Hey there. Last week's ride up Buckhorn Road turned into a whole thing. We spotted a scar in the sandstone, saw lots of quarries, and started asking questions. Next thing we knew, we were deep in a 1905 newspaper and having a conversation about derricks.

This week: the Masonville loop landmarks we promised you, the history behind them, a practical note on using local stone in your own yard, and a quick update on the Eagles. It's a lot of stone. I regret nothing.

Grab a coffee, and let's dig in!

– Megan

Last week's ride took us down the Buckhorn corridor, and somewhere between the ranch gates and the tilted rock, I found myself thinking about the places you pass at speed without really seeing.

A sign. A gate. A cut into a hillside that looks a little too straight to be natural. A pale scar on the hogback that catches the sun differently than the stone around it. These foothills are full of landmarks that spark curiosity if you let them.

That is how this turned into a full issue about stone.

Here are a few names tied to the corridor right now. Consider this less of a directory and more of a way to put labels on what you are already riding past:

There's a reason all of this activity stays on one side of the road. If you pay attention on the drive, you'll notice the west-facing slopes look different from the east.

The western mountainside sits on the Permian-age Lyons Formation, the same geologic layer that runs the length of the Front Range foothills from the Wyoming border down to Colorado Springs. It's a fine-grained, high-silica sandstone that splits cleanly along natural bedding planes. Smooth, dense, and workable.

On the eastern side of the valley, the formation shifts to the Dakota Formation, a younger, harder, more irregular rock that resists clean quarrying — nearly impossible to split into usable slabs. That’s why the quarries are on the west side of Buckhorn.

So, the next time your route takes you up this way, treat the ride like a moving map. Notice the places where the hillside looks stepped or benched and scarred. Think about the boarding houses and storehouses that used to sit in the folds of these foothills, and the people who cut the stone that set the literal foundations of our towns.

This is one of those Northern Colorado histories you can’t find in a museum case. You find it in the tilt of the hogback.

(Pretty cool where a motorcycle ride can take you.)

A July 1905 piece in The Loveland Reporter reads like a roll call of the quarry belt between Arkins (no longer a town) and Masonville, eight or more outfits operating at once, with about thirty derricks in use, and crews ranging from three to twenty-five workers per quarry. The article was contributed by someone who signed only as "A Quarryman" — an insider account from someone who knew the work well.

The stone itself was Colorado Buff sandstone, a high-silica, pale-colored material prized for its durability. The 1905 account describes it as "durable and beautiful white sand rock" and notes flagging of every dimension, up to ten and twelve feet square, along with curbing, ashlar, caps, sills, steps, rubble, and large blocks for city buildings.

Wages? Two to two-and-a-half dollars per day. And the work was steady enough that operators invested in serious equipment: steam plants, compressors, tram tracks, and pipe-lined water systems feeding bunkhouses and boarding setups tucked into the folds of the foothills.

If you've ever looked at a beautiful stone foundation downtown and thought, “That's solid,” there's a good chance it came from these hills.

The 1905 account starts “at the south end of the hogback” with a small quarry, then stacks up the sites like landmarks:

What stands out isn’t just who owned what — it’s how integrated the whole ecosystem was. Rail spurs. Boarding houses. Storehouses. Equipment moving from one big job to the next. The supply chain was fascinating.

If "quarrying" makes you picture giant modern saws, it helps to remember how much of the early work was an effort of muscle, precision, and clever physics.

Citation: Colorado history: Traces remain of massive stone quarrying industry, Loveland Reporter-Herald, August 24, 2019.

Stone is heavy. Beautiful, but heavy.

That's why the quarry boom and the railroads were a perfect marriage. When Union Pacific secured land and built quarry branches into Horsetooth Valley and down to Arkins, the foothills could ship stone to distant markets.

And then the shift came.

Concrete rose. Demand changed. Quarries closed. Rail tracks were pulled up. Places with familiar names — Noland, Arkins, Stout – faded away, with Lyons standing as the most enduring of the quarry towns.

But the industry never fully disappeared. It merely transformed. Post-World War II, decorative stone came back into style, and quarry work resumed in new forms, with new equipment sprinkled across some of the same landscapes.

So, the next time you walk past a stone foundation, a heavy sandstone lintel, or an old curb that's still holding its line after a hundred winters, take a second to think how it got there.

There's a decent chance it started in these foothills, where crews once ran steam drills and hand-cranked derricks, and where the Buckhorn valley quietly shipped "durable and beautiful white sand rock" into the bones of the Front Range and beyond.

Northern Colorado gardens take a beating: sun, wind, late frosts, surprise hail, and that slow tug-of-war between ‘I want it to be pretty’ and ‘I need it to survive.’

