GCKGXM Douglas #20 Castle Rock
Type: Mystery | Size: Micro | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: Jim Reeb & Audrey @ | Hide Date: 09/10/2004 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N39° 22.902 W104° 51.470 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 18

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This is number twenty in a series of historical points within Douglas County Colorado.

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The original site of Castle Rock, about one-half mile east of the Douglas County Fairgrounds today, was a meadowland along East Plum Creek; it was a favorite camping ground for bullwhackers, hunters, and travelers as they plied their way between the forts and later the settlements of Denver and Colorado City. In the 1860's, this site became a part of Jeremiah Gould's 160-acre homestead tract; a cabin was built there in 1869 by a man named "Wolf" who was to sell it later to Mr. Hall. The cabin was to acquire the name of Uncle Jimmy Gould's or Uncle Jerry's Claim Cabin. In 1871, when the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad forged cross the county, the site of Uncle Jimmy's Claim cabin did not interest the railroad builders; instead they concentrated on the towns of Citadel-New Memphis to the north and Douglas to the south.

On February 2nd, 1874, a bill was passed by the territorial Legislature dividing Douglas County which heretofore had extended from the South Platte River to the State of Kansas; Elbert County was created from the eastern half of this huge expanse of land. This division necessitated the selection of a new county seat. Among the towns desirous of this honor were Sedalia, Castle Rock, New Memphis, Douglas, Glade, and Frankstown (Franktown), the current county seat.

The election for the coveted designation was held in Frankstown on March 31st--Castle Rock received 315 votes out of the 587 votes cast; Sedalia received 164; Glade, 63, New Memphis 30; Frankstown, 16; and Douglas, 9. The Rocky Mountain News championed the decision.

The second courthouse was built in 1889-1890. The first having been moved from Frankstown and is still there near the current courthouse.

There are two attached pictures. The oldest one is from when the courthouse was under construction. The geocache coordinates are for parking. Use the recent photo to position yourself at the location from which the photo was taken. The cache is within ten feet of that location.

Finding the cache: Park at posted coordinates. Take the trail at the east end of the parking lot and go to the Y in the trail and take Summit Trail. If you go to the summit, you blew it. No log for you. After a few minutes of walking you should see a large rock outcrop about 200 feet up the trail and to the right of the trail. That is the rock you are looking for. When you get to the sharp loopback, you blew it again so backtrack. If you get back to the car without finding the rock, you really blew it. No log for you. Assuming you find the rock, it would be nice to take and post a photo. This is not required. Signing the log is. Ah, the log. Standing where the photo was taken, look to the right. The log is there. Check the listing for a photo of the location. The container is at the end of the large rock on the left. Go down the left side of the rock to the end. Put the back of your head to the tree and look at the rock about dog nose high. There is a ledge with the container on it. Sign the log, put the lid back on, put the rocks back to make it critter proof. You may now go back to your car. Thanks for visiting. Oh, yeah, don't forget to log the geocache.

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Thanks Geocaching Colorado for the Geocache of the Month Award, as the second series to win!

Additional Waypoints

06/11/2019 By Imhenley1
We had limited time so couldn’t spend long searching for this one. Hope to come back and try again soon!

05/02/2019 By PiTime
The weather here in Castle Rock was picking up a little after getting off of work. Being that I've worked through a lot of the traditional cache's in the city at this point, I thought that I'd start working my way into the puzzle and multi's.

This was one that I head read over about a week ago and today seemed like a good day to try my luck at it. The parking lot was fairly empty and the weather was still a little chilly so there weren't too many people out and about on the trail just yet. I expect that will change soon.

It was a slow start for me. I kept staring at the photo to find the exact spot that this one was hidden and things didn't start to come together until I had went quite a ways on the trail. After spotting a couple of familiar landmarks, I knew I was getting closer. Once I had located the large rock, this is when the search could finally begin.

