And the Rest Is History: CPI Names Five More Endangered Places in Colorado

The irony is inescapable: While The Fort, the Morrison restaurant modeled after Bent’s Old Fort, a mainstay on the Santa Fe Trail from 1833 to 1849, is a historic landmark, the National Park Service replica of Bent’s Old Fort built on the site of the original fort, which opened just in time for the bicentennial fifty years ago, is now threatened with non-historic status.

The property is in such bad condition that last year the NPS wrote the Colorado State Historic Preservation Office to suggest that the complex be deemed “a non-historic structure” that was “ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places.”

So: A commercial venture is capable of preserving a historic replica, while the federal government is not?

Colorado is not about to put up with Bent’s Old Fort becoming history. And to make sure of that, Colorado Preservation Inc. just named the Otero County landmark as one of Colorado’s Most Endangered Places.

Four other locations were announced at a February 12 luncheon during CPI’s annual Saving Places convention: the Hartman Castle in Gunnison, La Morada in the San Luis Valley, the Ordway Pharmacy out on the southern plains, and the Pearl Theatre in Buena Vista.

“Long before Colorado became a state 150 years ago, this land was home to people whose stories, traditions and stewardship continue to shape this place today,” Endangered Places Director Katie Peterson said in announcing the additions. “From Indigenous nations and early settlers to miners, ranchers, railroad workers and visionaries who followed, Colorado’s history has always been one of resilience, creativity and connection. As Colorado marks 150 years of statehood, the Endangered Places Program stands as a reflection of that milestone. It is a celebration of our diverse stories, our sense of place and our collective commitment to preserving the landmarks that continue to tell Colorado’s story.”

With the addition of these five, CPI’s Most Endangered Places program has highlighted 149 historic structures and resources throughout Colorado, with 57 successfully saved and only nine lost. One of those on the way to being saved? The World’s Wonder View Tower in Genoa, which was added to the list in 2017 and now is owned by the Friends of the Genoa Tower, a nonprofit founded by some Colorado history lovers (myself included) in order to restore this landmark on the plains to its rightful place.

Here are the new additions, with the CPI descriptions:

Bent’s Old Fort, Otero County

“Bent’s Old Fort stands along the Santa Fe Trail, adjacent to the Arkansas River and just east of La Junta. Situated within a National Historic Site, the current structure reconstructs the historic fort lost to time and flood. The structure that stands today was dedicated on July 25, 1976, during a moment of heightened national reflection as the United States marked its Bicentennial and Colorado celebrated its Centennial. The reconstruction of Bent’s Old Fort was an intentional effort to reconnect the public with the complex borderlands histories that shaped the American West. While the present-day fort is a reconstruction, it honors the original Bent’s Old Fort, first constructed in 1833. As one of the most significant trading posts in the American West, it served as a multicultural borderland where Native Americans, Mexicans, and Anglo traders shaped the story of Colorado long before statehood. As the current building enters its 50th year, decades of weathering, wear, and the complex mix of materials used in the 1970s reconstruction have raised significant structural concerns. Built in a southwest-inspired adobe style, the fort incorporates compressed dirt, wood, plaster, concrete, and composites, all aging differently and making repairs increasingly complex. Multiple repairs over the years have raised concerns that jeopardize the building’s use. The upper story has become unsafe, several structural vigas are failing, and large sections of exterior stucco are separating from the walls. The National Park Service has restricted access to guided tours through only a small, safe portion of the building to protect both visitors and the resource. CPI is working with the National Park Service, History Colorado, the City of La Junta, Otero County, and other local stakeholders to explore the possibilities of preservation.”

Hartman Castle, Gunnison County

“In Colorado, only a handful of communities can boast the presence of a true castle, one built not from myth, but from the vision, artistry, and determination of some of the state’s most influential citizens. Completed in 1894, Hartman Castle is far more than a landmark. It reflects Gunnison’s ingenuity, progressivism, and enduring community spirit. Alonzo and Annie Hartman constructed the Castle during a time when Gunnison was still defining itself. Alonzo arrived in 1872 as a government employee with the Los Pinos Indian Agency, where he formed a lifelong friendship with Chief Ouray and his wife, Chipeta. Over the decades, Alonzo would serve as Gunnison postmaster, banker, rancher, and one of the founding members of the Gunnison Cattlemen’s Association. His leadership and investment helped guide the town through periods of growth and transition. The castle itself, however, was Annie’s masterpiece. As an artist, philanthropist, and civic leader, Annie designed much of the home herself. Her turreted studio became her space for painting, where she captured the surrounding landscape through oils and watercolors. Beyond her art, Annie played a leading role in Gunnison’s early women’s movement. She helped establish and host the Monday Afternoon Club, one of the region’s first women-led organizations that promoted education, culture, and social reform. When completed, the Castle embodied the Hartmans’ forward-thinking vision. It featured modern amenities, including an elevator designed specifically for Annie, and a windmill-powered pump that supplied running water. Today, Hartman Castle remains privately owned but stands vacant and in need of preservation. The Hartman Castle Preservation Corp., a dedicated local nonprofit, is leading an ambitious campaign to purchase the property, restore it, and reopen it as a much-needed community gathering space that will support events, local economic development, and opportunities for artistic and cultural programming. CPI is excited to collaborate with local partners to raise statewide awareness of Hartman Castle and support ongoing efforts to ensure its next chapter is as inspiring as its past.”

