Welcome to Evergreen, Colorado—where the elk wander the streets like they pay rent, every trail feels like a movie set, and the town’s past is as colorful as the fall leaves on Independence Mountain. While today’s Evergreen is all trails, taprooms, and art galleries, this little mountain gem has a wild, glitzy, and surprisingly star-studded history.
Let’s roll back the clock a bit and take a walk through the History of Evergreen’s legend—from humble homesteads to Hollywood hideaways.
🌲 From Homestead to High Society
Back in the mid-1800s, Evergreen wasn’t the laid-back mountain escape we know today. It was rugged, raw, and mostly pine trees, game trails, and hardworking settlers. The area was originally inhabited by the Ute people, who knew the value of these cool mountain valleys long before settlers rolled in.
Enter the Hiwan Homestead, built in stages starting in the 1890s. What began as a rustic cabin became a sprawling log mansion, now preserved as a museum and cultural touchstone. Hiwan wasn’t just a house—it was a statement. Wealthy Denverites used it as a summer retreat, complete with sweeping porches, Native American artifacts, and enough hand-hewn charm to make HGTV weep.
🎩 Evergreen Gets Fancy: The Resort Boom
By the early 1900s, word got out: Evergreen was the place to escape Denver’s summer heat, minus the long train ride to Aspen. And so began its heyday as a resort community. In rolled the city slickers, mountain air seekers, and, eventually, big-name stars.
One of the crown jewels of this golden era was Troutdale in the Pines—a luxury resort tucked into the hills like a Swiss chalet. Think roaring fireplaces, fine dining, and horseback rides through the forest. Troutdale drew the elite, the eccentric, and even a few legends.
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🎷 Cue the Jazz: Glen Miller, the Rat Pack & Evergreen’s Hollywood Vibe
If Evergreen had an IMDb page, it’d be packed. Legendary big band leader Glenn Miller spent time in the area, soaking in the sounds of the forest before creating the soundtrack of the 1940s. Local lore even hints that Miller found some of his musical inspiration while fishing in Bear Creek. (Mood: vintage vinyl and mountain mist.)
And then came The Rat Pack. Yes, that Rat Pack—Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin. Troutdale became their mountain hideaway, where they’d kick back between Vegas gigs and raise a little old-school hell far from the cameras. Rumor has it that Ol’ Blue Eyes himself crooned under the pines at a few impromptu parties.
🎬 Hollywood Hideaways
During Troutdale’s heyday in the 1920s–1940s, Evergreen became a “Colorado Cannes” for old-school Hollywood elite. While specific records are sparse (locals like to keep secrets), it’s widely rumored that:
• Greta Garbo once stayed at Troutdale, seeking solitude away from the flashing lights of LA.
• Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford—the original Hollywood power couple—also visited the area while touring Colorado. If you don’t know who they were, don’t worry…I had to Google them too.
• Liberace, the over-the-top piano man, made at least one dramatic appearance during Troutdale’s later years, reportedly arriving in a white limo. Because of course he did.
🛶 A Town Built on Pines, Parties & Pioneer Grit
While the glam side of Evergreen was lighting up the headlines, the town was also growing into a tight-knit community of ranchers, artists, and adventurers. Evergreen Lake, originally built as a reservoir, became the center of it all—offering boating in the summer and ice skating in the winter. (Still does. Still magical.)
The combination of natural beauty and quirky culture gave Evergreen a reputation for attracting thinkers, makers, and free spirits. Hippies in the ’60s. Mountain bikers in the ’90s. Instagrammers and young families today.
🌄 Evergreen Now: A Little Bit Old, A Little Bit Gold
Today, Evergreen is a unique blend of past and present. You’ll still find log cabins and elk traffic jams. But now, you’ll also find organic cafés, art festivals, and more yoga classes than you can handle.
The Hiwan Homestead stands proud as a museum and event space. Troutdale, sadly, burned down in 1961—but its legend lingers in local stories and late-night bar chatter. And every time a jazz tune drifts out of a coffee shop or you spot someone fly fishing in dress shoes, you’ll feel the echoes of Evergreen’s epic history.
To Sum it Up? Evergreen’s Always Been Cool.
Whether you’re here for the trails, the tales, or just the killer views, Evergreen isn’t your average mountain town—it’s Colorado history with a cocktail in hand and a Frank Sinatra tune on the wind.
And if you want to know more about my personal favorite resident whose name rhymes with Billie Belson, then stay tuned…that legend gets his own article.
Welcome to Evergreen. The elk came for the grass. The legends stayed for the vibe.
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