Abner Sprague first saw our breathtaking mountains as a young man in 1868. He is respected as an Estes Park pioneer, homesteader, explorer, mountaineer, resort owner, and author – and his work was important in the creation of both Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Around the turn of the century, he and his wife Alberta constructed a homestead cabin in Moraine Park. As tourism to the area increased, they began offering food to passersby. With business booming in 1914, they built a magnificent lodge located at the present-day site of the Sprague Lake parking lot. Abner Sprague lived to see 91 years, last climbing Longs Peak at the age of 74.