William Ferguson
About "Uncle Bill"
William Ferguson was born in 1900 and spent his first 18 years on a Kansas wheat farm. His interest in nature began as he explored his boyhood farm and it was during those years that he found and developed his interest in the observation of nature's way.
As a young man, he traveled to study cartooning at the Academy of Fine Arts in Chicago. He left school to draw a daily front page cartoon and a comic strip for a group of papers known as the The Corn Belt Farm Dailies. Wildlife, conservation and nature lore were frequent topics in both the front page carton, and the comic strip, the latter, knows as "The Beekins", being the only farm cartoon strip published daily. In addition, William Ferguson originated This Curious World, an educational cartoon syndicated to hundreds of newspapers in the U.S. and Canada by the NEA Service. He was also the featured cartoonist for The Drover Journal, a monthly magazine that claimed to be the oldest livestock/agriculture publication in the U.S. where he was known invariably for showing a very pleasing sympathy with the farmers' problems. William also authored a book called Nature's Wonder Book, a 125-page collection of stories and pictures he drew which included about every species imaginable, copyrighted in 1928.
Outside of cartooning, Uncle Bill's combined interest in natural history and photography resulted in making thousands of feet of color movies of wildlife subjects and beginning in 1947, he traveled six to 10 weeks each winter under the auspices of the National Audubon Society showing films to wildlife and nature audiences throughout North America.
Married to wife, Evelyn, they lived in Omaha during the winter months with their daughter, Mary. Every summer, the three would head for Colorado, where Bill would continue drawing his cartoons as a close neighbor to the wildlife of the foothills and snow-capped peaks inside his art studio located above the garage. Mary was also an avid birder, and almost from the time she could write kept a "life list" of every new species of bird she identified. Mary studied ornithology under Dr. Olin Sewall Pettinggill, one of Americas foremost authors on birds. Sadly, Mary passed away at the young age of 44.
It's been told that Bill and Evelyn had first choice of land when the High Drive area was developed in the early 20's. Bill drew much of the plans, oversaw the construction, and created much of the woodwork, furniture and personal touches throughout the cabin.
Uncle Bill was one of three Ferguson boys and Don Ferguson's uncle. Don was also an avid bird-watcher. As Ferguson kids, we recall fond memories of Aunt Evelyn entertaining us inside with wonderful meals and outside feeding the chipmunks, while Don and Bill couldn't set down their binoculars when that dinner bell rang!
Photo Gallery
Wildlife
Things to Do and See in Estes Park
· Take the tram up…see all of Estes from above and feed the squirrels (buy a bag of peanuts at the gift shop there or bring your own). They will take those peanuts out of your hand!
· Ride horses...The YMCA of the Rockies (Jackson Stables) is our favorite place to rent horses to ride. They have several options for beginners (including ponies for kids) and options for longer rides that climb for advanced riders. They also have evening hayrides, some with cookouts. Call them for details and dates….great family fun.
· There are lots of breweries now in Estes Park. Just to name a few...
Estes Park Brewery, Rockcut Brewery, Lumpy Ridge Brewery and one of our preferred spots to sit outside and sip is the Avant Garde Ale Works or The Barrel. Many have outdoor food trucks and some have indoor dining. If you are headed to the Estes Park Brewery, be sure to do some sampling and don't forget to try their root beer!
· Take a hike…wonderful hike just several hours up, one down to three lakes completely gorgeous, all different, very scenic hike which kids can do. Start at Bear Lake (in Rocky Mountain Park) and hike to Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and to Emerald Lake. Be sure to pack snacks and a lunch (or go to the deli at the grocery store down the hill for a sack lunch) for when you get to the highest lake. Watch out…birds will swoop food out of your hands! The hike to Lily Lake, Cub Lake, and Bierstadt are also favorites!
· From the cabin, you can climb to Deer Mountain and back without having to drive into the park! Walk down the cabin driveway, turn right, and walk to the end of the road and before you get to the park gate, look up to your right and venture up…you’ll find a zig zag trail that takes you to the top! It is steep and not necessarily for beginners, but not too tough.
· Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is just out your front door! You can always have a leisurely picnic and stroll at either Sprague Lake or Bear Lake (easy, short hike). Also, don’t forget to visit the Beaver Meadows Visitor’s Center. There are many informative programs offered throughout RMNP. You will get a seasonal guide when you enter the park that will list subjects, times, locations, and dates.