One of the most reliable ways to make a landscape feel finished — and stay finished — is (you guessed it) stone! And if you’re going to use stone here, there’s something deeply satisfying about choosing material that’s been part of this specific place for millions of years.

Here are practical ways to use it in everyday NOCO life:

A quick practical note: ‘direct from quarry’ often means you’ll need to confirm minimum quantities, whether they allow pickup, and how they categorize material (flagstone vs. strip stone vs. boulders). If that feels like a lot, many local landscape yards are distributors for these same operations — you can still buy Buckhorn-area stone without navigating quarry logistics.

Either way, you’re choosing something local: fewer miles, more fit-for-place, and a backyard that looks like it belongs in Northern Colorado — because it does.

If you’ve been following, you already know: our update on the Colorado Eagles playoff run ends in heartbreak. After building a 3-2 series lead against the Chicago Wolves in the AHL Western Conference Finals, the Eagles were just one win away from their first franchise appearance in the Calder Cup Finals.

The Wolves rallied on the road. Chicago won Game 6 on Sunday, then secured the Western Conference crown Monday night with a 4-3 victory in Game 7 right here at Blue Arena. Despite a fierce third-period push where the Eagles outshot the Wolves 19-4, this postseason run is over.

It was the deepest playoff run in franchise history. Blue Arena showed up. That part's worth remembering.

Every contribution keeps us out in the field, digging into local history, and showing up for the towns we cover. We're grateful for every bit of support. Thanks for being part of this.

— Megan & David

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From Berthoud to the Wyoming state line, Fort Morgan to Estes, each week we pull together a list of the top events happening all over Northern Colorado.

Wool Market @ Estes Park Events Complex (Estes Park) — Sat–Sun 9am–4pm — Sheep, fiber, and the people who turn one into the other. 👉 Get fleeced (in a good way)

Sleeping Beauty in the 21st Century @ The Lincoln Center, Magnolia Theatre (Fort Collins) — Fri–Sat 7pm — A modern take on the classic ballet story. 👉 Wake up to this one

Mary Poppins Jr. @ EPHS Auditorium (Estes Park) — Sat at 7pm and Sun at 2pm — The Estes Park Fine Arts Guild stages the family musical. 👉 A spoonful of theater

FORE Golf Tournament benefiting Alternatives to Violence @ The Old Course at Loveland (Loveland) — 8am–2pm — A round for a cause, with proceeds supporting survivors of domestic violence. 👉 Tee off for good

Mushroom Growing with Inoculation @ Orion's Apothecary & Mushrooms (Loveland) — 11am–12pm — A hands-on class that sends you home with a grow kit and liquid culture. 👉 Grow your own little fungi friends

Date Night Pottery @ The Artisan Shop and Studio (Loveland) — 6:30–8:30pm — Clay, wheels, and whatever happens when two people try to make something together. 👉 Throw some clay, throw some sparks

Flashback Friday Movie Series @ Rialto Theater (Loveland) — 7–9pm — A classic on the big screen at Loveland's historic downtown theater. 👉 Take a trip back

LoCo Country @ The Boot Grill (Loveland) — 8pm — Live country at the Boot. 👉 Two-step it out

Blast N Scrump: Second Fridays @ Scrumpy's (Fort Collins) — 7–11pm — Cider and a second-Friday crowd at the Old Town cidery. 👉 Get scrumptious

Brew Paw Paw @ Peculier Ales (Fort Collins) — 4–6pm — A beer-and-dog charity event benefiting a local rescue group. 👉 Suds for pups

The Rocky Horror Picture Show @ The Lyric (Fort Collins) — 9pm — The midnight-movie cult classic, with all the audience-participation chaos that comes with it. 👉 Do the time warp

Late Night Radio w/ Flamingosis, Alex Unger & Vinyl Restoration @ Mishawaka Amphitheatre (Bellvue) — 8pm (doors at 6)— Funk and crate-dug grooves riverside at the Mish. 👉 Spin into the night

2nd and 4th Friday Swing Dance @ Club Tico (Fort Collins) — 6–10pm — Swing dancing in the historic CCC-built lodge in City Park. 👉 Swing on by

Sunset Horseback Ride @ Tattered Saddle (Fort Collins) — 7:30–8:30pm — An evening ride as the light goes gold over the foothills. 👉 Ride into the sunset

Beyond the Month: Expanding How We Understand Black History @ Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures (Fort Collins) — 6–7pm — A talk pushing Black history conversations past February. 👉 Keep the conversation going

Find Your Inner Flame w/ Glow Candle Co. @ New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins) — 5–7pm — A candle-making workshop at the Fort Collins brewery. 👉 Light it up

Face of Fiber Show & "Journey Through Colors and Textures" @ Art Center of Estes Park (Estes Park) — 11am–5pm — A fiber arts exhibition featuring local textile work. 👉 Get woven in

