Five years ago today to much fanfare, Staunton State Park opened to the public and became Colorado's newest state park. Since opening, miles of highly-rated, popular new trails, facilities, climbing routes, activities, and the first (and only) state Track Chair Program for visitors with disabilities has begun! Later this year will be rough-in camping and our long-awaited Visitor Center to better serve our park users. It's been a fantastic 5 years and we look forward to many more enjoying and serving our beautiful park.
-The Friends of Staunton State Park
"From high grassy meadows at 8,100 feet to soaring granite cliffs over 10,000 feet, Staunton State Park's varied geology, soils, water features, and climate support rare and unexpected plant communities and a rich diversity of wildlife and provide a myriad of outdoor recreation opportunities.
The first 1,720-acre parcel was donated to Colorado State Parks in 1986 by Frances H. Staunton. Subsequent parcels, including a portion of the Davis Ranch and Elk Falls property, were acquired in the late 1990s. In 2006, a small key parcel, called the Chase property, was added to the Park to reach its current land base of approximately 3,828 acres. The properties that make up the Park are rich in human history, having supported a variety of uses, including:
Homesteading and a family retreat in the middle of the site
Ranching on the southern portions of the site.
Logging and a turn-of-the-20th century saw mill in the northern part of the site.
A sportsman's club on the western side of the site.
Staunton State Park is the legacy of Frances H. Staunton. As her beneficiaries, present and future generations are entrusted with this land--to enjoy, protect and treasure as she did."
https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Staunton/Pages/History.aspx
https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Staunton