Elk Mountain Hotel
Elk Mountain Hotel

Elk Mountain is a small town at the foot of, you guessed it, Elk Mountain (11,156'), a peak in the northern Medicine Bow Mountains. This is a small historic settlement with cottonwood-lined streets and world-class trout fishing in the middle of town. John C. Fremont came through this area back in 1843. He camped near the Medicine Bow River at the foot of Elk Mountain. Jim Bridger brought the Stansbury Expedition across the Medicine Bow River further north, looking to establish a route for the Overland Stage Company. When the chosen route started suffering too many Indian attacks (1862), the route was shifted southward to the area of today's Elk Mountain.

The Elk Mountain Hotel was constructed in 1905 on the former site of the Overland Stage Station. The Garden Spot Pavilion was right next door to the hotel. The Garden Spot often played host to folks like Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Lawrence Welk, and hundreds of local patrons enjoyed at least one spin on the Garden Spot's magical dance floor. In those days, the local mining, timber, livestock and lodging industries were booming, and Elk Mountain was a way-station for both entrepreneurs and laborers who came for the timber, mining and ranching opportunities.

Over time, the big businesses dropped off and Elk Mountain today is much quieter. The elegant Elk Mountain Hotel is still open, still delivering the same high-quality service as it did almost 100 years ago. And located on the banks of the world-famous Medicine Bow River, Elk Mountain has become somewhat of a Mecca for trout fishermen.