Before 1915, if residents wanted to travel to Salida from Cañon City, they would take the Copper Gulch Road.
Originally built for wagons and horses to travel, the road, while passable, covered rough terrain and required travelers to ford over Texas Creek. As automobiles became more popular, the stretch of road became more hazardous and the need arose to look for an alternative safer route.
The new route was first brought before the legislature in 1911. In February 1911, highway commissioners C.P. Allen and T.H. Tully, along with Otto Mears, president of the Denver Chamber of Commerce, arrived in Cañon City to inspect the possibility of a new public highway from Parkdale to Salida following the Arkansas River.
The proposal of the $50,000 highway awaited the approval of the legislature. However, it wasn’t until June 1913 that construction on the Rainbow Route from Cañon City to Salida began.
Twenty-one miles of land following the river from Parkdale to Cotopaxi was designated as the best route. Funds for the project were secured through the State Road Fund as well as money raised by Fremont County with dynamite and tools provided by the state.
Built primarily with inmate labor, two road camps consisting of Army tents equipped with sleeping quarters and mess halls housed the 60 inmates during construction. Early photographs depict white tents along the roadside during construction, one camp was located in Parkdale and the one located further west near Spikebuck.
The inmates were divided into three working groups; the Pioneer Gang surveyed and cleared the area of brush and loose stone, the Drill Team consisted of the experts with blasting powder and the Finishing Gang graded and completed the road. Records show that only 10 inmates snuck over the mountains to freedom during the two years of construction.
As construction neared Cañon City, the inmates returned back to Colorado State Penitentiary and were driven to and from the worksite every day. Unemployed Coal miners were also put to work on the route during the coal strike, working from the west to meet the convict work gangs coming from the east. Progress on the route was slow because of the amount of thick granite rock that needed to be blasted.
In a March 1915 interview in the Cañon City Times, County Surveyor James Bunten states, “The stratum, is live granite and the building of the road is a laborious proceeding. There is no loose earth, even for placing on top of the ledge after it is hewn out, and, all surfacing material will have to be hauled in wagons for a mile or more. The task on which the men are now employed is the heaviest that has been encountered since the beginning of the undertaking.”
The Rockefeller Foundation also provided roughly $3,000 in labor in the road’s construction, according to a September 1915 newspaper article. Two workers employed by the foundation were the only casualties on record during the construction. According to a newspaper article, the men, John Malino and Joe Tinetto, fell to their death when the suspension footbridge they were crossing broke May 1, 1915.
In July 1915, with a little less than half a mile to completion, a new sign was erected near an area along the road called Echo. The inscription on the 10×20 foot sign read: Rainbow Route. Fine Auto Road Across Colorado. Built by State and County. Greatest Scenic Highway in America. The sign faced the Denver & Rio Grande railroad track and its artistic large lettering could easily be read by train passengers as they passed through.
According to some reports, the name given to the stretch of road, now known as U.S. 50 from Pueblo to Gunnison, was called the Rainbow Route because of the colorful scenery one would encounter from mountain peaks to the Arkansas River, to sagebrush and desert areas.
The last half-mile of the road with its heavy rock proved difficult and long to clear. County Commissioners and others refused to express opinions on a completion date though everyone was hopeful that come fall the route would be completed.
On Sept. 21, 1915, the road officially opened with a grand dedication ceremony. More than 1,500 people from across southern Colorado and other parts of the state gathered to watch the ceremony according to the Daily Record. Speakers included three former governors, representatives from the state D. N. Cooper, Mayor of Cañon City, as well as the president of both the Cañon City and Pueblo Chamber of Commerce. Charles H. McLain who dreamed and fought for the route presided. A barbecued elk dinner was served and attendees enjoyed live music by the Cañon City band.
According to newspaper reports, the final cost of the 21 miles was $89,000, with Fremont County paying $50,000. Road maintenance was provided by the county until a time would come in which the state highway commission could take it over.
The new route shortened the drive 11 miles and more than an hour of driving time. The single-lane road widened in some areas to allow passing. While a great improvement over the previous route, the drive was still rough and flat tires were common on the four-hour, one-way trip.
Travelers were encouraged to pack extra food and tires, as well as a sturdy rope to help tow stranded motorists. Extra clothing, as well as tools, including a shove, were highly recommended for the journey, as well.