Nathan Meeker, Robert A. Cameron, and H. T. West had Greeley planned before they even found the perfect location for a settlement. In 1869, they came to the Colorado Territory looking for an area to establish their dream town. This town was to be a utopia with educated, non-drinking, and religious town folk. With the ideal settler in mind, Nathan Meeker wrote an article for the New York Tribune asking for volunteers. Meeker handpicked 700 of the over 3,000 people who responded to the report. Each of these people paid $155 to join the settlement. The establishment of Greeley, Colorado, started in 1870 when the first of these settlers arrived in Weld County.
Greeley quickly adopted seven principles: faith, family, education, irrigation, temperance, agriculture, and home. With these principles established, schools, ditches, churches, and irrigation were the town's priority. These seven principles would guide every aspect of life in Greeley. Greeley was not declared an official city by Governor Benjamin Eaton until April 6, 1886.
The city has a rich history. During WWII, Greeley housed two prisoner-of-war camps. One of these camps was for German POWs, and the other was for Italian POWs. The German POWs were used to pull, thin, and pick crops. Greeley's history also includes the oldest orchestra west of the Mississippi.
Even though temperance in Greeley ended in 1969, the city still holds the seven principles as a priority. Greeley now has a population of over 112,000, with a wide array of activities available for visitors. These activities include the Colorado Model Railroad Museum, the Poudre River Trail, the Pawnee National Grassland, the Centennial Village Museum, and Glenmere Park.
Superhero Fun Run – Every year in September, PDC Energy sponsors this fundraiser for Life Stories Child and Family Advocacy. If interested, you can choose between a 10k, 5k, one mile, or a kid's run.
Thompson River Ranch Fall Festival – This festival happens every October near Johnstown. You can enjoy live music, horse rides, wagon rides, food vendors, pumpkins, and more.
Homesteader's Holiday – Centennial Village Museum hosts this fantastic holiday celebration at the beginning of December each year. All the historic houses in the museum are decorated for this special occasion. You can enjoy candle dipping, holiday crafts, music, food, and more.
A short 54-mile trip from Greeley will take you to the Rocky Mountain National Park. This national park spans the Continental Divide, so water on the west side goes to the Pacific, and on the east goes to the Gulf of Mexico. This park covers 415 square miles, including mountains, forests, and the alpine tundra. Visitors worldwide come to the park for Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road. You can also enjoy scenic drives, hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, picnicking, camping, ranger-led programs, and fishing.
If you head south 297 miles, you will reach the Great Sand Dunes National Park near Alamosa, Colorado. This national park is known for the Star Dune and other towering dunes. During the spring, the snow melts off the nearby Sangre de Cristo mountains, creating the seasonal Medano Creek. A short hike takes visitors to the beautiful Zapata Falls outside the park. While in the park, you can enjoy hiking, backpacking, sandboarding, sand sledding, photography, and horseback riding.
Heading north 296 miles brings you to the Wind Cave National Park. Visitors come to this park to explore the vast, underground Wind Cave. With chambers such as the Post Office and Elks Room, this cave system is considered one of the longest and most complex in the world. The park offers pet-friendly hikes, exploration of the cave's natural entrance, biking, and wildlife watching.
Boyd Lake State Park is located near Loveland, Colorado. With over 334 acres and a sizable lake, the park offers a lot of outdoor fun, including fishing, camping, picnicking, hiking, biking, and hunting.
A trip south will take you to the 2,411-acre Jackson Lake State Park near Wiggins, Colorado. Enjoy a variety of activities, including ATVing, hiking, biking, bird watching, boating, hunting, ice skating, wildlife viewing, fishing, and four-wheeling.
Cherry Creek State Park near Denver includes an 880-acre reservoir. During the summer, it is one of the most visited parks in the state. The natural prairie and wetland environment provides an escape from downtown city life. You can try model airplane flying, horseback riding, and a family shooting range.
The Stanley Hotel in nearby Estes Park is one of Colorado's top landmarks and monuments. The hotel inspired the best-selling novel The Shining by Stephen King, causing it to become one of the most famous haunted locations in the country.
Another famous landmark is the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in nearby Denver. This open-aired theater is home to numerous concerts. It also has an 868-acre park surrounding the theater.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Meeker Home Museum dates back to 1870. This tiny home was built to be the private residence of Nathan Meeker, one of the founders of Greeley.
Fort Collins Lakeside KOA is an excellent RV park and campground choice. This park has a chuckwagon, a rec room, bumper boats, a fitness trail, and a pool.
Another option is the Horsetooth Reservoir. This site offers full hookups, 30- and 50-amp connections, pull-through sites, and showers.
Lake John Resort has the best fishing in northern Colorado. They also have pull-through sites with 30- and 50-amp connections.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Greeley, CO, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Greeley?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Greeley from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Greeley?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
