March 13 made for a remarkable presentation by Beryl Jacobson, a volunteer historian for Douglas County, on the history of Sandstone Ranch at the Douglas County Libraries – Philip & Jerry Miller Library in Castle Rock.

That the County owns this 2,038-acre parcel is all the more astonishing considering its acquisition cost and beauty. Absent the efforts of Cheryl Matthews, former Douglas County Director of Open Spaces, this natural treasure would have remained private.

Integral to its history and development were four dynamic women. The first, Elizabeth Robinson, was a Missouri woman born in 1834 and widowed at 40. Indomitable, she headed west in a covered wagon with sons Schuyler and George. Using the Homestead Act, she found 160 acres to her liking near Perry Park, west of Larkspur. Her boys attended Glen Grove School, still standing today.

As enterprising as she was bold, Elizabeth built a small homestead. This included structures facilitating a stagecoach depot business on the Denver-Colorado City route that passed her road juncture. When the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad came through in 1878, she refocused on ranching. Acquiring another 160 acres in 1889, she shifted to shorthorn cattle and chickens. Elizabeth was also the local midwife.

Schuyler split for California, but George Robinson took over the property, expanded it, also commercially exploiting the red sandstone deposits within its confines. An inventor too, George’s substantial profile allowed him to become a director at the Castle Rock Bank. A magnanimous fellow, at his passing, he left his landholdings to the Tucker family who had faithfully worked the ranch for his mother.

Anna Maria Carlson, a Swedish emigrant, entered the scene in 1890, having traveled 1,700 miles on the Transcontinental Railroad to visit her sister in Castle Rock. She fell in love and married Charles Palm, a local merchant and town board member. By 1897, their family had grown with four children. The Palms purchased 560 acres of today’s southeast Sandstone Ranch for $5,000.

Charles died by the ravages of a respiratory illness, but Anna carried on until age 90. A shrewd businesswoman, she acquired more property in 1915. Her sons Harland and Gilbert were both catalysts and driving forces in their own right who helped further develop the expanded ranch property.

The Tucker family played its own large role in Sandstone history. At 17, Elsie Palm married ranch hand Earl Tucker in 1913. Beneficiaries of George Robinson, who died in 1956, his land was bequeathed to Earl, Elsie, daughter Jean and son George Tucker. Elsie explained, “I was a rancher; that’s all I ever knew.” When Earl died early, the ranch dynamics fell to Elsie and Jean. George moved on to Fort Lupton.

Jean Tucker was an equestrienne and quite the show woman. Colorful and daring, by age 16, horses had become the theme of her life, and she grew into a rodeo trick rider. Drawn into the rodeo circuit, she married Frank Allen, another rodeo cowboy.

Jean’s success and notoriety led to a connection with Gilda Gray, a rising Hollywood star, making for even more personal glitter surrounding the family. Elsie lived until 93.

Sandstone Ranch today is an iconic outdoor wonderment, a monument crafted by nature with the brushstrokes of strong western women. To see it and hike it provides food for the soul. It was recently purchased by the Town of Castle Rock (see related story in the March 2025 issue of The Connection.)

For more information on Sandstone Ranch, visit douglas.co.us and search for “Sandstone Ranch.”

 

Article and photo by Joe Gschwendtner