Flick N Float: The Little Mermaid @ Estes Valley Community Center (Estes Park) — 5–6:30pm — Pool floats and a movie under (and on) the water. 👉 Float into the story

Friday Live Music: Marty Astry @ Snowy Peaks Winery (Estes Park) — 5–7pm — Wine and a guitar as the sun drops toward the mountains. 👉 Sip to the sound

Intro to Stained Glass Workshop @ Creativity Cabin Estes Park (Estes Park) — 11am–1pm — A beginner-friendly intro to working with stained glass. 👉 Piece it together

Live Music with Joseph Lingenfelter @ Inn on Fall River (Estes Park) — 5–9pm — Live music at the riverside inn. 👉 Settle in for the evening

Live Music with Parrish Heights @ Bogey's Sport Bar (Estes Park) — 7–9pm — Live music at the longtime Estes sports bar. 👉 Take your seat at Bogey's

Painting Technique Class: Crafty Chica Oaxacan Mug @ Creativity Cabin Estes Park (Estes Park) — 2–4pm — A guided paint class on a Oaxacan-style mug. 👉 Paint your own mug

Downtown Greeley Friday Fest @ Downtown (Greeley) — 6–10pm — Live music and street life through the heart of downtown Greeley. 👉 Walk the strip

Fitness on the Plaza @ The Foundry Plaza (Loveland) — 8-10am — A free outdoor fitness session downtown. 👉 Sweat it out downtown

2026 Sweetheart City Car Show @ Immanuel Lutheran Church and School (Loveland) — 9am–2pm — Chrome, paint jobs, and lawn chairs in a church parking lot. A Loveland summer staple. 👉 Pop the hood

Crochet Granny Squares @ The Artisan Shop and Studio (Loveland) — 12–2pm — A crochet workshop for the granny-square curious. 👉 Square up

Kids Tea Making @ Orion's Apothecary & Mushrooms (Loveland) — 3–4pm — Kids learn to blend their own herbal tea. 👉 Steep yourself in it

Live Music with TAKAT, Appalachian Acoustic @ MeadKrieger, Old Norse Mead (Loveland) — 6:30–8:30pm — Acoustic Appalachian music at Loveland's mead hall. 👉 Raise a horn

"Road Trip" Ice Show presented by Fort Collins Figure Skating Club @ 7900 N Fairgrounds Ave (Fort Collins) — 1–2:30pm — The local figure skating club's annual ice show. 👉 Hit the ice

Blooming Makers Market @ Bath Garden Center (Fort Collins) — 9am–1pm — A market of local makers set among the garden center's greenery. 👉 Browse and bloom

Bus and Brew @ Gilded Goat → Maxline Brewing → Zwei Brewing (Fort Collins) — 3–6pm — A guided brewery crawl by public bus, hosted by Strong Towns Fort Collins. 👉 Hop on, hop off, drink up

Connecting Communities: A Poudre River Trail Celebration @ 5500 Summerfields Pkwy (Fort Collins) — 10am–1pm — The grand opening celebration for the newly completed 45-mile Poudre River Trail, Bellvue to Greeley. 👉 Ride the whole thing

Hawaiian Shirt Day @ Mythmaker Brewing (Fort Collins) — 12–6pm — A no-explanation-needed excuse to wear your loudest shirt to a brewery. 👉 Aloha, beer

KRFC's 23rd Birthday Bash @ Odell Brewing Company (Fort Collins) — 11am–8pm — Fort Collins' community radio station throws itself a party with local bands and beer. 👉 Tune in, drink up

Live at The Gardens: The Fabulous Thunderbirds @ Gardens on Spring Creek (Fort Collins) — 6pm — The veteran blues-rock band plays the gardens' summer concert series. 👉 Get your blues on

Yonder Mountain String Band @ Mishawaka Amphitheatre (Bellvue) — 8pm — Bluegrass jam veterans return to the canyon. 👉 Pick up the pace

Foothills Summer Farmers Market @ Foothills Shopping Center (Fort Collins) — 10am–2pm — A farmers market in the mall parking lot. 👉 Stock up between stores

Scratch & Ride Horseback Experience @ Tattered Saddle (Fort Collins) — 10–11:30am — A grooming-and-riding session for first-timers and horse people alike. 👉 Saddle up

Mocktail Makeshop: Shrubs, Syrups & Herbal Embellishments @ Golden Poppy Herbal Apothecary & Clinic (Fort Collins) — 11am–1pm — A workshop on building non-alcoholic drinks from herbal shrubs and syrups. 👉 Shake things up, sans booze

Jason Hicks (Blue Canyon Boys) Acoustic @ The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern (Estes Park) — 5–8pm — A solo acoustic set from one of the Blue Canyon Boys. 👉 Settle in for some bluegrass

