Stepping into the meeting hall at the Old Homestead in Rand, CO today, you’ll see shadows of what that place was like many years ago. Among the old wooden chairs, tables, and empty bar, it’s not hard to imagine a busy Saturday night at the Old Homestead. A room filled with dancing, laughter, and the music of a live band on stage or 45s playing on the old Wurlitzer in the corner. The Old Homestead was once one of those hot spots of nightlight in Jackson County. People would come from miles around to gather for dances, parties, social events, and weddings.
The old timers of North Park all have their stories, as do many of the visitors who came through the area. Cowboys, bikers, backpackers, miners, hunters and snowmobilers were just some of the folks who used to pass through the old dance hall and cabins. The Old Homestead has been shuttered for the last fifteen years, waiting patiently in the shadow of the Never Summer Mountains just south of Rand, CO for a chance to bring people together again. A gathering place for friends and families.
A family new to North Park has taken up the challenge of breathing new life into old bones. Lauren and Mike Staton have taken on the task of revitalizing the Old Homestead Campground to its former glory, and maybe even much more in the upcoming years.
What’s Happening at the Old Homestead
The Old Homestead has been around for a hundred years. It once served the local community as a dance hall, restaurant, cabins, and campground for the southern end of North Park. It has existed since a time when the heyday of Teller City was more than just an echo of the boom days of silver mining. It lasted well into the days of the tie cutters of the Union Pacific railroad, the persistence of cattle ranching, and even World War 2, where not far away, POWs were kept in North Park until the end of the war.
Just a couple miles outside of Rand, CO, the Old Homestead beckoned visitors for generations. The buildings are characteristic of early to mid-20th century mountain living. It’s the kind of place you go to step out of the daily grind of modern living to return to a time most of us have forgotten. The kind of place those who experienced it remember with a smile and a far-off look.
New Owners and Big Dreams
The Statons are originally from Florida, but came to Colorado in 2012, living in the Front Range. Lauren worked as a physical therapist, and Mike’s profession was in the aerospace industry. After working in home health care and nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic, Lauren needed a change of pace. After eyeing a few other properties, they immediately fell in love with the Old Homestead and decided to take the leap. In October 2024 they closed on the property and began the slow process of cleaning and gradually bringing the cabins back online in February of 2025.
The campground consists of the meeting hall, 11 rustic cabins, two deluxe cabins featuring indoor bathrooms and kitchens with running water. All cabins have electricity, with a fridge, hotplate, and indoor lighting. The cabins are heated with a wood-burning stove and varying accommodations for guests from two to ten per cabin. The grounds feature a shower house for guests, outdoor fire pits, and ample parking.
If you are on the road, there are ten RV spots with full hookups (20 amp electrical). With so much potential for space on the grounds, they have been open to the idea of being a campground for backpackers, upgrading more cabins, and putting partially finished outbuildings to use for even more possibilities.
The Old Homestead Campground re-opened for business on Memorial Day Weekend, 2025 and so far it has attracted visitors by a small internet presence and word of mouth. The Staton’s have their work cut out for them to get the word out that this once beloved venue is back in operation again, but with incredible mountain views and ease of access to HWY 125 it won’t be long before they are booked solid throughout the summer.
The Old Homestead Campground is a pet-friendly campus with accommodations for everything from glamping to big rig RVs to backpackers. It’s a great destination for outdoor recreation or to take the night off on a long scenic drive.
Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Recreation
They are hopeful that the Old Homestead will eventually become a destination for hunters in the Fall as it had been for generations. North Park has some of the largest herds of elk and moose in all of Colorado, making it a hunter’s paradise. Anglers know Jackson County’s reputation well, and the Old Homestead Campground offers access to a large section of the Illinois river right on the property for trout fishing.
With access to the Routt National Forest, Owl Mountain, and just over Willow Creek Pass, the Arapaho National Recreation Area, it is a perfect mountain getaway from the noise and heat of the Front Range. From the cabins you can see the Never Summer Mountains, which divide North Park from Rocky Mountain National Park, giving visitors similar views without all of the traffic and high prices of the resort towns.
Lauren says they are considering whether or not to be open during the winter, but that might depend on how much progress they make on current projects throughout the summer. The Old Homestead Campground already has a reputation for snowmobilers, skiers, and other outdoor winter recreation, especially with its proximity to Granby, CO and Winter Park. The Routt National Forest offers plenty of jeep trails for visitors to explore. From the ghost town of Teller City to the old silver mines that dot the area, there’s always something to discover near Rand, CO.
Other things to do on your visit:
- Wildlife viewing
- Rockhounding
- Mountain biking
- Hiking
- 4WD roads and trails
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Bird watching
- Road tripping
- Photography
- Getting out of the city
- Social media detox
- Watching sunsets, sunrises, and stargazing
Future Plans for the Old Homestead
The dance hall/lodge still needs a lot of love before coming online again and they are still weighing their options on how it will be used. Immediate plans are to continue to improve the majority of the campground, but Lauren says she has plans for the Old Homestead Campground to be a destination for events such as weddings and other gatherings.
Lauren has hopes that once refurbishment of the lodge is done it can return to its function as a meeting place for dancing, local events, live music, and even a community center as it has been in the past. There is no timeline yet on a liquor license for the Old Homestead, but Lauren says that is always a possibility for the future.
Right now the focus is on upgrades and breathing life back into this landmark of North Park’s community history. Hopefully by next summer the lodge will be open again to visitors. The bones are still good and there is still plenty of life left in this old building, even after a hundred years. The possibilities for the Old Homestead Campground are almost endless.
North Park Welcomes the Staton Family
The Statons are a welcome addition to Jackson County and have hit the ground running with putting their love and sweat into such an iconic part of the community. Not only are they starting this new chapter of their lives in business, but also big changes and challenges to their lifestyle. They have come to Rand, CO to set down roots with their children, participating in the local community, making new friends, and bringing with them the sort of zeal for North Park that makes it such a special place.
Contact the Old Homestead Campground
For information and reservations, you can find the Old Homestead Campground online or on Campendium. To reserve your cabin, RV spot with full hookups, or find out more information about the Old Homestead call (727) 430-0938 or email [email protected]. If you have your own memories, stories, or even photos of the Old Homestead, be sure to contact them online. Mike and Lauren are happy to hear what you loved about the old place.
With good wireless connectivity, it shouldn’t be any problem finding the campground using your favorite navigation app. The Old Homestead Campground is on Hwy 125 between Walden and Granby, CO. Here’s the address:
The Old Homestead Campground
90 County Rd 21
Rand, CO 80473.
Phone (727) 430-0938
The Old Homestead Welcomes You!
Just twenty minutes from Walden and Gould and half an hour from Granby, CO, the Old Homestead sits on one of the prettiest parts of North Park and not too far from rugged wilderness and modern conveniences. As one of the most scenic areas of North Park, with unbelievable views, a welcoming community, and easy access to wilderness, wildlife, and memories that will last a lifetime, add a visit to the Old Homestead to your must-do list for the summer.
