Colorado hot springs town celebrates 60th year of festival

Postmark Pursuit by Linn’s Staff

The town of Hot Sulphur Springs in Grand County, Colo., offers a special postmark in celebration of its 60th annual Hot Sulphur Days festival. The cancel features a few of the things that make the three-day festival special each year, including pies, hamburgers, pancakes, horseshoes, music and fireworks.

Located 95 miles northwest of Denver, the area that is now Hot Sulphur Springs was first discovered in the 16th century by the Ute Native American tribe. The tribe spent winters camping near the area’s natural geothermal springs on the west side of the Colorado River, which they used to revitalize themselves in both body and spirit.

The United States acquired the area via the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, but the area was still controlled mostly by the Utes for several decades thereafter. The first permanent residents arrived during the Colorado Gold Rush of 1858–59 and established the town in 1860, making it the oldest town in the county. The town was originally named Saratoga West, and sometimes it was called Warm Springs. In 1863 the name was changed to its current designation.

In 1864 the town was bought by William Newton Byers (1831-1903), founder of Denver’s Rocky Mountain News. Byers devised plans to make Hot Sulphur Springs a spa and resort town. He surveyed and named the streets of the town.

Today the resort town of slightly more than 700 boasts several natural geothermal soaking pools and tubs to relax visitors with temperatures ranging from 98 to 112 degrees Fahrenheit.

Each year for the past 60 years, the town has paid homage to its history with the Hot Sulphur Days festival that includes a parade, pie baking contest, horseshoe throwing contest, live music, fireworks, and free tours of the local Pioneer Village Museum.

To obtain the postmark, address your request to:

ANNIVERSARY Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Hot Sulphur Springs, CO 80451-9998, June 6-8.

Share information by writing to Postmark Pursuit, Box 4129, Sidney, OH 45365.

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