Colorado History: Estes Park Home Burned + Sold Back for $1

While the picturesque Colorado mountain town of Estes Park is arguably most famous for being home to the Stanley Hotel, there are a number of other reasons that tourists are drawn to spend time in the town.

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In fact, a popular destination located high in the mountains is not only fascinating because of its unique appearance, but the story that accompanies it is arguably just as intriguing.

The Story of the Birch Cabin and Ruins in Estes Park Colorado

This particular story dates back to 1904, which, believe it or not, predates the construction of the Stanley Hotel by roughly five years, when a reporter for the Denver Post by the name of Al Birch commissioned a stonemason to build him a home.

Upon completing construction, the home was only accessible by a flight of stairs that were so steep, the property gained the nickname, "Jacob's Ladder."

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In fact, the steps were so steep that only a few years after moving in, Birch decided to sell the property to J. R. Young, who, unfortunately, was also a fairly short-lived resident. 

While heating the home on a cold night in December of 1907, it's been said that embers from the fireplace caught the home on fire, effectively leaving only the stonework behind.

Following the fire, J.R. Young decided to rid himself of the property and, interestingly, sold it back to Birch for the low price of a single dollar.

Today, the Birch ruins and a boarded-up cabin below serve as a popular destination for hikers and tourists, and if you keep scrolling, you can take a virtual tour below: