Horsetooth Reservoir Archeological Investigations

Historic Maps of Stout

Stout boarding house, post office and general store (Call No. X-13706).

Stout depot, boarding house, and quarry (Call No. X-13708).	Ruins of Stout boarding house in 1928 (Call no. X-13704).

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Yes and no — that's the answer to the question of “Is the town of Stout somewhere Horsetooth Reservoir as it appeared in 2000. under the reservoir?”

I have been doing archeological research at Horsetooth Reservoir since 1990. During this time, many people have claimed that foundations from the town of Stout become visible at times when the water is low. As an archeologist, it is my job to investigate these claims and solve these types of mysteries.
Horsetooth Reservoir as it appeared in 2002. We needed to learn more about Stout, so we conducted historic research in Fort Collins, Loveland and the Denver Public Library. We found that Stout was established in 1882 as a post office, boarding house, and general store. It was associated with nearby sandstone quarries that were leased from the Union Pacific Railroad by William H. B. Stout. We also learned that the location of this site is on private property to the south of the reservoir.

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We located Stout on a 1908 USGS topographic map. But, this location does not correspond with the location of the ruins to the south of the reservoir.

Portion of 1908 Fort Collins USGS topographic map showing Stout.

As the Bureau acquired land and prepared to build Horsetooth Reservoir in the 1940s, they made detailed topographic maps of the area. These maps show several buildings at the location shown on the 1908 map as Stout.

1940s plans of area shown on 1908 map as Stout.

1940s plan of area shown on 1908 map as Stout.