Virginia Dale, Colorado – Overland Trail Ghost Town
Virginia Dale, Colorado, a place steeped in the history of the American West, stands as a testament to a bygone era. Nestled in Larimer County, this near-ghost town began its life as a vital stage station along the famed Overland Trail in 1862. Its story is one of westward expansion, daring stagecoach routes, and the rugged individuals who shaped the American frontier.
The Genesis of Virginia Dale
Before Virginia Dale became a bustling stage stop, the Cherokee Trail served as the primary artery through this region of the foothills. However, the landscape of transportation changed in 1862 when Ben Holladay, a prominent figure in the stagecoach industry, rerouted the Overland Stage Company’s line. Moving it southward from central Wyoming into Colorado, Holladay’s new route entered Colorado at Julesburg, near the Nebraska border. From there, it traced the Cache la Poudre River southwest to Latham before veering north again along the old Cherokee Trail, ultimately heading back into Wyoming through Virginia Dale. A branch line also extended south from Latham to Denver, a city experiencing rapid growth at the time.
Holladay entrusted the crucial task of establishing stage station locations to his most reliable men. Among them was Joseph "Jack" Slade, a name that would become synonymous with both competence and controversy. Slade selected a picturesque site in a grassy meadow beside a clear, flowing stream. In honor of his wife, he named the station Virginia Dale, and the stream itself later became known as Dale Creek.
A Vital "Home" Station
Virginia Dale was more than just a simple stop along the Overland Trail. It was designated as a "home" or "division" station, a significant distinction that offered travelers much-needed respite. Passengers could disembark from the stagecoach, enjoy a hearty meal, and even spend the night in a comfortable hotel. The station also provided essential services for the stage drivers, offering them food and sleeping quarters.
The station’s infrastructure was substantial. A large barn housed between 30 and 50 horses, which were kept in corrals or allowed to graze freely in the surrounding meadow. A blacksmith shop ensured that the stagecoaches remained in good repair, while well-stocked warehouses held a variety of supplies, including hay, grains, canned and dried fruits, and meats. These supplies were regularly transported to other stations in the district via supply wagons.
At these larger stations like Virginia Dale, both horses and drivers were exchanged, ensuring that the journey continued smoothly. Mail service and up to nine passengers passed through the station six days a week, highlighting its importance as a hub of communication and transportation.
The Complex Figure of Jack Slade
Jack Slade’s tenure as stage manager at Virginia Dale is a study in contrasts. While sober, he was known as an excellent manager, efficient and capable. However, Slade battled a drinking problem, which led to outrageous behavior. One infamous incident involved him shooting up a saloon in LaPorte, Colorado, for serving whiskey to his stage drivers.
Slade’s drinking ultimately led to his downfall. In November 1862, he was fired after a drunken shooting spree at nearby Fort Halleck, Wyoming. He and his wife left the area, eventually making their way to Virginia City, Montana. There, on March 10, 1864, Slade was lynched by local vigilantes for disturbing the peace during yet another drunken episode. Despite his flaws, Slade remains a significant figure in the history of Virginia Dale, forever linked to its origins.
A Hub of Activity and a Target for Outlaws
In 1863, escalating Indian conflicts to the north forced all east-west trail traffic to divert to the Overland Trail, further increasing Virginia Dale’s importance. According to historical accounts, it was not uncommon to see between 50 and 100 wagons, laden with merchandise and freight, encamped at the Virginia Dale station at any given time.
However, the increased traffic also attracted unwanted attention. The Overland Trail stage line became a frequent target for outlaws. The area around Virginia Dale offered numerous opportunistic hideouts, the most notable of which was Robbers Roost, located atop Table Mountain, just a mile northeast of the stage station.
Robbers Roost was an ideal hideout due to its difficult access. Its practically perpendicular cliffs and shale rim made it challenging to climb. The outlaws were so comfortable there that they even built a cabin on the summit.
One particularly daring robbery occurred in 1863 when a stagecoach carrying an army payroll of $60,000 (equivalent to approximately $1.2 million today) in gold coins was ambushed near Virginia Dale. The gold, intended as back pay for soldiers stationed at Fort Sanders, Wyoming, never reached its destination.
Six masked outlaws intercepted the stagecoach at Long View Hill, about a mile from the Virginia Dale Station. They seized the strongbox and fled west towards the wooded foothills. There, they broke open the box, removed the gold coins, and buried the treasure. However, their newfound wealth was short-lived. The U.S. Cavalry pursued and killed the bandits before they could spend any of the stolen money. The Cavalry later recovered the iron strongbox in a nearby creek, but the gold was never found, adding a layer of mystery and intrigue to the history of Virginia Dale.
A Place of Beauty and Notoriety
Despite its brushes with outlaws and violence, Virginia Dale also possessed a captivating natural beauty. In 1865, Samuel Bowles, the editor of the Massachusetts Republican, visited Virginia Dale and wrote glowingly of its charm:
"Virginia Dale deserves its pretty name. A pearly, lively-looking stream runs through a beautiful basin of perhaps one hundred acres, among the mountains – for we are within the entrances of one of the great hills – stretching away in smooth and rising pasture to nooks and crannies of the wooded range; fronted by rock embankment, and flanked by the snowy peaks themselves; warm with the June sun, and rare with an air into which no fetid breath has poured itself – it is difficult to imagine a loveable spot in Nature’s kingdom."
Bowles’ description captures the essence of Virginia Dale, a place where natural beauty and frontier history intertwined.
The Decline and Legacy of Virginia Dale
The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 marked the beginning of the end for the Overland Trail and stagecoach travel. Ben Holladay, recognizing the inevitable decline of the stagecoach business, shrewdly sold his route, equipment, and contracts to Wells Fargo in 1866. The overland mail continued for another two and a half years until the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads met at Promontory Point, Utah, effectively rendering stagecoach mail service obsolete.
While the stage station ceased operations in the spring of 1872, Virginia Dale continued to exist as a community. The station building served as a post office and general store. Settlers moved into the area, primarily engaging in ranching and dairying. A school was built in 1874, followed by a church in 1880.
Over the years, the stage station passed through several owners. In 1909, Emil Hurzeler constructed a new home on the property and operated the store and post office. However, in 1932, the post office was relocated to Highway 287, where a cafe and gas station also operated. These businesses eventually closed in the 1990s, and residents began receiving their mail from Livermore.
Today, Virginia Dale is considered a ghost town, although several ranchers still reside in the area. The community’s legacy is preserved in its historic buildings, most notably the old Overland Trail Stage Station. It stands as the only complete stagecoach station remaining along the Overland Trail, a tangible link to the past. The stage station and the Hurzeler House are owned and maintained by the Virginia Dale Community Club, ensuring that the history of this remarkable place is not forgotten.
Visiting Virginia Dale
Virginia Dale is located in northern Larimer County, approximately 45 miles northwest of Fort Collins and about four miles south of the Wyoming border on U.S. Highway 287. The stage station is situated at the end of County Road 43F, about one mile east of US 287. A monument marks the beginning of C.R. 43F. While the station is on private property, it can be viewed from the road, allowing visitors to glimpse into the past and imagine the bustling activity that once defined this historic site.
Virginia Dale, Colorado, stands as a poignant reminder of the Overland Trail era. Its well-preserved stage station, captivating history, and stunning natural surroundings make it a worthwhile destination for anyone interested in the American West.