Deer Trail History

The Deer Trail community boasts of many colorful characters that have visited. There were early cattlemen and cowboys who dreamed of covering the vast area with cattle where the buf- falo were roaming. Then along came the sheep ranchers to the open prairies. Stagecoaches and prairie schooners traveled over one trail and camped where Deer Trail now stands. The Union Pacific Railway came to town and in 1875 the Town of Deer Trail was platted and surveyed. This now made Deer Trail a large shipping center for all of the livestock and farm products to eastern markets.
On July 4, 1869, local ranch cowboys were gathered when someone decided to wager a bet about who was the best cowboy and the sport of Rodeo was born. Rodeo continues to be a large draw for folks who attend the Labor Day weekend rodeo each year at the “Birthplace of Rodeo”. Over the past 100 years many improvements and changes have been made to the Deer Trail Rodeo grounds, but it still remains the home of one of the best rodeos to be found.
Deer Trail has suffered many adversities to hinder its growth. Severe snowstorms in 1876, 1885, 1902, 1910, 1913, 1946 and the winter of 1972 - 73 will go down in history for their record snow fall and loss of livestock. A flood ravaged the town in the mid 1960’s and destroyed many of the local landmarks. Drought is always another factor that limits the growth of a community that relies heavily on farming and ranching. Today you can find relics of Deer Trail’s past at the Pioneer Historical museum located at the north end of Centennial Park.