Life at 8,750′! Red River was once home to Ute and Jicarilla Apaches. By the 19th century, Red River used to be known as River City and was discovered explorers, fur trappers, and prospectors. The mountains were carved with hundreds of mines for gold, silver, and copper. Some of these mines were called Golden Treasure, Silver King, and Black Copper- you’ll see streets named after these mines!
When the boomtown faded, homesteaders replaced prospectors and River City entered a new era by renting out abandoned miner’s cabins to visitors from the flatlands wanting to escape the summer heat.Â