Red Feather Lakes

History of Property Owners Association

In the late teens a resort development was conceived in the mind of Myron Akin.  In 1920 B.H. Princell, Marvin James, George Shaw, Dr D.O., Norton and Myron Akin formed the first property owners’ association called the Red Feather Mountain Lakes Association and in 1921 started surveying for the various sub-divisions.  A large number of lots were sold, and 50 to 60 cabins were built.

About that time the local fish hatchery was built; located between Hiawatha Lakes and Ramona Lake with water from Hiawatha.  Rob White of Holyoke, Colorado has the Silver Fox farm in full swing.  Morris Swedlow built big clubhouse just west of West Lake running it successfully for a year or so during which time he was active in the property owners association.

Red Feather Lakes was bustling at this time and the property owners board asked for and received a commission for James Esterbrook who became the first Postmaster of Red Feather Lakes on July 2, 1924.

Then came the crash of 1929 which did in most of the sales of lots.  The company fell on hard times.  There were several re-organizations of the company.  John Ross loaned a large sum of money to the Company but sales were still down and he had to foreclose in mid-30’s and his daughter Mary Ross Quaintance, ultimately took over.

Red Feather was mostly dormant through the 1930’s.  Although the Red Feather Lakes Property Owners Association was as active as it was possible with such a limited number of members and the small dues ($5 per year).

The in 1941 the Red Feather Sportsman Club was formed with the blessing of the POA, with the goal of inducing the Game & Fish Commission to buy water rights on the chain of lakes.  This was not accomplished, and finally in 1946 five men from Property Owners Association put up $500 each as a down payment on the holdings of the Tunnel Water Company.  Then in 1947 the Red Feather Storage and Irrigation Company was incorporated and made a deal with the Game & Fish for them to take Dowdy, Westlake and Bellair Lakes since these were located on U.S. Forest Service ground and agreed to pay $17,500.  Stock was sold by Red Feather Storage and they paid $7500 for all the other lakes, ditches and canals in the Red Feather chain.  In February 1948 the Tunnel Water Company deeded all the lakes and water rights to the Red Feather Storage and Irrigation, and it turned deeded Dowdy, Westlake, and Bellair to the Game & Fish.

In 1949 the dam on Ramona broke through, and since there was no money in either treasury, two board members loaned money to the Company to repair the dike.  They were not able to repay this money so in 1949 or early 1950 the Red Feather Improvement Club was formed by the board of the Property Owners Association by a farsighted  and concerned group of property owners to raise money to pay for the Ramona dike.  The Improvement Club ultimately raised more than $40,000 and paid for the dike, the youth center, built the present community building, built and maintained the various wells and did many things to improve Red Feather Lakes.  The mission of the improvement club was accomplished and in the early 1970 the club was disbanded and turned back to the Property Owners Association.

The 1950’s was almost a boom for Red Feather.  The 1960’s through the efforts of the Property Owners Association interceding with the Larimer County Commissioners saw the road surfaced.

The Red Feather Lakes Property Owner’s Association has been a guiding hand for Red Feather Lakes since the early 1920’s.

CRONOLOGICAL RESUME OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

               1921     Surveying for subdivisions

               1924     First Post Office

               1925     Original Red Feather Hotel

               1926     Akin, Princell & Dr Norton worked with RG Parvin to build Parvin Lake

               1926     Swedlow Built Clubhouse

               1935     Worked with AD Quaintance for CCC camp

               1938     Worked with Quaintance, Game & Fish to open Dowdy to public fishing

               1941     Cooperated with Sportsman Club to buy water rights

               1948     Rebuilt the Nokomis Lake dam and enlarged the lake

1948     Formed the Storage & Irrigation Company and bought the lakes

From 1948 to present the Property Owners Association was instrumental in forming of the Red Feather Fire District, induced the Poudre Valley REA to build line to Red Feather.  There have been very few happenings in Red Feather that the property owners have not had a hand in.  Today there are 274 members in the POA. Information from Linda Gordon and Jody Dahlstrom newsletter August 1981

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

We have a combined craft fairs this year, both in the village and Crystal Lakes

6-25-2022 at 7 pm

7-3-2022 1:00 pm before the Annual Meeting

7-23-2022 7 pm

7-30-2022 7 pm

8-6-2022 7 pm

8-13-2022 7 pm

8-27-2022 7 pm

FINAL BINGO on 9/3/22 at 7 pm

JOIN THE FUN on SATURDAY 5:30 pm

AUGUST 20, 2022 @ 58 Firehouse Ln

$30 Steak Dinner OR $20 Chicken Dinner

With all the sides, dessert and great camaraderie.

Bring your money as there will be many great items to bid on in the SILENT AUCTION  this is a FUNDRAISER  for the Red Feather Lakes Community Association additional donations accepted for preparation of 100th year Celebration in 2023

Tickets on sale now until 16th August at both the Trading Post and POA Office (need to know how much to buy!)

For more information contact  Caryn Hughes 970-420-6252

Help support the RFL Community Association Fundraiser to support electric repair and update on Little Building & funds for next year’s RFL 100th Celebration.   Door prizes given too!

Note: Cost increase due to food pricing. Credit Card Capable  U pay fees

PRESENT YOUR TICKET at MEAL.

Here’s the next BINGO Dates:
July 23, 30
Aug 6, 13, 27
Sep 3
Pending availability of volunteers

BINGO Starts at 7 pm sharp

KIDS FISHING “TROUT” CONTEST

TIME:

 Ages 4 through 8 Register at 8:30a.m.  Contest 9:00a.m. –  10:00a.m.

Ages 9 through 14, Register at 10:00a.m.  Contest: 10:30a.m. – 11:30a.m.

Prizes will be awarded at the Helipad at 12:30p.m. If the Helipad is in use, an alternate location will be announced.

RULES:

All contestants must register and check in their fish at the SAME STATION where they registered.  NO CONTESTANT MAY CATCH MORE THAN THREE (3) FISH.  If you catch a fish on a lure and you do not want to keep it, carefully remove hook with fish under the water in the net.  Fish caught on bait must be kept.

Adults may help with baiting up and casting out for the 4 through 8 year old group only, then they must step back and let the child fish.  Adults may also help net the fish.  The contestant catching the fish must take it to the registering station for proper recording.  All fishing MUST be along the North and East sides at Ramona Lake (from the pump station on the west end of the lake along Ramona Drive to the South side of the dam on the East.  There will be no fishing on the West and South side of the Lake.  Remember, – 3 fish per child.

PRIZES:

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories for each age group.

1^st fish caught for both boys and girls

Largest fish caught for both boys and girls

Smallest fish caught for both boys and girls

Several prizes will be awarded by random drawing among all the contestants.  You will receive a ticket when you register.  To win a random drawing award, you must be present at the drawing.  In the event of a tie in either largest or smallest fish categories, the earliest time will determine the winner.