· Definitely do the drive up to the top of Trail Ridge Road. Go into the Visitor’s Center; can also drive down the other side to Grand Lake…fun town to visit and do things…definitely a day trip if you go to Grand Lake. Otherwise, you can get up and down Trail Ridge in 1-2 hours dependent upon traffic and how long you stay up at the top. Plan for cooler weather up there…way up there!
NOTE: You must purchase park passes in advance to enter the Rocky Mountain National Park during daytime hours. For details, go to recreation.gov. Enter RMNP in the search bar and click on the Timed Entry cue.
· No suggestions on whitewater rafting; ask locals at the sports/hiking shops for their opinions. Can pick up ideas at the Chamber Visitor’s Center. Fly fishing excursions can be arranged through Kirk's Fly Shop.
· Something also fun for kids…Dick's Rock Shop or visit glassblower just west of downtown. Adults love these places too!
· Always worth seeing is the Stanley Hotel; site of Stephen King’s The Shining. People seem to really love their ghost tours. Make a reservation early.
· There are two theatre locations – Stanley Village (by Safeway) and downtown. We highly recommend that you watch the 100 years of Rocky Mountain National Park DVD copy at the cabin. It is one of Nick Molle's great film that showcases all the beautiful scenery and wildlife, plus provides lots of history of RMNP -- worth watching! It is also saved on the DVD list on the TV. Please do not delete because we watch it over and over!
· For Fido, there is a dog park near the fairgrounds…lots of fun and it is free! Some of the breweries will allow you to bring your dog on their outside patios.
· The new Estes Park Recreation Center is open to the public pool for those interested in grabbing a workout or taking the kids for an indoor swim (located near the fairgrounds).
· For swimming, you can also travel to nearby Loveland – there is a free outdoor swim beach located on Lake Loveland, there is an outdoor pool (Winona), plus the Chilson Recreation Center has an indoor pool with many play features for kids too.
· There is an Estes Park Visitor's Center in town with loads of information or check out the events calendar online. There’s always an array of shows, exhibits, concerts, etc. either downtown, at the fairgrounds, or at the new concert pavilion west of town. And just going downtown is a favorite activity enjoyed by all. Don't miss the world-famous taffy shop and Laura's has the best treats ever!
The Best Eateries
Restaurants are everywhere and change yearly it seems. But here are some of our suggestions:
Our favorite place hands down is The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern...just a quick car ride towards the park. Great happy hour, great food, great drinks, great music and a local hangout too! Other good eateries close by include Boss Burgers and Gyros -- they serve really good hamburgers, elk burgers, gyros, chicken sandwiches, etc. Great garlic fries too and they offer drive-through service. Also across the street from Boss Burgers, inside the Sinclair gas station, is a great burger joint called Fresh Burger Stop -- great burgers and also has a drive-through! You can order at both places online and pick up your orders!
Everyone seems to love the infamous Dunraven Inn, a moderately priced Italian restaurant in a romantic setting that offers a great steak and seafood menu too! The Dunraven Inn moved recently (Summer 2020) and is now located in the Estes Park Lodge on the east side of town.
Further away -- a short drive down Hwy. 7 -- is the historic Seven Keys Lodge, formerly known as the Baldpate Inn -- great food and cocktail options can be found on their website as their menu has changed with the new ownership. Be sure to look for Uncle Bill's drawing of the Baldpate "Seven Keys" hanging next to the front door! They have a great key museum not to be missed and its a nice scenic drive! Nearby Mary’s Lake Lodge sadly burned down several year's ago but it is said to be rebuilding soon!
There are four restaurants that are close by to the cabin including Bird & Jim's (formerly the Sundeck), Dave's BBQ, and The Wayfinder. Could be long waits because of their popularity but the Wayfinder is a great place for breakfast, lunch and dinner with typically minimal wait times. We still love the Sweet Basil over by the slide -- consistently good italian food and pizza. And we recommend the pizza at the Estes Park Brewery -- a family friendly place just down the road too! We also recommend the Grubsteak and the Wapiti Grill -- all on the west end of downtown. Poppy's Pizza & Grill is located on the east side of downtown and has a variety of menu choices and truly good homemade meals. Also on the east end of town is the Stanley Hotel. It's a bit pricey but a must, at least once! Many visitors just like to go see the hotel and have a drink and appetizers. For a less expensive option and a good steak, check out Nicky's Resort -- over on the Fall River side, on Fall River road. Entertainment is usually offered on Thursday nights on the patio and inside the bar on weekends. Also worth mentioning is Cousin Pat's over by the fairgrounds -- good pizza, calzones, burgers, etc. and their claim to fame is the best margarita in Estes Park!
