Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park marks 100 years

Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park in Loveland is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, according to the City of Loveland.

The park is located four miles west of the entrance to Big Thompson Canyon on Highway 34. The city said the park first opened in the 1920s after the Loveland Light and Power plant began operating along the Big Thompson River.

The park later was expanded to 400 acres and became a destination for picnicking and hiking. Interpretive signs at the site tell the history of the 1920s hydroelectric plant, Civilian Conservation Corps structures and early settlers, according to the city.

The city said floods in 1976 and 2013 damaged the park and reshaped the land along the river, but it was rebuilt each time. The park now includes picnic shelters, seating, ADA-friendly fishing access, a nature cabin and a rustic-themed play area.