About Red Feather Lakes
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The small mountain village of Red Feather Lakes sits at 8,245 ft elevation in the Rocky Mountains of Northern Colorado. From Fort Collins, Red Feather Lakes can be reached by Hwy 287 north, then west on the Red Feather Lakes Road (Hwy 74E), approximately 24 miles. The town hosts a variety of small businesses, including general stores with groceries, deli, supplies, fishing passes, and an ATM, a hardware store, a post office, community library, restaurants, gifts and antiques.
Red Feather Lakes is surrounded by Roosevelt National Forest, with beautiful pine forests and breathtaking views of Mummy Range and the Baldy Mountains. The area boasts a large number of lakes and creeks throughout, including at least 12 lakes within the vicinity of the RFL village itself, including Parvin Lake, Dowdy Lake, West Lake, Snake Lake, Letitia Lake, Red Feather Lake, Lake Ramona, Hiawatha Lake, Apache Lake, Shagwa Lake, Lake Nokomis, and Lake Erie. The area boasts numerous recreational opportunities, including hiking trails, dispersed campsites, boating, and horseback riding.
Princess Red Feather and the Red Feather Lakes Area History
"Red Feather kind of has two histories. While early on it was ranching, timber, starve-to-death kind of settlement, that was prior to the concept of a recreational environment that it became in 1925." Excerpt from Denis Frydendall oral history, courtesy of the Red Feather Historical Society
From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, the area known as Red Feather Lakes and its many lakes were developed, primarily by businessmen Myron Akin (Fort Collins businessman and planner of RFL), Jesse Harris (friend and associate of Akin in the development of RFL), and Lewis Clark Moore (Fort Collins Banker and leader of irrigation projects that benefited RFL). Courtesy of the Red Feather Historical Society
Princess Tsianina was of Creek and Cherokee ancestry, who was "remembered as someone who charmed the world as a mezzo-soprano, pianist, writer, composer and a politician who did much for her people." "Her theme song was Cadman's 'Land of Sky Blue Water,' but 'Indian Love Call' was another of her famous songs. She also sang tribal songs in 7 or 8 different tribal tongues. She toured all over the world, even in Europe during World War I." Taken from newspaper articles in the 1980s, courtesy of the Red Feather Lakes Historical Society
"In 1922 she was touring the country when Dr. D.O. Norton heard her sing. He and several men who had invested in resort property northwest of Fort Collins decided to name the small mountain village in her honor, so they called it Red Feather Lakes. They also gave Indian names to many of the area's lakes: Hiawatha, Ramona, Apache and Shagwa." Taken from newspaper articles in the 1980s, courtesy of the Red Feather Lakes Historical Society
The Red Feather Mountain Lakes Association was incorporated on September 11, 1923, which spurred the beginning of actual recreational development of RFL. Courtesy of the Red Feather Historical Society
All historical information provided on this page was used with permission from the Red Feather Historical Society. Find out more of the Red Feather Lakes area history on their website at redfeatherhistoricalsociety.org
RFL Area Chamber
The current Red Feather Area Chamber started in February of 2023 and was founded by Richard Marr to provide a way for area businesses to share information, support one another and collaborate. There is no cost for membership and is open to all business owners in the Red Feather Lakes area.
The Chamber meets once a month and consists of a speaker, discussion on current events and business spotlights to give a platform where all businesses can receive the same information from the source. The Chamber was also formed to best communicate information about the area and the businesses that allow residents to live here and guests to visit in a unified manner.
In the first 2 years of existence, The Chamber has been crucial in businesses coming together to help promote community events, develop a Red Feather Lakes logo and start VisitRedFeatherLakes.com website.
If you'd like more information or would like to contact The Red Feather Area Chamber, email rfareachamber@gmail.com.
Caring Hearts Foundation of Red Feather Lakes
The Caring Hearts Foundation was established to provide vital community services and events to Red Feather Lakes' residents and visitors and to raise funds for reinvestment in the local community.
The foundation organizes various events such as fun runs, 5k races, festivals, silent auctions, and other family-friendly activities to raise funds for the betterment of Red Feather Lakes. Funds raised are used to continue to organize, promote and fund future community events and to purchase equipment and/or supplies needed to provide excellence to an event and bring unity to the communities of Red Feather Lakes and surrounding areas.
Our long-term goal is to help provide funds to construct a Recreation Center in Red Feather Lakes, which will include a healthcare clinic, addressing the existing absence of such facilities in the area. Your support is crucial to the success of both the small endeavors and long-term goals!
Red Feather Lakes is a small unincorporated mountain community, well-known throughout Colorado as a small fishing community. The area has been rapidly growing. According to Data USA, the population of RFL increased from 385 in 2019 to 591 in 2020, marking a 53.5% growth. Determining the exact population is challenging due to many seasonal homes and unclear RFL borders. When considering the surrounding communities, the population expands even further.
While most residents prefer to maintain the small-town feel, seasonal tourism significantly impacts local businesses. The events organized by the Caring Hearts Foundation play a vital role in attracting visitors, supporting local businesses, and keeping our community vibrant.
Red Feather Lakes has thrived for a century, and as we look towards the next 100 years, we have the opportunity to shape its future. The formation of the Caring Hearts of Red Feather Lakes Foundation is aimed at fostering community pride and organizing top-notch events that cater to all while also providing crucial support to the businesses that are the lifeblood of our community.
You can visit the website and learn more about upcoming events, donation and sponsorship opportunities and Board Member information at www.caringheartsrfl.org.