Lots of "mexican" places to dine...Ed's Cantina is one of the best happy hour spots (great prices for happy hour snacks and excellent margaritas) and Ed's has a nice dining patio on the creek. Casa Grande serves decent Mexican food and can accommodate large parties. These are also on the east side of downtown. We typically choose El Mex-Kal for their authentic menu and reasonable prices and there is not usually a wait (located on Hwy. 7).
Breakfasts can’t be beat at the Wayfinder (great choices) Longhorn Restaurant (great pancakes) or Notchtop Bakery (great egg dishes and broad selection of breakfast items). All are good places for lunch too. Take out is great from Notchtop and they have lots of baked goodies and smoothies. Many recommend Claire's too!
And of course there's nothing like making a good hearty late morning breakfast or grilling outdoors early evening at the cabin. The view is incredible and better than anywhere in town!
A wonderful vacation awaits!
GUESTS RETURN YEAR AFTER YEAR!
INCREDIBLE SIGHTS TO SEE!
STEEPED IN HISTORY!
MOUNTAINS ARE CALLING AND I MUST GO!
Guest Instructions
Parking/Garage/Studio
You can park anywhere on the driveway or to the side of the garage. We ask that the garage and studio remain locked; these areas are not for guest use. Do not attempt to enter and please keep children and other family members away from steps.
Entrance/Keys
There are two primary entrance doors, a door on both the east and west sides of the cabin. The guest key ring sent to you has one key on the ring that fits each lock on both doors. PLEASE NOTE: you can lock yourself out of the west door unless the inside doorknob lock is turned to the unlocked position. To prevent this, keep your guest key ring with you when leaving the cabin. Upon your vacation departure, with the exception of your guest key, please hang all cabin keys in the kitchen pantry. The guest key you received in the mail prior to your arrival should be returned no later than two weeks past your date of departure in the envelope (pre-addressed to Julie Burton), which you received initially when keys were sent to you - unless other arrangements have been made.
Other Keys
Upon your arrival, inside you should find two extra keys, each on a red tag key fob, which are labeled DEADBOLT KEYS. These keys can be used to lock up from inside the cabin in the evenings. You will also find an entire master set of cabin keys hanging in the kitchen pantry. These keys should remain inside the cabin. Also, please keep these out of the reach of small children; the master key chain has skeleton keys attached, which would enable small children to lock themselves in a bedroom or closet.
Sleeping quarters
The cabin comfortably sleeps six people. One bedroom has a queen-size bed; the other bedroom has a full-size bed. There is also a new queen-sized sleeper sofa in the living room and a full-size futon in the sun porch. For those with children, the fully enclosed sun porch is perfect for a child or small person.
Water
The cabin’s primary water source is a private water source for which we must pay an annual fee and monthly charges according to usage. The water is safe for all uses including drinking. Please be considerate and conserve water whenever possible. “Public” water is a valued and extremely expensive resource in this area.
Fireplace /Furnace/Hot water heater
A fire is wonderful for the cool Rocky Mountain evenings. Firewood is available for purchase at local grocery and convenience stores. Any firewood should be kept/stacked outside the cabin and we encourage you to use any firewood first left by previous guests. To open the fireplace flue, reach up inside the fireplace and pull the lever toward you. Please make sure the flue is closed when the fireplace is not in use and when you leave so that we don’t have any uninvited little “visitors”. In case of a fire emergency, there is a fire extinguisher to the left side of the fireplace.
The cabin is not insulated but is heated by propane gas. The thermostat is located on the dining room wall and the heat is vented through the large floor vent from the furnace located under the house. Be careful not to walk over the vent when the furnace is running, because the vent gets very hot and will burn your feet! (Please point this out to members of your family, especially children). There is an additional wall vent in the back bedroom that must open to share warm airflow. There are also portable floor heaters stored in the living room closet, if needed. When away from the cabin and when departing, please unplug/turn off/store heaters and turn the wall thermostat to 50 degrees.
The gas hot water heater is located in the kitchen pantry closet. If necessary, you may adjust the temperature. If adjusted, please turn setting down prior to vacation departure. Check it upon your arrival to be sure you have a good supply of hot water.
