The History of John & Rebecca Craig
Founders of Riverdale Campground, Estes Park, CO

In April of 1925, John A. and Rebecca "Becca" Craig arrived in Estes Park, Colorado. They chose the 5 acre property on the Big Thompson River and purchased it from Mr. Stead of Stead's Ranch for $1500. John borrowed on his life insurance to buy the property. Becca related many times how they had arrived in Estes Park in an old Dodge with $35 in their pockets and a sick man.

John was born on June 23, 1873 in Danville, Kentucky. He and his first wife, Katherine, had a daughter, Mary, and son Oliver. After they divorced around 1917, Mary lived with her paternal grandparents and Oliver stayed with his father, John, and his step-mother, Becca. They moved to Indiana where John was a tinner by trade and worked in car body factories. Becca had worked in many areas including a candy factory, a tire factory, and as a practical nurse.

After the oil fields opened up in Florance, Kansas, they moved there seeking employment. John and Oliver worked as carpenters in the oil fields and Becca was employed as a cook. John developed a spot on his lung and was advised to take to the open road. He and Becca camped out on the road for 15 months traveling the Northwest United States, Canada, and the west coast including California. He would work when he could find work including working as a carpenter around movie studios. They survived mostly on the fish he was able to catch. After writing to their bank to get some money and finding out the bank had failed, they decided to return to the oil fields. John was a heavy cigarette smoker. He soon developed more spots on his lung and was advised to move to the mountains. They headed for the mountains and ended up in Estes Park.

They both worked hard developing the property into a camp and picnic ground calling it Riverdale Camp. Later they lost the name as it was never registered. They purchased and moved a 3 room cabin onto the down stream part of the property where they lived. Later they added a kitchen and a bedroom to the original cabin. John worked as a carpenter and loved to fish trout. Becca worked at odd jobs during the tourist season. She could also catch trout and cook them to a golden brown condition. They were delicious. One time when I was visiting, I went fishing and caught a nice trout. Grama Becca wanted to know where I caught it and I showed her the pool. She sternly informed me that the pool was hers and I should not fish it. Believe me, I never fished that pool again.

After they purchased the property, they both worked hard cleaning the trees in the picnic and camp area. They charged 25 cents a car to picnic and 50 cents a day for camping. The grounds had a small pump for a water supply. People were afraid to drink the water and would ask Becca, "Do you drink this water?" She'd answer, "I surely do and I'm as healthy as they come." They would then drink the water.

They constructed outside toilets of concrete and rock in like manner to the cellar. When they were digging the vaults, some bystanders were curious and started to ask questions. One asked, " Now, just what is it that you are digging?" Becca finally answered, " OH, we're just digging a vault for the depository of the basic human sediment."

In 1926, Ruth Blevins and another teacher friend came out from Eastern Nebraska to work during the summer tourist season. They found employment with the Estes Park Chalets. Ruth met Oliver Craig at a gas station where he worked. They became engaged and were married on June 22, 1927 in Millerton, Nebraska (in Butler County near David City). They returned to Estes Park but moved back to Nebraska in March 1928. Three sons were born to this union, Neal, Byron and Marvin. Oliver passed away on March 6, 1935 after a short illness.

During the 1930's John and Becca built a house next to the Big Thompson River near the campground on the upstream part of the property. It took years to build it as John was sick and there was little money to buy materials. Most of the materials came from barter of gifts. He assembled most of the fixtures on his own by using materials at hand.

John and Becca Craig lived on this property until his death on September 3, 1961 and her death on September 18, 1962. The family heirs were disappointed that valuable things had been taken such as important postal stamps by a local doctor and items stolen from the house by others including a coin collection, lodge swords, and two fruit trays. They decided to dispose of the belongings and sell the property. The property was sold to a local Realtor for $15,000. Sometime later the property was broken into two parcels. When we went through the property, we found many interesting things including old sticks of dynamite.

John's daughter, Mary, married Tom Donahue of Danville, Kentucky in March 1935 and were on their honeymoon when her brother, Oliver, passed away. This union produced two daughters, Martha and Margaret. Several years ago, Martha presented to me letters her mother, Mary, had kept. These letters had been written by John, Oliver and Ruth Craig. They detailed family history from the late 1920's thru 1936. Margaret now lives in the Estes Park area with her husband, Lloyd Swanson.

John would tell me how he would hike up to the high alpine lakes. He would carry a backpack holding water and fingerling fish to deposit in the lakes. It was activities like this that helped a 50 year old sick man who came to Estes Park in 1925 and lived until 1961. John and Becca were considered as pioneers in the area as they had lived there 36 years at the time of John's death. They had friends all over the United States and foreign countries that they had met in their campground.

Marvin L. Craig (grandson)
December 2000