Journal 7: Lower Slopes Development and Filing #1

By the early 1950s, John C. Vories had decided to move on from Huerfano County. He offered to sell the resort land he had begun developing to his longtime friend, Steve Pierotti, for $3,700. Pierotti would become the most influential person to shape Pinehaven’s future.

After payment terms were arranged, Steve took the reins of the Pinehaven vision and would develop the subdivision by platting in two stages (Filings #1 and #2).

Steve wasted no time expanding. Filing # 1 covered the area just below what is now Road 405. He laid out more cabin lots, shaping the foundation of the Pinehaven community.

Originally, the entrance road to Pinehaven was designed to slope gradually from a higher point on the hill where cabin #42 now stands. But one owner bought a lot and decided to build a bit lower for a better view. Rather than cause conflict, Steve adjusted the road layout, sacrificing two planned lot spaces to accommodate the change. While this led to some boundary confusion in later years, the continued use of Road 401 has since settled any legal questions. This kind of neighborly civility has become part of the culture of Pinehaven. 

Original development (Pinehaven Filing #1) under John Vories

Once the road was set and cabins began to rise, the resort started to take shape, and as word spread, new faces began arriving to build their own retreats. 

Throughout the 1970s–90s, Pinehaven Filing #1 properties were owned by individual families as summer cabins. The area remained unincorporated county land, with zoning for residential/recreational use. During these decades, the property higher up on the mountain were still undeveloped land. (1)

← Return to Table of Contents

1. Author’s note: In preparing this article, the author used AI-assisted tools for research support, proofreading, fact-checking, and stylistic refinement. The narrative, analysis, and historical interpretations are the author’s own, and responsibility for accuracy rests solely with the author. The blog’s research methodology statement is available at:

https://cabininthepinescuchara.blogspot.com/2019/03/methodology-sources-and-use-of-research.html