Journal 4: From Battlefield to Backwoods: Homesteader John L. Powell

The wind tugged at John Powell’s coat as he surveyed the land just north of Cuchara. It wasn’t much, just forest, rock, and possibility. But to a Civil War veteran with nothing but grit and a government promise, it looked like the future. 

Journal 5: John Vories and the Beginnings of Pinehaven

John Vories had big dreams.(1) He envisioned turning the rugged land into a peaceful resort, but lacked the funds to bring it to life. However, he began planning and working with what little he had. His first project? Designing a cabin area on a scenic hill overlooking what was then just a dirt road, now known as Highway 12. 

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.

Journal 9: Country Road Take Me Home

How did a wilderness mountainside with narrow trails for roads evolve into a thriving cabin community?  This is the remarkable story of Pinehaven’s transformation from an untamed wilderness to a modern mountain cabin community. But it all started with a dirt road we now call Highway 12. 

Journal 34: Four Faces of Pinehaven

Just as Mount Rushmore’s four presidents represent foundational eras and ideals in American history, Pinehaven has been shaped and sustained by four remarkable individuals. Each one has left their own enduring imprint on its story.  Let's take a look at who they are and why they matter.