Granby, Colorado

A Brief History of Granby

Granby emerged as a railroad town in 1905 along David Moffat’s Denver, Northwestern & Pacific route. Its location connected rail passengers with the stage road north to Grand Lake and offered relatively dry ground for a new townsite. Lumbering and ranching helped sustain the early community, while a short-lived branch railway carried lumber and ore toward the main line. Over time, Granby also became a departure point for visitors exploring Middle Park. Increasing automobile travel along Highway 40 expanded that role, linking the railroad settlement’s early transportation advantages with its later growth as a mountain visitor center.