A grandmother who is one of the few people who can legitimately call Rocky Mountain National Park her home is being forced out.

Video

Hear Story Of Grandmother Being Forced Out Of RMNP

Betty Dick's husband bought the wild land in the 1960s, before the park expanded. But a feud between her dead husband and his first wife is forcing Dick out, and she's not ready to go.

"I'm just kind of in a little corner here where the mountains wind around," said Dick, who is 82.

The view from Dick's house is spectacular. The continental divide stands outside the front door. Neighbors of a different kind live here and her home is where three rivers converge.

"I have so many memories of happy times here. It's just a joyful place to be as well as a peaceful place," Dick said.

That peace, however, is about to end.

"I think it would be very nice if we could just hold it for as long as I live," Dick said.

But the paperwork sitting on her porch is forcing her out. It's a contract with the government saying she must go. It was a legal battle that started when her husband's first wife sold the property to the government without his consent. Their argument with the Park Service ended with a settlement -- they would get 25 years to call it home.

Back then, a quarter of a century sounded like a lifetime to Dick and her husband.

"We were both sure we wouldn't be around any longer than 25 years," Dick said.

Dick is still ringing the bell at her mountain home, which she calls the "Trail River Ranch." Even though her husband Fred passed away 12 years ago, this is still home and Dick wants to stay. But the park service isn't budging.

"Mr. Dick signed a contract and Park Service signed a contract that when the 25 years was over, which is July 2005, that was when it would change hands back to the Park Service," said Kyle Patterson, with the Rocky Mountain National Park.

"Of course, I know this deed was signed. And I know logically, I shouldn't have a complaint, I was just hoping to be able to stay here the rest of my life," Dick said.

So for now, Dick enjoys the beauty surrounding her home knowing very soon she'll be moving out, while the Park Service moves in. And her little spot in the Rockies will be gone forever.

"You realize what a gorgeous place it is and there's just no place like it on earth," Dick said.

The park doesn't know what it's going to do with Dick's home. Her last day in her mountain home will be July 16, 2005.

Betty's friends have written letters, signed petitions, hoping the Park Service will let her stay a few more years.

To e-mail the superintendent of Rocky Mountain National Park contact him at Vaughn_baker@nps.gov or the National Park Service Director at Fran_Mainella@nps.gov