The History of Palmer Lake The area around the two towns remained largely as ranch and farmland until the Air Force Academy was opened in 1958. Woodmoor was originally planned to be an area where the staff of the Air Academy and other military retirees could take up residence. From the Monument and Woodmoor area to the south, the land kept to its ranching heritage until the growth of Colorado Springs spawned housing developments starting about the mid 1980´s. Most growth along this part of the I-25 corridor has occurred since 1990. Our area has a remarkable history including events associated with the "wild west." There have been Indian raids, scalping's and saloon shootings. There were several forts in the area where settlers could hole up until the trouble passed. One of these is the "McShane Fort" located just off highway 105, close to the railroad overpass. Posses have apprehended and strung up murderers on the outskirts of Monument and Palmer Lake. The area was home to five gold mines however, none hit the mother lode. Our historical heritage is rich with the knowledge of our pioneer pathfinders who settled the land and left their mark for all to see and learn from.
Palmer Lake is located in El Paso County Colorado and was named after William Jackson Palmer who was the owner and president of Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. Palmer also founded the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1871, as well as several other surrounding communities.
The earliest inhabitants of the area were Native-American tribes including the Mountain Ute, Arapahoe, Kiowa and Cheyenne. However, the first recorded evidence of activity in the area came from a military expedition in 1820 led my Major Stephen Long. It was during this expedition that the Colorado State Flower (the Columbine) was first discovered while the group traveled between Monument and Palmer Lake. New settlers began to form rances and farms along the El Paso County and Douglas County line beginning in the 1860's. The first recorded resident of the area was Mr. David McShane who settled in Monument during 1865.
General William J. Palmer came west after the Civil War with the intention of starting the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in 1871. During his exploits Palmer founded the City of Colorado Springs as well as many other communities in the surrounding area. He purchased an area of land known as the Monument Farms and Lake Property to begin his railroad. This purchase made Palmer Lake a critical point along the railway because the steam engines would need to take on water to continue down the summit. Palmer Lake offered the only natural water supply in the area making it the most logical stopping point.
Dr. William Finley Thompson, a dentist originally from Baltimore and practicing in Denver, purchased land in the Town of Palmer Lake during 1882 but intended it's use to be much different than that of General Palmer. Thompson built a Victorian mansion called Estemere in 1887 for his family as he continued in his plans to make Palmer lake a health resort and vacation community. Thompson and his family would eventually flee from the area in 1891 when Thompson faced bankruptcy and was forced to hide from his creditors.
Past industries in the area included harvesting ice from Monument & Palmer Lakes which continued until 1941, fox farms, sawmills, angora rabbit raising, and dry-land potato and grain farming. In 1894 there were over 20,000 acres under cultivation but in 1895 some of the potato crops did not mature because of a disease (potato blight) and potato growing slowed and finally stopped. At that time, Monument was famous for holding an annual "Potato Bake," a fall celebration where a free feast would be held just across the tracks from Front and Second Streets.
For more information, please visit the following pages:
Palmer Lake Custom Homes
Palmer Lake Home Builders
Palmer Lake General Information