History of Lory State Park

Visit Lory State Park online for more information about the history, flora and fauna, trails, group picnic areas, conditions, maps and directions, and photo galleries.

Lory State Park, historically known as Pleasant Valley, served as a buffer zone between the indigenous Ute people and nomadic Plains tribes. The land served as a communal hunting ground for tribes to harvest bison as well as gather choke cherries and wild plums.

As homesteaders migrated west, the land became part of the Howard family ranch and was sold to the state of Colorado in 1967.

Today photographers, hikers, bikers, equestrians, hunters, bird watchers, nature lovers, and families all come to enjoy the gem that is Lory State Park.