Red Feather Lou, as he was affectionately known, was one of the real pioneers and promoters of Red Feather Lakes. He was a real character and would have to be considered a twentieth century mountain man.  He and his brother Rowland homesteaded two parcels of land on the Prairie Divide.  They didn’t take to ranching and soon sold to Sam Sloan who added the two parcels to his summer range.  That is when Lou and Roland moved to Red Feather and established their homes right in the village.

Lou had many talents and was well liked and respected in the village.  He witched the well for Worleys that became the village watering hole. He helped survey the property at Red Father Lakes to form the group ownership plan. Richard Baker who also worked on the survey crew laughed as he said, “Lou was the only chain man he had ever seen who worked at surveying on horseback”.  Dick Baker was a true historian and spent many years locating stage stations on the overland trail and then mapping the trail through Larimer County.

Lou loved hunting, riding and fishing and ran a livery of cow ponies for tourists.  He endeared himself to new cabin owners by teaching them to fish and sharing his catch with them.

Lou’s cabin was regular museum, filled with relics and curious he collected from all over the mountains.  One of these was a “backbar”, a mirror framed with velvet and decorated with cow horns.  It was from the Ace of Clubs Saloon at Manhattan.  Lou sold it to the Fenders who had the High Country Club and they donated it to the Red Feather Historical Society who have it on display in the Homestead Cabin.  Children delighted in visiting his home to see his “museum” and to hear his wonderful stories.

One of Lou’s relatives said, “He never opened his mouth but out flowed a few oaths”.  Coming from Lou, such a quiet and gentle man, it never sound rough but just like regular English. Even the straitlaced  school teacher, Mrs. Betty conceded, “I never minded Lou’s profanity, it was just a part of him”.

Because of the great depression in the 1930’s a Civilian Conservation Corps was established at Red Feather Lakes in 1935.  Who should be in charge?  Red Feather Lou Young. The historian of the CCC movement in Colorado described him as “one of the best foreman on the job, is greatly admired by the boys and is known as a fondly called the “Daddy of the Outfit”. The CCC had a camp at Deadman Creek that they called their side camp.  During World War II the side camp was used as a German prisoners of war camp. Two prisoners escaped but were soon back in camp.  One was hitch hiking and was given a ride by the sheriff and other walked into Loui Munz’ ranch on Sheep Creek.  Louie’s mother who spoke German was visiting and she talked the prisoner into returning.  Louie drove him back to camp.

Louis “Lou” Young passed away August 22, 1955 at 78 years of age and was interred at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins on August 25, 1955.