Kelim: Agricultural History and Grain Elevator

Those considering Kelim as a travel destination will find a place with a founding history shaped by agriculture. Kelim was founded several miles east of Loveland as an agricultural town and platted as a settlement in 1907. Its founding describes its agricultural focus, while the platting marks a specific stage in the spatial development of the settlement. Platting means dividing settlement land into lots; it therefore adds a perspective to the historical description of the place that differs from its agricultural founding.

History Between Agriculture and the Mill

The history of Lee J. Kelim includes a mill he built in 1913. That same year, he moved the Corliss steam engine from Loveland’s former power plant to this mill. The two parts of the episode are distinct: 1913 marks the construction and the move; Loveland was the former power plant location, while the mill was the engine’s destination. Six years elapsed between the platting in 1907 and the mill’s construction in 1913. This timeline places settlement development alongside a specific industrial event.

The Kelim Elevator Site

Another historic point of reference is the Kelim Elevator Site. It meets Criterion C as a good example of a grain elevator from the mid-1940s. The grain elevator is thematically consistent with Kelim’s agricultural character; chronologically, it dates well after the platting in 1907 and the mill in 1913. For a technical perspective, there are two distinct points of reference: the steam engine’s relocation in 1913 and the classification of the Elevator Site as an example of a grain elevator from the mid-1940s. The Kelim Elevator Site is largely abandoned. Before planning a visit, find out whether access is possible and under what conditions.

Routes in the Surrounding Area

A regional point of interest for those interested in nature and trails is the Oxbow Natural Area in the wider Kelim area. It has unpaved trails and access to Loveland’s 21-mile paved recreational trail system. For planning an outing, the surface provides a clear point of comparison: the trails at Oxbow are unpaved, while Loveland’s trail system is paved. The 21 miles refers to the length of that system, not to the trails at Oxbow Natural Area. This lets you distinguish regional options by trail type and attribute the stated length to the correct trail system.

US 34 Study

In 2026, the Colorado Department of Transportation is studying at-grade railroad crossings on US 34 near Kelim. At grade means that road and rail meet at the same level; here, crossings with Union Pacific Railroad and Great Western Railway are included in the study area. If you include US 34 in your travel plans, check the current project status if needed, as project details may change.

Discover more destinations: Berthoud, Estes Park, Timnath, Fort Collins, Loveland.

For the main travel overview: Larimer.