Photo by Reb Babcock
The History of a name: Buena Vista is properly pronounced “BEW-NA VISTA”
The town’s name has been pronounced “BEW-na Vista” instead of the Spanish “BWAY-na Vista” ever since it was founded. Its nickname is “BEW-nie.” It all came about at a meeting in 1879, when residents and property owners in the area at the convergence of Cottonwood Creek and the Arkansas River held a meeting to create a formal community. They had been told that would help attract a railroad line (eventually it attracted three). Two names were proposed by attendees: Collegiate Peaks, after the mountains in the area, and Buena Vista, which means “beautiful view” in Spanish, certainly an appropriate description.
Alsina Dearheimer, the resident and property owner who suggested the name Buena Vista, certainly knew how the Spanish words were pronounced, her first husband having been a language and music professor. But she insisted that the pronunciation for the town name be Americanized into “BEW-na,” borrowing the first syllable of the English word beautiful. Her suggestion carried the day. An interesting anomaly was born, and Dearheimer became known as the Mother of BEW-na Vista. To this day long time residents carry on the tradition and say “Bewna Vista”. If it is hard for visitors to swallow, it is suggested they just say “BEWNIE”.
Mining town of St. Elmo - photo by Dave Norman
Railroad History of Buena Vista
Buena Vista was once the rail head of three major railroads. In 1880, the narrow gauge Denver South Park and Pacific line arrived down Trout Creek Pass, headed for St. Elmo and the Gunnison country. Later that year, the Denver and Rio Grande built its way through the Royal Gorge and into Buena Vista. Last to arrive from Colorado Springs was the Colorado Midland.
The Midland, as it was known, had its depot on Midland Hill and passengers and freight had to be hauled down into Buena Vista. The logo for the Midland was a snarling mountain lion seen frequently at the depot on Midland Hill. The Midland ran north of town through the settlement of Wildhorse and the 4 Mile tunnels. It was shut down in this area in May of 1922.
Tunnels in Buena Vista - Photo by Reb Babcock
The Denver, South Park and Pacific (later know as the South Park) built the highest railroad tunnel in the world at that time. It was the Alpine tunnel, located above St. Elmo. This tunnel was drilled in 1880-81 and was 1,771 feet long. The South Park ran its last passenger train from Denver to Buena Vista in 1910. It continued to run to St. Elmo for a few more years.
The Denver and Rio Grande was bought by the Southern Pacific in the 1980s, and then merged with the Union Pacific in 1996. When Union Pacific acquired the line, it announced plans to abandon the route which runs through Buena Vista, but occasional trains and crewmen performing maintenance tasks continue to come through town. The rail bed’s future is unclear if it is abandoned—it has been considered for a biking and hiking trail.
For more information on Buena Vista visit: www.buenavistacolorado.org
