YOU CAN’T MISS IT WHEN YOU WALK THE POPULAR TRAIL CIRCLING EVERGREEN LAKE. BUT WHAT IS IT? WHY IS IT THERE? AND WHAT PURPOSE DOES IT SERVE? DENVER7 FOUND OUT. — EVERGREEN, Colo. — You can’t miss it when you walk the popular trail circling Evergreen Lake. But what is it? Why is it there? And what purpose does it serve? Denver7 found out.
“It gives us just a vicarious thrill just to hear the chuckles,” homeowner John Musser, who lives along the lake and the trail, said with a chuckle.
What Musser is talking about is a chain-link gate that sits on the edge of his property. The thing that makes it unique, is that there is no fence attached to it. It’s just a solo gate.
“To prevent intrusion of course. It’s part of the security system,” Musser joked.
Musser explained that his family bought the property in 1971, and there was a chain link fence on the edge of the property. The fence came down a few years later, but John’s practical joke loving brother, Jim, decided to keep the gate section up.
“It was funny then and it continues to be one of the funniest things in Jefferson County,” Musser said.
“That’s the best gate, my favorite gate,” one trail walker said.
“It’s funny that they think that’ll keep people out,” another passer-by added.
But despite the fact that there is nothing on either side of the gate, and the property is freely accessible, the gate is double padlocked. It also has a sign on it reading “Keep Gate Closed.”
“The younger children usually don’t get it but mom and dad are usually just roaring at that time,” Musser said.
It’s been there for about 45 years, drawing laughs and picture-takers since, the owner explained. And he plans on keeping it there for laughs for as long as possible.
“The gate comes with property. So it’s our hope that it sticks around for some time,” he said with a smile.
