THE BUFFALO HERD
     

The City of Denver’s plan for a Mountain Park system began in earnest in 1911. The mayor of Denver, Robert Speer, and the Mountain Parks Committee, comprised of members of the Chamber of Commerce, the Denver Real Estate Exchange, and the Denver Motor Club, correctly predicted the eventual growth of the region and the need to preserve many of the areas prominent features for use by the citizens of the Denver area. Land acquisitions began in 1913. The first park land purchased was in Genesee Park. The major purposes of the park were to:

  • Preserve distant views from mountain tops.
  • Provide gently sloping land for recreational uses such as camping, hiking, picnicking, dining, lodging, and sightseeing.
  • Provide land for a game preserve.

The City of Denver inaugurated its game preserve in Genesee Park in 1914 with the three-fold idea of "adding to the picturesque character of the Mountain Parks, giving educational opportunities to those interested in zoology, and affording a recuperative resort for depleted zoo specimens." The primary focus of the preserve soon became to assist the Federal government in protecting Bison and Elk from extinction. Originally, seven Bison (Bison bison) were delivered to Genesee Park from the few remaining wild Bison in Yellowstone Park. The City of Denver has maintained this herd continuously since then.
 



In the 1930’s the City started another Bison herd at Daniels Park located in Douglas County. Approximately 24 adult cows and 2 bulls are kept in each herd. It is our intent to provide for the preservation of the Bison while allowing the public to freely observe these animals in a natural habitat.

To visit the herds from the Denver area, go west on Interstate 70 to the Genesee Park exit (exit 254). There is a tunnel under the freeway that the animals can go through so they may be on either side of the highway. To go to Daniels Park, take Interstate 25 south to Castle Pines Parkway (exit 188). Follow that road west to Daniels Park Road, then travel north on Daniels Park Road. The Bison may be on either side of the road. The animals can roam freely on large open areas, so you may not always see them in the summer months, but when we feed them daily in the late fall, winter and early spring, you will see them almost every day.

 



987½ Lookout Mountain Road, Golden, CO 80401 303.526.0744
30 minutes west of Denver on I-70, exit 256