Buffalo at Genesee Park and Buffalo Bill's Grave Site

I - 70 West from Denver

I have no idea how many cars make the trip from Denver to Summit County every weekend but judging from the traffic it is quite a number. I have been making my journey to my personal mecca since college. First over Thanksgiving break to ski with my brother and his friends and later with a new boyfriend who offered to pay for my plane ticket, lodging and lift ticket (what idiot would say no?). And for the last several years every spring break with that same boyfriend now husband and our children. I have never once thought about the little signs along the way until this winter when we temporarily moved to Evergreen, Co.
Having seen the signs so often for Buffalo Overlook and Buffalo Bill's Grave site the kids and I decided to go check it out Easter afternoon after church and egg hunting.

We took I - 70 to exit 254; the Bison are just off the Interstate.

The Buffalo inhabit 700 acres at Genesee Park and are cared for by a Marty Homola "Keeper of the Buffalo at Denver's Genesee Park." Denver originally brought 7 of the animals from Yellowstone by train in 1914 to establish the herd. According to the sign on the fence they are not actually "Buffalo." While some people believe Buffalo and Bison to be the same thing, the sign tells us that "Buffalo" are actually an Asian animal and the "American Buffalo" is actually a Bison. Just so you know. We aren't sure how many animals are in the heard now but the kids and I counted over 30 eating the hay left for them by Marty. Sitting on a rock by the highway and watching the big animals was a very peaceful experience. My daughter and I remarked that we could sit there for some time sketching. My boys were impressed by the size of two especially large Bison and how they would lower their heads and chase each other away from the hay.