Linens
The cabin is fully furnished. Prior to your arrival, all linens including bed, bath, and kitchen linens should be freshly laundered and beds made. Towels are located in the linen closet in the bathroom. Additional bed linens are in enclosed tubs in the west bedroom closet along with extra blankets and pillows, if needed.
Often, the next guest party will be scheduled to arrive later on the day of your departure. It is important that fresh linens are provided for each group of guests using the cabin. The beds used should be remade with clean sheets. Note, there are sufficient # of sheet sets available at the cabin and you can choose to utilize the drop-off laundry service should your departure plans not allow you sufficient time to visit the Laundromat. See the next section for information regarding pre-pay laundry services. You might also choose to pack and use your own personal sheets/towels during your stay.
Laundry Facilities/Laundry Service
The closest do-it-yourselfLaundromat is located next door to the grocery store at Beaver’s Point (Mary’s Lake Road and Hwy 36 -- diagonal to Bird & Jim's). This is a typical laundromat where you can use all machines at once and wait for your laundry. For those wanting to do their laundry, this is close by the cabin and they have a change machine. You can also purchase detergent there or next door at the grocery store.
CHANGE: This is the last year that drop-off services are offered at Dad's Laundry, which is located in the Safeway complex. Drop-off laundromats are convenient and the majority of guests pre-pay and drop off all cabin laundry (sheets, towels, linens, and bedspreads or blankets if dirty) at Dad's Laundry upon their departure. Drop off is a more expensive option ($2 to 2.50/pound) than if you do your own laundry at the other laundromat. In 2023, we will be switching drop-off services to Village Laundry located at 172 S. St. Vrain Avenue (Highway 7).
If you utilize drop-off laundry service, there are enough linens for beds, bath and kitchen for the next guest. You must drop your used linens when leaving, pre-pay by the pound and provide the name “FERGUSON” for pick-up. Please coordinate this in advance with Julie so the next guest can pick-up your laundry and to ensure laundry is not left for long periods of time. Also, please check once during your stay to see if there is any laundry to be picked up. All pick-ups should be pre-paid. We simply ask you pick-up what has been left and put away at the cabin at your convenience.
Maid Service
Advance arrangements may be made for maid service, which includes housecleaning and all linen/laundry services. There is a charge for this service and services must be arranged a minimum of one month prior to your arrival, if available. We discourage this due to the high cost and potential scheduling problems created for the next guest.
General Cabin Cleaning
It is our policy that the cabin is cleaned prior to your departure. In order to ensure cabin cleanliness for all guests, a “Departure Reminder Checklist” is posted at the cabin inside the pantry door and is also listed on our website. Upon your arrival, if there are any problems regarding cleanliness or items in need of maintenance or repair, please call to report the problem ASAP so we may respond immediately.
A vacuum cleaner and iron/ironing board is located in the living room closet. Inside the closet, there is a small door with a latch that holds the ironing board. We do ask that you empty the vacuum cleaner container into the trash prior to putting back into the closet.
Telephone
The cabin phone number is 970/586-4836. There are two telephones, one in the living room and one in the front bedroom. Local calls include Estes Park, Allenspark, Ft. Collins, and Loveland. Calls to Denver and Boulder are long-distance. For calls outside the calling area, please plan to use your cell phone or make 1-800 calls. If you must call the owners in case of an emergency or if you have questions, please feel free to call their numbers directly.
Mail delivery
The only mail delivery is available through the main post office in downtown Estes Park. Packages and letters should be sent to:
Your Name, General Delivery, Estes Park, CO 80517
To receive mail or packages sent by U.S. Mail, you can go to the post office, give them your name, and inform them it was sent to General Delivery.
Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is available. Look for FERGIEBUNKPORT - 5g. The key code is the same as the cabin telephone # -- 9705864836.
Overnight or Shipping Services
For UPS or other services, the cabin street location is 2161 Upper High Drive. Packages may be received or shipped from the UPS store located in the Safeway Shopping Center (Stanley Village). Note: if you are having something shipped to you, there will possibly be a pick-up fee at the UPS Store.
Wildlife
The chipmunks and ground squirrels, which you will see frequently, are harmless. These little guys can be fed nuts and wild seeds purchased at stores; children can have fun feeding them. A nice place to watch them eat is on the outdoor fireplace area. Note, we do not hang hummingbird feeders at the cabin anymore due to the fact the feeders attract bears!
In previous years, we have been experiencing problems with woodpeckers. Should you hear woodpeckers against the outside walls of the cabin, please do not place food out for critters and also notify Julie immediately so she can suggest a remedy as they can be very damaging to the cabin exterior.
