had teams. People worked hard, and baseball provided a break and was a major social event for isolated communities. The games were often raucous affairs.
The team from Montezuma was followed by an ardent supporter, the local madam named Dixie. She was known for taking bets, and her colorful language causing more than one mother to relocate where her children were watching.
Some of the teams and their fans traveled by train. Many an exciting game was abruptly halted by the train whistle which signaled that the game was over. Both players and spectators needed to catch the train to return home.
The Breckenridge Reds found that the railroad provided a major advantage in that they could “recruit” players to travel to Breckenridge by train. The Leadville team proved to be their only real competition in this regard.
Breckenridge also fielded a women’s team, the “Breckenridge Bloomers” so named for their loose pants worn under shortened skirts. Although it seems the “Bloomers” only played an exhibition game against the men, their existence confirms the popularity of baseball.
1926-1976
Established: 1968, shortly after the construction of the Dillon Dam and the relocation of the town
Dillon Yacht Club
The Dillon Yacht Club began with an ending – when Old Dillon disappeared under 85 billion gallons of water. Before marinas, boats were launched off a campground ramp between Frisco and Breckenridge.
The originally privately owned Dillon Marina was built shortly after the lake filled and gave rise to DYC. A Sunfish fleet started racing on the lake around 1965, with wives running the races using orange painted peach baskets turned upside down on inner tubes as buoys.
Larry Jump, a Summit icon, got some friends together and started the DYC in 1968. That year, membership soared 20% (from 10 to 12 members) after publishing applications in the Dillon newspaper.
The impetus for the DYC was the Ski Yachting Championship, held Memorial Day weekends. A two day race on Lake Dillon was followed by a ski race at A-Basin and the scores combined.
Currently, the DYC supports many racing fleets, including Stars, J/80’s, 24’s, 22’s, Ensigns, and Etchells.
1976-2026
Photo Credit: U.S. Forest Service - White River National Forest
Evolution of Open Trails and Spaces
Summit County’s commitment to open space traces back to grassroots concern over rapid development. In 1996, Breckenridge voters passed a dedicated 0.5% sales tax for open space preservation, leading to the creation of the Open Space and Trails department in 1997.
Through the early 2000s and into the 2010s, the focus was on acquiring private land, protecting scenic viewsheds like Tenderfoot Meadows, preserving wildlife winter ranges, and securing high-priority mining claims before development could claim them.
The next chapter brought recreation infrastructure. Partnering with Great Outdoors Colorado and the U.S. Forest Service, the county developed an extensive trail network including the beloved 38-mile paved Recpath, connecting Breckenridge to Copper Mountain and Vail Pass.
Today, with most key parcels protected, the department focuses on stewardship, restoring abandoned mine lands, cleaning up polluted waterways like the Snake River, and managing visitor impact to keep these wild places healthy for generations to come.
Your support makes a difference!
With your support, you help preserve the stories of Summit County’s rich history.
Support local history by becoming a member, visiting the Summit Historical Society online bookstore, or making a donation through the link below. Thank you!
