Past, Present and Future
The Tri-Lakes area is situated at the Palmer-Divide, the highest point on the Front Range, a geological ridge that separates the Arkansas from the Platte River. The area’s first inhabitants were Native American tribes such as the Arapahoe and Cheyenne Indians, followed by the American military and soon after, migrating ranchers and farmers.
The first settlers arrived in the Palmer Lake area in the 1860s. Nestled in the foothills, the Town of Palmer Lake was platted in 1882 by Dr. William Finley Thompson, a dentist from Baltimore, who intended it to be a health resort and vacation community. For many years the area maintained an agrarian lifestyle, with industry ranging from harvesting ice, fox farms and sawmills until 1958, when the Air Force Academy opened. The Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad climbs the divide and passes through Palmer Lake, where the town’s rustic character is coupled with breathtaking red rock mountain landscape.
Monument’s first homesteaders arrived in 1865 to mark out the town’s preliminary shape. Incorporated in 1879, it was first called Henry’s Station after Henry Limbach, one of the original settlers. Its name was changed to Monument when the Denver & Rio Grande railroad came through after the Civil War in 1870 linking Denver and Colorado Springs. Today, Monument’s historic district still reflects an era of bygone days with its small-town character.
Towering ponderosa pines with panoramic Rocky Mountain views fill the landscape throughout Black Forest. Originally called The Pinery, it was renamed by a German immigrant who thought it closely resembled the Black Forest of his homeland. Around the turn of the century, Black Forest was an important source for railroad ties and lumber that built the Pikes Peak region. Today residents enjoy miles of wilderness trails for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Woodmoor and Glen Eagle have grown into thriving communities. Since the mid-1980s, some of the open spaces have been replaced with housing developments offering newcomers amenities such as excellent golf courses, parks and trails that complement their rural setting. Both communities offer views of Pikes Peak and the Rampart Range.
While the Tri-Lakes area is changing in character, it still maintains much of the rich heritage that has molded it into the success it is today. The hidden treasures of each area blend perfectly with their surroundings, fusing a unique blend of small-town atmosphere with modern development.