Attention: Guests with small children! You will want to supervise your little ones at all times as the terrain is fairly rugged. Also, the Rocky Mountain wild animals have grown accustomed to people and often the deer and elk wander close to the cabin (especially late in the season.) It is illegal to feed the wildlife and these larger animals should not be attempted to be given any type feed or disturbed. Coyotes will come close to the cabin at night, so pets and children should be indoors with you and should not be left unattended.
Special note: To our knowledge, there have never been any incidents around the area with coyotes, bobcats, and bears but an incident in the park several years ago involved an attack by a mountain lion. Also, a mountain lion, bobcat, and a bear with cubs have been seen in the High Drive area. Bears have been reported in the vicinity over the past 15 years.
Outside Fires
There is a portable charcoal grill located on the back porch behind the kitchen - haul it out to picnic area onto the slate patio area; please put it back when you vacate, once it is cooled. You must use extreme caution about setting outside fires. Colorado is very dry in the summer months and ground fires can ignite quickly with the area’s pine needles and brush cover. Please pay attention to the fire hazards/bans posted at the entrances to the National Parks. For your safety, if fire danger is moderate or high and bans are posted, do not grill outdoors. PLEASE CLEAN YOUR GRILL PRIOR TO STORAGE.
Trash Service
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DISPOSAL OF YOUR TRASH. Stores and retail outlets strictly enforce policies prohibiting trash dumping. Trash may be dropped off at the Recycling Center/waste site located approximately one mile towards town on Hwy 36 on the left (north) side. There is a minimal fee for dumping trash. They charge a set rate for up to 3 bags and take cash or credit cards.
If you cannot locate this site, refer to the Estes Park phone book yellow pages. Trash may be dumped there Monday through Saturday, 8am – 4pm. During your stay, please don’t leave food scraps outside overnight because it attracts little (and big) critters. There is a large holding can in the room behind the kitchen. Be sure to keep the lid on trash stored in that room. Bears WILL and can break in if they smell food. All trash (including coolers, plastic bottles, etc.) should be removed from the premises prior to your vacation departure. Note: Bears have been reported in some year's past in the High Drive area and they are always searching for food, trash, etc so no trash/trash containers can be left outside. KEEP YOUR CARS FREE OF TRASH/FOOD AND KEEP YOUR DOORS LOCKED TO YOUR CARS. THEY WILL BREAK-IN YOUR CAR AND ARE SMART ENOUGH TO USE THE DOOR HANDLE!
Hospital
Dial 911 for major emergencies.
You may also drive to the hospital (24 hours/day) or to Timberline Medical for Family Practice and Urgent Care (open evenings and weekends).
Estes Park Medical Center Timberline Medical P.C.
555 Prospect Avenue 131 Stanley Avenue (across from Holiday Inn)
970/586-8103 970/685-2343
Newly opened/Summer 2020:
Estes Park Health Urgent Center (for minor emergencies)
420 Steamer Drive (east of Safeway/behind True Value Hardware)
Walk-in Clinic Hours are 8a - 8p, every day
970/577-4500
There is a first aid kit located in the back hall.
Miscellaneous
The cabin has the following amenities:
· Cable TV, DVD, VCR, and a stereo w/CD
· Extra linens and blankets, fans, and portable heaters
· Picnic table with pads and cloths, lawn chairs and tables, portable grill
· Dishes, utensils, cooking supplies, some paper goods, cleaning supplies, vacuum
· Refrigerator, dishwasher, electric range, can opener, coffee maker, disposal, and microwave
· Private bathroom with tub and shower
(Note: please conserve--hot water goes pretty quickly! Be sure the shower curtain is contained
in tub area and use toilet tissue sparingly!)
· Picnic supplies, cooler, picnic basket, and small backpack
There is a nearby shopping center with the Laundromat, grocery store, liquor store, and gift shop and there are lots of fun shops and restaurants in Estes Park. There is a collection of rack cards, brochures, menus, etc. inside the buffet drawers if you are seeking additional suggestions of things to do. Of course, the main attraction is the incredible Rocky Mountain National Park, just outside your front door.
Call the Chamber in advance at 1/800-443-7837 or during your stay at 970/586-4431 for town activities and events, weather, and travel conditions. Also go to www.nickmolle.com for award winning documentaries and visitor information. Or go to www.estesparkwebcams.com/estes-park-tv-channel-8-eptv/.