Live Music with Greg Miles and Friends @ Bogey's Sport Bar (Estes Park) — 7–9pm — Live music at the longtime Estes sports bar. 👉 Take your seat at Bogey's

Greeley Farmers' Market @ Lincoln Park (Greeley) — 8am–12pm — Early produce and baked goods to start the weekend. 👉 Get there before the good stuff's gone

Greeley Pride 2026 @ Aims Community College Welcome Center (Greeley) — 12–5pm — Greeley's Pride celebration with vendors and performances. 👉 Show up, show out

Raising of the 38-Star Flag Celebrating Colorado Statehood @ Mariano Medina Family Cemetery (Loveland) — 10–11am — A flag-raising marking Colorado statehood at the cemetery of one of the area's founding families. 👉 Pay your respects

Flag Day at Mariano Medina Family Cemetery @ Mariano Medina Family Cemetery (Loveland) — 10–11am — A second Flag Day observance at the same historic cemetery. 👉 Pay your respects

National Bourbon Day @ Sage Speakeasy & Lounge (Loveland) — 11am–10pm — A full day dedicated to bourbon at the speakeasy. 👉 Toast the day right

Buti Rave @ The Love Shack, Craft Mocktails (Loveland) — 7–9pm — A dance-and-movement rave built around mocktails instead of cocktails. 👉 Dance it out, stay clear-headed

OpenStage Theatre & Company's Midsummer Celebration Annual Fundraiser @ Center for Creativity (Fort Collins) — 3–7pm — OpenStage's annual fundraiser to keep local theater going. 👉 Support the show

Behind the Scenes: A Masterclass with the Dali String Quartet @ Fort Collins Welcome Center (Fort Collins) — 11am–1pm — A peek behind the curtain with the touring string quartet. 👉 Go behind the music

Craig Winston, Classical Guitar with Poet Michael P. Hill @ Avogadro's Number (Fort Collins) — 3–4:15pm — Classical guitar paired with spoken poetry. 👉 Words and strings together

Lane 8: TNH Ten – I Made You A New Mixtape @ Mishawaka Amphitheatre (Bellvue) — 5pm — A milestone tour stop for the electronic act, riverside. 👉 Lose yourself in it

Magic Sunset Series w/ Sheela Bringi and Elden Kelly @ Magic Rat (Fort Collins) — 3:30–6pm — A world-music sunset set from two touring musicians. 👉 Catch the magic hour

Charcuterie Picnic Horseback Ride @ Tattered Saddle (Fort Collins) — 12–1:30pm — A ride that ends in a charcuterie spread. 👉 Trot, then snack

Harp Seminar @ Griffin Concert Hall (Fort Collins) — 2:30pm — A seminar for harpists hosted by CSU's music school. 👉 Pluck up the courage

Wild Plant Connection: Plant Meditation & Medicinal Plant Walk @ Golden Poppy Herbal Apothecary & Clinic (Fort Collins) — 10–11:30am — A guided walk through medicinal plants with a meditation component. 👉 Walk it off, mindfully

Bettie Course: Via Ferrata @ KMAC Guides, Kent Mountain Adventure Center (Estes Park) — 9am–2pm — A guided via ferrata climb, fixed cables and all. 👉 Cling to the rock

Listening at the Legion Presents the Martin Gilmore Trio @ American Legion Post 119 (Estes Park) — 2–4pm — A listening-room set from the Martin Gilmore Trio. 👉 Lean in and listen

Live Music with John and the Berries @ Bogey's Sport Bar (Estes Park) — 3–5pm — Live music at the longtime Estes sports bar. 👉 Take your seat at Bogey's

Sunday Fun-Day! @ Snowy Peaks Winery (Estes Park) — 4–7pm — A Sunday wind-down at the winery. 👉 Wind down with wine

Sunday Dinner Live Music @ Lonigans (Estes Park) — 6–8pm — Live music with Sunday dinner at the Irish pub. 👉 Dinner and a show

Clay and Form: Artisan Kids Art Camp @ The Artisan Shop and Studio (Loveland) — 9:30am–12:30pm — A kids' clay camp at the Loveland market. 👉 Get hands-on

Wine Club Pick Up Party @ Sweet Heart Winery (Loveland) — 6–8pm — A pickup party for wine club members. 👉 Pick up and pour

Average Joe & Jane League: Summer @ Chipper's Lanes (Fort Collins) — 6:30–9:30pm — A summer bowling league for casual players. 👉 Roll with it

Education in Motion Summer Program @ Colorado State University School of the Arts (Fort Collins) — 8am–4:30pm — A professional development seminar for pK-12 educators. 👉 Sharpen the craft

Bella Metz @ The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern (Estes Park) — 5–8pm — Live music to close out the weekend, mountain-tavern style. 👉 Wind down with a tune