La Morada, Costilla County

“Not every sacred place has stained glass or steeples. Some are constructed of adobe, built by hand, and held together by generations of faith and community. In the oldest town in Colorado, the quiet walls of La Morada tell the story of the Penitentes, men (and later, women) whose devotion shaped daily life in Southern Colorado. Constructed in the 1860s, La Morada served as the gathering place and spiritual center for La Fraternidad Piadosa de Nuestro Padre Jes˙s Nazareno (The Pious Fraternity of Our Father Jesus the Nazarene), a Hispano brotherhood that kept faith alive in rural communities when traveling priests were rare and resources were scarce. Within the walls of La Morada, the community prayed, sang, mourned, and celebrated. The Penitente Hermanos cared for the sick, buried the dead, baptized children, and provided sustenance to those in need. They also led prayers and guided the rituals that anchored small, rural community life. At its height between 1870 and 1920, nearly every Hispanic community in the San Luis Valley had a morada. They were the backbone of cultural identity, but as modern churches spread and younger generations moved away, many became unused and abandoned. Today, only two active moradas remain in Colorado. La Morada in San Luis, one of the earliest and most significant, has been vacant for more than half a century. Time and weather have taken their toll on the building. Collapsed walls, eroded plaster, and fragile woodwork speak to the urgency of preservation. Despite this, hope runs deep in San Luis. The building’s owner, Sandra Ortega, alongside the Costilla County Economic Development Council and the Sangre de Cristo Heritage Area, has already secured funding for emergency stabilization and restoration plans. Once restored, La Morada will become a community exhibit space interpreting the story of the Penitentes and their role in shaping Hispano settlement and spirituality across southern Colorado. The plan includes reuniting the local Heritage Center’s santos and retablos (Hispanic devotional art pieces) to their original home. CPI is proud to partner with local stakeholders to raise awareness of La Morada’s significance within the state and support efforts to preserve this cornerstone of faith, identity, and tradition in the oldest town in Colorado.”

Ordway Pharmacy, Crowley County

“In a town where grit meets good ideas, even an empty building can spark conversation and a story. For more than a century, the Ordway Pharmacy stood at the heart of Main Street, serving prescriptions, ice cream sodas, and small-town conversation. Generations of families passed through its doors, making it a cornerstone of daily life for the residents of Crowley County. The building has stood empty since 2020, when the pharmacy moved across the street, but this building’s history and community spirit remain very much alive. Ordway is not waiting for help to arrive. It is making things happen. In a remarkable model for rural revitalization, the Town of Ordway leases its owned Main Street buildings at low rates to new businesses. Entrepreneurs get three years to create and operate a business out of the building. If they succeed, the town signs the property over. It is an innovative, home-grown solution that keeps Ordway’s Main Street vibrant, historic, and community-owned. The old pharmacy at 231 Main Street is next in line for a new life. Once stabilized, the plan is to turn it into Ordway’s first laundromat since 2004, complete with a snack counter and arcade, a creative nod to its soda fountain past. Ordway Pharmacy is Crowley County’s first-ever nomination to Colorado’s Most Endangered Places. Decades of use have taken their toll on the building. Its roof is failing and its brick walls are crumbling, but the town’s determination to save it reflects the same tenacity that built Ordway. CPI is proud to partner with the Town of Ordway, Crowley County, the Jackson Family, and the Crowley County Preservation Board to raise awareness of this extraordinary local effort and support their vision to preserve Main Street’s past while creating a stronger, more connected community.”

Pearl Theatre, Chaffee County

“Every small town has its gathering place where memories live on long after the lights go out. For Buena Vista, that place is the Pearl Theater. Before the popcorn and the projector lights, this building served as a mercantile. Built in the 1880s, it sold everything from groceries to whiskey. It even had a basketball court upstairs! In 1951, John and R. Pearl Groy purchased the building and transformed it into the Pearl Theater, a small-town movie house that brought Hollywood to Main Street Buena Vista. For over 70 years, the Groys have been the heart behind the town’s movie culture. Pearl and John dug the sloped floor by hand, added a “cry room” for families, and ran the projection booth themselves. The original 1950s projectors are still owned by the family. Locals still remember lining up around the block for the premiere of Star Wars, catching matinees with friends, and hearing the hum of the projector. The Groy family’s passion for film still runs deep as they continue to operate the historic Comanche Drive-In, one of the last of its kind in Colorado. Today, the Pearl stands at a crossroads. Decades of neglect and water damage have left the building’s back wall failing and the roof dangerously compromised. The town has declared it unsafe. Without immediate intervention, the owners face a difficult reality. If the structure cannot be stabilized soon, the family may be required to demolish it. The Groys are exploring every avenue to bring the theater back to life. This includes fundraisers, outdoor movie screenings, and plans for forming a nonprofit. Their vision is to restore the Pearl as both a movie house and a flexible community venue, keeping film and art alive on Buena Vista’s Main Street. CPI isexcited to work with the Groy Family, the Town of Buena Vista, and the local Historic Preservation Commission to support the effort to preserve this irreplaceable piece of small-town Americana.”

You can nominate a threatened building or resource for the Colorado’s Most Endangered Places list; the deadline for 2027 is July 10. In the meantime, you can become a Colorado Preservation Inc. member and engage in an Endangered Places Weekend Workshop…or even visit the World’s Wonder View Tower when it reopens this summer, in time for its hundredth anniversary.