Between 1,000- 2,000 years ago – late 1800’s

Ute territories, Summit County

In the tradition of the Ute People, they believe that they were placed in the mountains and have always been here to be strong, mighty, and protectors of the land. The “Nuche” (as the Ute call themselves) are the oldest continuous inhabitants of Colorado.

The Ute People were nomadic hunters and gatherers. In Summit County, they roamed all over the Blue River valley.

Summit County was a rich hunting ground for elk, deer, bear, and rabbit. Buffalo were present in large herds. Mountain streams were crowded with trout, The Ute women gathered berries, edible roots, tubers and seeds. When winter approached, the Ute People traveled to warmer climates, only to return to the familiarity of the Blue River valley in the spring.

Old Dillon Inn and Virgil Cox

The Old Dillon Inn traces its origins to the late 1800’s, when it first served miners during the region’s gold rush era. Originally established in Old Dillon, it evolved into a central gathering place for ranchers, ski workers, and locals, earning a reputation as a lively community hub. It’s iconic mahogany bar, believed to date to the 1870’s, was relocated multiple times, including a move from Fairplay to Dillon by train. The bar was relocated to Silverthorne in 1961 by owner, Virgil Cox, to avoid the flooding that created the Dillon Reservoir.

The building expanded over time with added dining areas, rustic ranching relics that reflected its Western character and was revitalized in the 1970’s with renovations, and the introduction of Mexican cuisine. It became known for its vibrant live music scene, drawing traveling bands and serving as a cornerstone of local social life throughout the 20th century.

After closing in 2007, it was preserved as a “time capsule” and later incorporated into Bluebird Market, reopening in 2026 as a bar and restaurant that blends historic character with modern use.

(Jan 1813-July 1890)

John C. Fremont was a military officer, a politician, and an explorer of the American West. The United States government chose Fremont to explore lands extending to the Pacific.

Fremont, with one of his guides the legendary Kit Carson, first entered Summit County on his second expedition (1843-1844). He entered the county from the north and traveled along the Blue River through what is now Silverthorne.

The area so pleased Fremont that he wrote in his 1844 expedition diary, “We halted to noon under the shady pines and the weather was most delightful. The country was literally alive with buffalo.” In his expedition diaries, Fremont documented detailed scientific observations and maps.

Upon return from the expedition, Fremont wrote reports in an accessible style making them popular with the public. The report from the second expedition through present-day Silverthorne was widely distributed. Fremont’s exploration of the West promoted the cause of United States expansion and was the impetus for many settlers to move west.

Theatre SilCo

SILVERTHORNE

(Originally established in 1993 as the Lake Dillon Foundation for the Performing Arts; rebranded in 2023 as Theatre SilCo to reflect its new home in Silverthorne.)

Established in 1993, the Lake Dillon Foundation for the Performing Arts laid the foundation for what would become Theatre SilCo by expanding arts programming throughout Summit County.

In 1995, Black Coffee Theatre merged with the organization to form the Lake Dillon Theatre Company, which soon took residence in a historic 1899 building that once served as Dillon Town Hall and was renovated for theatrical use.

After decades in Dillon, the company made a pivotal move to a new performing arts center in Silverthorne in 2017, signaling a major geographic and strategic evolution. In 2023, it rebranded as Theatre SilCo, a name that reflects both its Silverthorne home and a broader, more “boundless” vision for intimate, professional mountain theatre.

Over time, the company grew from a seasonal community troupe into a year-round professional theatre, supported by donor, Town and grant funding, providing ongoing cultural enrichment and community gathering spaces in Summit County while serving as a hub for artistic expression.

Silverthorne is located in the Blue River valley. The Blue River is a 65 mile long tributary of the Colorado River flowing north through Silverthorne before joining the Colorado.

To the west are the mountains of the Gore Range known for steep jagged peaks and ridges. To the east is the Williams Fork Range, a sub-range of the Colorado Front Range known for rolling alpine tundra and panoramic views of the rugged Gore Range to the west. Buffalo Mountain at 12,777 feet is the most iconic and visible peak west of town. Ptarmigan Peak (12,498 feet) looms directly east of Silverthorne.

The present Rocky Mountains began to rise many millions of years ago. A few tens of millions of years ago rifting began to form the Blue River valley. A major fault along the east side of the Gore Range dropped the east side downward, forming the present valley. Glaciers sculpted the bordering mountains broadening the valley. The Blue River flows directly through the heart of Silverthorne.