Valley View School, situated one mile west of Salida at 9051 County Road 140, has been rehabilitated and restored to its authentic 1904 appearance after fifty years of abandonment and deterioration. SPOT saw its potential as an attractive and unique teaching facility and began fundraising back in 2016 when we received a History Colorado State Historical Fund grant (SHF) to replace the roof and rebuild the brick chimney. With a second SHF grant and a matching grant from the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), SPOT led the rehabilitation project to completion in February 2025. Modern improvements – heat, water and electricity, septic, driveway and parking lot – have made the building desirable as an educational facility and community meeting hall.
The preservation contractor, Deep Roots Craftsmen, faithfully restored the eight tall and rotted windows in the classroom and two in the vestibule to their former elegance. The walls and ceiling were patched and re-plastered in the traditional way, and the sturdy thick-planked floor and wall wainscotting were sanded and refinished to show the fine grain and color of the old wood. Interpretive panels mounted in the vestibule tell the story of attending a one room school in the early 1900’s.
The rear room of the building was added as a WPA project in the 1930’s but never had a use except as storage space and a coal bin. We were able to repurpose it to create office space and bathrooms with a new wood floor and a kitchenette. The exterior of the building is clad with restored white clapboard and the new main entrance on the west side has an ADA accessible ramp. The white siding and green trim are faithful to the original look of the schoolhouse and brought the building to life again.
Owner Chaffee County is leasing the school to GARNA, the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association, as a Youth Nature Center to allow expansion of its offerings to young people from all socio-economic sectors of our community. GARNA is a non-profit organization that provides environmental education to communities along the Upper Arkansas River from Leadville to Pueblo, reaching more than 2,100 students a year in Chaffee County with its ecology classes, workshops and camps. Visitors can tour the building and enjoy the historical displays by appointment.
