The resort was originally called "Budges." Construction was started in 1928. Materials were brought in on pack animals from down river, over Blair Mountain and down Wagon Wheel Trail. Hike the trail behind Cabin #1 and see what an exciting experience that must have been. Old timers tell us that the trail got it's name from the wheels of broken down wagons left at the top of the trail. After you take your hike, you'll understand why wagons didn't survive the trip.

The present bunk house was the first building constructed at the resort. It was then called the wash house. The first cabin built is the present day manager's cabin, the one on the left as you look south from the main lodge. The storage cabin was probably next on the building schedule. Originally it was two small buildings. The center part was actually a third storage cabin and was added later.

The Club House (main lodge) was built in the early 1930's, according to George Letson, nephew of Elvis Benson. Elvis operated the resort for many years for his father-in-law, Ed Budge, the creator of the resort. Elvis's picture can be seen on the fireplace of the present lodge. The Budge's and Benson's are remembered fondly by former guest, and it's an education to hear the stories that are related about the early camp activities. Quoting from perhaps the first resort brochure, "This is the country of Teddy Roosevelt's famous hunt. It is accessible by pack outfit only, being from 15 to 25 miles from the nearest roads." (We've heard several versions of Teddy's expedition...can't document any, so let your imagination be your guide). Again quoting from that early brochure, "The Resort is situated twenty-five miles from Glenwood Springs, Colorado, a very pretty summer and health resort on the Denver & Rio Grand Western Railroad, from which you can be met with saddled horse or you may go to Meeker, Colorado, a thriving inland town of about 1,000 population, situated in the fertile valley of White River, up which you travel 35 miles to the end of the South Fork road, where accommodations are made for your car. The rest of the trip is made on horseback (15 miles) through the beautiful South Fork Canyon. We are under National Forest supervision. This is our opening year and have only a limited number of cabins, so I am booking reservations now for Summer 1931. For further particulars, write ED BUDGE."

We're told that the bath tub that now serves as a water trough in the corral once was in the present day cook's cabin and provided the bathing opportunity for those in camp. The last cabin (#7) was constructed in 1947 or 1948. George Letson remembers bringing in a saw on 3 pack animals, reassembling it in the center part of the resort, and using it to cut firewood.

You might like to rummage around the "cave" north of the lodge, toward the South Fork of the White River. The cave used to have double doors, and shelves for winter storage of food. Supplies went down on pack animals from the storage cabins to the dugout. It looks like a fire occurred at some point, and caused a cave-in. So much for that storage method!

South of the resort, tucked in behind a small clearing are the remains of a log cabin. The chiseled sign over the long unused door declares "Trails End Cabin." Ruth Benson, Elvis's sister-in-law, told a tale of the cabin's builder...a man who ran away to the wilderness with his female companion. Quite a drastic step to escape who knows what!!

There used to be a car bridge over the river, built in the 40's. It was replaced with the foot bridge when the Flat Tops Primitive Area was established.

The "Sky Ghosts" (dead trees) are the result of a bark beetle infestation which hit the area in '39, lasting until the early 50's. causing tremendous damage to the Engleman Spruce; 97% of the forest was destroyed...over 90,000 acres.

Budge's parking lot was at Deep Lake into the 60's, according to stories told by Bishe Davis, who herded sheep in the area. What a significant difference when the last 8 miles of road was constructed! The present road, rough as it is, must have seemed like a super highway to those who traveled the original trail.

Recent additions to the resort are the fresh food cooler, two tack rooms and a restroom facility near the lodge. The main effort of the present owner is to maintain and preserve the original flavor of the resort.

The elevation of the White River Resort is about 9,000 feet. The Flat Tops Wilderness Area where the resort is situated is composed of 235,230 acres of northwest Colorado and constitutes most of the White River Plateau. The Flat Tops Primitive Area was converted into the Flat Tops Wilderness Area when President Ford signed the first wilderness bill of the 94th Congress on December 12, 1975.

Elevations in the area range between 9,000' and 12,000'. There are many trails leading from the resort to high meadows and dark timber, where deer and elk abound. Cutthroat, brookies and rainbow trout thrive in the rivers and high lakes. Wild flowers are at their peak in July, and are a sight to behold! Always take your camera along.

The brief discussion of W.R.R. history and "folk lore" barely scratches the surface. Many people return year after year. They're the real history of the resort. Hopefully someone like that will be here during your visit. Don't hesitate to ask questions, they generally love to share their resort memories.

*Definition of Wilderness from the 88th Congress 1964 Wilderness Act:

"A Wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. An area of wilderness is further defined to mean in this act an area of undeveloped federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvement or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which (1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable, (2) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation, (3) has at least 5,220 acres of land or is of sufficient size as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition, and (4) may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic or historical value." (One of our most secure classifications for federal land. A primitive area is an "administrated" rather than a "legislated" classification.)