Griff Evans who is no relation to Governor Evans
In the year of our Lord 1867, this wily Welshman swooped into Estes Park like a hawk seizing its prey, taking control of the Estes claim and setting up shop as the area’s premier host and guide. For two decades, Evans held court in the old Estes ranch house, regaling visitors with tales taller than Longs Peak itself. But don’t let his jovial demeanor fool you, dear citizens! For beneath that hospitable exterior beat the heart of a shrewd businessman. Evans, ever the opportunist, aligned himself with the land-grabbing schemes of one Lord Dunraven, that Irish peer with dreams of turning Estes Park into his personal hunting playground.
Now, picture this scene of Wild West drama: It’s a sweltering day in June 1874. Griff Evans, rudely awakened from his afternoon siesta, hears a cry that would chill the blood of even the hardiest frontiersman: “Jim’s on the shoot!” For lo and behold, who should come moseying up to Evans’ ranch but the notorious Rocky Mountain Jim Nugent, with murder in his one good eye! What transpired next is the stuff of legend. Shots rang out, echoing through the canyons like the very mountains themselves were crying out in anguish. When the gunsmoke cleared, there lay Mountain Jim, his brains oozing out faster than molasses on a hot summer day.
But fear not, dear listeners, for justice in the Wild West was as swift as it was… well, let’s just say “flexible”. Evans, claiming self-defense, was acquitted faster than you can say “Pikes Peak or Bust”. And so, Griff Evans continued his reign as the unofficial king of Estes Park, hosting refined ladies like Isabella Bird and rubbing elbows with titled gentry. A man of many facets, was our Griff – hotelier, guide, and apparently, a dab hand with a shotgun when the occasion called for it. Thus ends our tale of Griffith Evans, a man who helped shape Estes Park’s destiny, one controversial land deal and gunfight at a time!
Sources
Colorado Museums. “Estes Park.” Accessed February 19, 2025. https://coloradomuseums.co/cities-4-plus-museums/estes-park/
National Park Service. “Rocky Mountain National Park: A History (Chapter 3).” Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/romo/buchholtz/chap3.htm
NPS History. “The Earl of Dunraven in Estes Park.” Accessed February 19, 2025. http://npshistory.com/series/berkeley/rensch3/rensch3f.htm
The Clio. “Evans Homestead.” Accessed February 19, 2025. https://theclio.com/entry/83444
Visit Estes Park. “History of Estes Park | Culture and Archaeological Records.” Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.visitestespark.com/plan/about/history/
National Park Service. “Rocky Mountain NP: Administrative History (Chapter 1).” Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/romo/adhi1.htm
American Heritage. “Love In The Park.” Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.americanheritage.com/love-park
Royal Scottish Geographical Society. “Isabella Bird: Living with the Cowboys of America’s Wild West.” Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.rsgs.org/blogs/rsgs-blog/isabella-bird-living-with-the-cowboys-of-americas-wild-west
