Help us remember the wild town of Ramona.

Near Thorndale Park lies a forgotten history. Some Westsiders might be surprised to know that they live in what used to be the town of Ramona - a town founded completely on alcohol. 

Colorado City was what you might consider a Wild West town. We had saloons, brothels, gambling, and even opium dens. You name it, we had it!  However, with changing moralities thanks to activists like the Women's Christian Temperance Union in the early 1900s - things were changing. The fun times in Colorado City came to an end when the "respectable" side of town finally gained enough votes to make the town dry. 

Although they were given a few years to pack up and leave town or integrate into respectable society, some saloon owners decided they simply didn't want to do that. Nothing in the new law said they couldn't truck their liquor a few blocks up 24th and set up shop right outside of city limits...so that's what they did!

Ramona was founded as a town of a few tents (one saloon and one all-purpose "government" tent), but quickly grew to include real brick-and-mortar saloons, a brothel, boxing club, and more. There was just as much trouble in the town as you'd expect! Colorado City was furious at Ramona's existence, and aired their anger in the local newspapers and in constant fights over water rights.

Statewide prohibition in 1916 put an end to Ramona. The saloon owners could fight local governments, but they were no match for the state. The business buildings were demolished and the neighborhood eventually covered all traces of what was once Ramona.