Hot Sulphur Springs was originally a summer campground and spiritual meeting place for the Ute Indians who
came for the hot springs. The town was established in 1860, making it the oldest town in the county and
originally named it Saratoga West or Warm Springs by William Newton Byers, founder of the Rocky Mountain
News. Byers wanted to make it a spa and resort town so he surveyed, platted and named the streets to the
city. In 1863 the name was changed to reflect the hot springs in the area that were used for medicinal
purposes. When Grand County was formed, Hot Sulphur Springs was the first county seat from 1874 to 1882,
after which it moved to Grand Lake. The county seat returned in 1888 and has been here ever since. The town
was incorporated on April 1st, 1903. The Denver Northwestern and Pacific railroad arrived in 1905 and soon the
tourists were able to come and enjoy the springs. The Byers original family cabin still exists to this day and is
located at 204 Byers Avenue, along what is now Highway 40.
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