We may be biased, but we think that the Centennial State is home to the best state parks in the nation, so whenever we hear that there is a new one in the works, we cannot help but share! Even more exciting? Colorado’s newest state park may just be one of its most unique, as it will share a location with this historic ghost town:

Welcome to the northeast Colorado community of Dearfield, which was founded in 1910 and was once the most prominent black homesteading settlement in the state.
Google Maps
At its peak, Dearfield was home to 700+ residents who relocated from across the country, plus churches, a school, a restaurant, and a net worth of $1M+. 
Flickr/TradingCardsNPS
Sadly, like many other communities of its time, Dearfield would experience incredible hardships during the Great Depression, causing the once prosperous agriculture town to fold and become all but deserted by the late 1940s.
Flickr/TradingCardsNPS

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When you visit today, you will find the remnants of what used to be, including a few empty homes and businesses and a historical marker with a few details about the town's history.
Wikimedia Commons/Hustvedt
Thanks to its important and fascinating past, the ghost town is at the center of the Dearfield Study Act, which calls upon the Department of the Interior to study the town to see if it qualifies to become the next Colorado state park!
Flickr/Bob Conner
As per a press release from Senator Michael Bennett's office, the Dearfield Study Act will serve many purposes, including evaluating the significance of the site, determining the sustainability and feasibility of the designation, considering other forms of preservation, consulting with the correct agencies and organizations, and identifying costs.
Wikimedia Commons/Hustvedt
The Dearfield Study Act has up to three years to share its findings with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee.
Wikimedia Commons/Hustvedt

For even more must-visit state parks, click on This State Park In Colorado Is So Little Known, You’ll Practically Have It All To Yourself.

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