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Cabins at East Portal get historic designation

Wes Isenhart
Posted 5/26/23

The Historic Preservation Commission of Gilpin County met at the Gilpin County Courthouse on May 18 at 6 p.m. for their monthly meeting.

After approving the minutes from the April 20 meeting,

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Cabins at East Portal get historic designation

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The Historic Preservation Commission of Gilpin County met at the Gilpin County Courthouse on May 18 at 6 p.m. for their monthly meeting.

After approving the minutes from the April 20 meeting, the commission took up consideration of an application by B. Travis Wright, who is the vice-chair of the commission, asking the commission for a local historic designation by the Gilpin County Commissioners, by passing Historic Preservation Commission Action LM-23-1. The application seeks to have the five remaining cabins in what used to be the town of East Portal next to the Moffat Tunnel. The cabins are within the confines of the Denver, Northwestern Pacific Union Railroad Historic District, which was listed on the National Register in September 1980.

The local historic designation would give the commission a third level review of any proposals to demolish them. Union Pacific owns the cabins, but the Forest Service owns the land. Wright also identified other benefits of a local historic designation. Wright wrote, “The benefits of landmark designation include but are not limited to eligibility for grants - acquisition, restoration, rehabilitation, preservation, survey, education, etc.; tax credits, formal recognition, and more.”

Wright was the only person testifying before the Commission on the motion. He read a prepared statement that can be viewed at https:// www.preserverollinspass.org/aboutus/historic-preservation/east-portalcamp-cabins/east-portal-camp-cabins-gilpin-county-historic-landmark/. Wright is a preservation commissioner. One of the accomplishments of the Commission during his tenure has been the announcement by Colorado Preservation, Inc., that the five remaining cabins at the East Portal of the Moffat Tunnel are one of Colorado’s “Most Endangered Sites” for 2020. He was interviewed and featured within the documentary about this effort.

There was no reply by the cabin owners, Union Pacific.

During public comments on the application, all the speakers were in favor of the recommendation. After public comments, the commissioners voted unanimously in favor of Historic Preservation Commission Action LM-23-1. The motion and favorable recommendation will be presented to the Gilpin County commissioners at their June 13 meeting.

After the vote and additional comments, the board adjourned at 7 p.m. James Shrout (jshrout@giplincounty.org) is the county liaison for the commission and the person to contact with questions about the commission or this action.