Album CoverAs I was driving to work the other day, I heard that Caribou Ranch had been sold for 32.5 million dollars.  The town of Caribou is located just outside Nederland proper and has a storied history of fame and fortune through the years.  Caribou is located at around 9800 feet and was first founded by Sam Conger who had heard the nearby Arapaho Indians talk of a “Treasure  Mountain.”  In 1869, he and five partners staked the Caribou Mines, and found silver in abundance.  The Caribou Mines produced over 8 million dollars in silver before closing in 1884, and helped give rise to Colorado being nicknamed the “Silver State.”

Almost 100 years later, Caribou would again be the site of fortune, but this time through a ranch turned recording studio.  In 1971, Jim Guercio purchased a ranch that had been homesteaded by Sam Conger, and turned into a recording studio.  For the next decade, famous musicians from all over came to Caribou Ranch to record records,  including Elton John (Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds), Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Joe Walsh and many more.  The writing and recording of music at Caribou Ranch led to $100 million dollars in record sales.  The studio was in operation until 1985 when it was damaged by a fire, and was no longer used afterwards.

As I watch the tourists drive the Peak to Peak Highway, I wonder how many realize that nearby this small, unassuming town, many of the greatest selling records of the last half-century were recorded on a ranch up an old, dirt road.  Just goes to show, you never know what kind of history is lurking in these mountains….

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