Re: Driving Platte Canyon (Advice Needed)

Beau,

Rivercliffe is Estabrook or Estabrook Park. The old C&S Estabrook Station area was renamed Rivercliffe after the Railroad was abandoned. There was a large lodge building constructed and the area was used as a fishing ranch.

Rivercliffe is referred to extensively in Pete Smythe's book "Big City Dropout". For all of you Denver Newbies, Pete Smythe was a Denver Radio and Television Personality in the 1950-1970's. His daily morning broadcasts on KOA were very highly rated.

After the post-C&S owners of Rivercliffe sold the place, it was made into a private summer home for Denver Attorney Francis Button. Mr. Button's Grandson was one of my best friends while we were growing up which is where I got my introduction to Rivercliffe.

The Old C&S Depot was added on to and used as a caretaker's house.

The property was sold to Tony and Sally Malgeri of Broomfield and later went back to Mr. Button. Obviously, you shouldn't buy property from a lawyer.

Mr. Button's estate sold the property to a Mr. Bill Berger who founded Berger Mutual Funds and later sold out to Denver based Janus Funds. After Bill Berger's death in 1999, I have no idea who the property went to. I would imagine that the family still holds it, but I do not know this to be a fact.

So that was the long form answer Beau, the short answer is Yes, Rivercliffe was formerly Estabrook on the DSP&P, DL&G, C&S Platte Canyon line.

Rick