Basecamp Colorado is Glenwood Springs Colorado

Many of towns across the west have their claim to Doc Holiday, and Glenwood Springs Colorado is one of them. Born August 14, 1851 in Griffin, Georgia, John Henry Holliday was born to Henry Burroughs and Alice Jane Holliday. His mother died when John was 15 years old. He enrolled in dental school in 1870 and attended his first lecture session in 1870-1872. He served his required two years apprenticeship under Dr. L.F. Frank. Soon after starting business John was diagnosed with tuberculosis with only months to live and was told he could live a little longer if he moved to a drier climate. John began heading west trying to work but playing poker mostly. After multiple altercations in which rumors say 7 men were killed Holiday, headed to Apache Country, Colorado ahead of the Army and the law dealing Faro along the way. Doc met Wyatt Earp in Fort Griffin Texas and headed to Dodge City after learning Wyatt was the Sheriff there. Both benefitted by this friendship as Doc saved Wyatt when he was outnumbered one night. Also participated in the famous "Gunfight at the OK Coral". The history of doc is well documented More on Doc Holiday. Doc ended moving to Glenwood Springs when his health began to deteriorate for the Hot Sulphur Springs hoping they might revive him. He ended up dying on November 8, 1887 in the Glenwood Hotel after 57 days in bed. With all his efforts to die quickly, John Holiday died in bed with his boots off. Glenwood Springs has the tombstone of John "Doc" Holiday at the Linwood (Old Hill) cemetary. There are many rumors that float around about where his true remains lie. WIth erosion some feel his bones have moved downhill, some say his body was stolen from it's resting place by enemys, and there is a thought that maybe his body never got to it's resting place, as bodies were stored at the bottom of the hill in the winter, where animals may have had access for foraging, until springtime when the road was accessible. What is known is that 4 bartenders pitched in 50 cents apiece to pay for a paupers funeral and resting place. The Linwood Cemetary is a short hike off of Bennett Ave. 20 Minutes to the resting place of Doc Holiday.
"He was the most skillful gambler, and the nerviest, fastest, deadliest man with a six-gun I ever saw."
This was the tribute paid to Doc Holliday by Wyatt Earp.

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On October 5, 1886 the first D&RGW train arrived in Glenwood through Glenwood Canyon. The cost of the route through Glenwood Canyon cost $2 million, an astronomical sum. Glenwood Canyon would later become the site for many films including "The Great K&A Train Robbery", "Vanishing Point", "Flashback" and "Mr.and Mrs. Smith". In the 1880's Walter Devereux built Glenwood Springs to rival any spa in the world that he hoped would cater to all of the world's dignitaries. He rerouted the Colorado River, built the pool for the Yampah Springs, built the Natatorium, Vapor Caves and the Hotel Colorado. Deveruex even built a polo field and it ws not long before the wranglers of the Glenwood Polo Association claimed to be "The Home of the World's Best Polo Team." Other recent films produced in the region include "For the Love of the Game", "Tall Tale" and "Messenger of Death".

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Defiance, Colorado was established in 1883 a camp of tents, saloons and Brothels with an increasing amount of cabins and lodging establishments. It was populated with the expected crowd of gamblers, gunslingers and prostitutes. Town Founder Isaac Cooper's wife Sarah was having a hard time adjusting to the frontier life and in an attempt to make her environment somewhat more comfortable, persuaded the founders to change the name to Glenwood Springs, Colorado after her beloved hometown of Glenwood, Iowa. That is how Defiance became Glenwood Springs, Colorado in 1885.

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