To be honest, it took me some time after getting to GZ. Without coordinates, it was still kind of like searching a large area for a small container. After reading through previous logs and the description, I eventually found my way to the right spot.

Cache is holding up well and this was a great day to be out finding it!

TFTC SL!

04/15/2019 By neros
I was here about a year ago and wasn’t able to find the rock formation. On this trip I found it rather easily. Not sure what happened on the previous trip. Finding the log was tricky. I guess I misunderstood the instructions but after re-reading the instructions for finding the log I was finally able to find the log and sign it. I really like seeing the historical photo that was taken at this spot. Thanks for the fun cache!

03/27/2019 By estes01
Took some searching and scrambling around. I started to just enjoy the view, waiting for WingsAndTales to say "found it." And she did. Thanks for the cache

03/27/2019 By WingsAndTales
I did some research and had a pretty good idea where it would be but it still took a while once we got to the location. Persistence paid off. TFTC

09/28/2018 By vorlon40
I eyed several rocks on my way up and finally saw one that fit the bill. Now to find the log. It took a little while but I finally made the find. As I got up from signing the log I notice a group of guys looking down at me from atop the peak. I figured they couldn’t find the cache from what they saw even if they knew what I was doing! Once I made the ascent I found out they were from the fire and rescue service practicing mountain rescues. It was fun exploring the area. TFTH.

08/11/2018 By hedgehog3665
Found the location as described but no cache

07/20/2018 By LostinDenver
That was fun! We unintentionally added a level of difficulty by trying it in the dark. Luckily, my brilliant daughter, @intrepiidexplorer found the container while I wandered far from the GZ in search of ghost containers. Found with @intrepiidexplorer and @windatmyback while hustling to complete the Hidden Creatures campaign. TFTC!

07/20/2018 By WindAtMyBack
Found with @LostinDenver and @intrepiidexplorer TFTC

07/20/2018 By intrepiidexplorer
We stumbled around in the dark trying to find the exact right place. I kept taking photos with my flash and comparing them to the one on the cache. I took this photo and instantly knew I was in the right place (pictured: @WindAtMyBack). I also rebuilt the cairn above the container. Tftc!!

Photo

05/19/2018 By fearthefish
I had the good fortune to be out caching today with the5millers, MagicCacher and herndonrd on an overcast day in Castle Rock. We decided to go all the way up to the top of the rock since none of us had ever done it before. Along the way we could not resist stopping for your puzzle cache. Herndonrd had already done this one so he helped point us in the right direction and then watched as the rest of us fumbled around looking for the container. The5millers ultimately found the cache after some assistance from herndonrd. After we did the whole sign and replace thing we were back on the trail heading to the top. Thanks for the fun puzzle and for your contribution to a great day of caching with good people and herndonrd.

05/19/2018 By the5millers
This was the first stop on our journey up to the top of Castle Rock. This was beautiful hike and had all the caches that are never been here we probably would have never climbed up here. Thanks for placing yet another amazing Cache Jim.
SL with Fearthefish/ MagicCacher/PoshCacher and Herndonrd. Tftc
Photo

05/07/2018 By BAMA1986
I guess I couldn’t find the right rocks. Enjoyed the hike though.

04/29/2018 By herndonrd
Stopped on the way down from the earthcache at the top. Pen wouldn't work so I took picture of the log as well as solo picture of me on the rock. TFTC!
Photo

Photo

04/27/2018 By nerak2001
Out caching with jasperdakota on a beautiful, sunny day. Finally found this one after searching the area thoroughly. Sneaky hide. After the find, we hiked the trail up the rest of the way to see the view and get other caches.

Thanks for the fun!

04/27/2018 By jasperdakota
Thanks for the fun cache! Found on a beautiful, sunny day while caching with Nerak2001, geodog Patches and new geopuppy Riley. Took a little bit to find the cache. Someone left a small rock cairn and it was on the ledge just beneath.
Douglas20