It was wild country, a home of the Ute Indians, and a natural paradise for elk, deer, antelope, buffalo.

The mountain ranges harbored bear.

These ranges sheltered the rolling valley land which some explorer had named Middle Park in earlier days.
Much of this inclosed table-land was prairie, where long grass and wild flowers grew luxuriantly.

Belllounds was a cattleman, and he saw the possibilities there.

To which end he sought the friendship of Piah, chief of the Utes.