Raymer: Railroads, Trade, and Landscape

Raymer brings together the history of a railroad station, trade, and homestead settlement. For trip planning, there is also a connection to the landscape: a trail in the area leads to the first Pawnee Butte, and the Pawnee Pioneer Trail Scenic & Historic Byway runs from Raymer to Pawnee National Grassland.

Raymer as a Railroad and Market Town

Raymer was a station on a railroad line through Weld County. The Truxaw & Kruger Grocery / Seldin’s Cash Grocery building dates to 1909 and contributed to the development of New Raymer as a railroad and market town serving the surrounding dryland farms and cattle ranches. The State Bank of Raymer is associated with the development of financial services in rural New Raymer. For travelers interested in rural economic history, the interplay of railroads, trade, and financial services is a distinctive focus.

Homestead History and Historic Buildings

Settlement of the Younglund Ranch as a homestead began in 1912. A year later, Ernest and Pearl Knoll built a homestead cabin on their 160-acre property near New Raymer. The sequence of settlement and cabin construction in successive years brings two distinct aspects of early homestead history to life.

The Star Filling Station was built in 1925 and supplied farmers, residents, businesses, and travelers with fuel, lubricants, and minor services until 1965. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 15, 2019. The Truxaw & Kruger Grocery / Seldin’s Cash Grocery building was added to the state historic register in 2018; the State Bank of Raymer was added in 2019. Buildings and facilities from different periods in the town’s history thus stand alongside their later historic listings.

The New Raymer Car Show was organized in 2024 as an annual community event and fundraiser. Proceeds supported the restoration of historic buildings on Centre Avenue in New Raymer. If you would like to time your trip to coincide with the car show, check the latest event dates in advance.

Hiking and a Scenic Route

A 1.5-mile trail in the area takes hikers to the first Pawnee Butte. The Pawnee Pioneer Trail Scenic & Historic Byway runs from Raymer to Pawnee National Grassland; wildlife viewing, hiking, and scenic experiences are available along the route. The two options offer different focuses: a trail with a specific destination or a route with several activities to choose from.

When planning your trip, you can use this distinction as a guide: the trail to the first Pawnee Butte is described as a hike with a named destination, while the byway leads to Pawnee National Grassland and includes several activities along the route. This makes it possible to combine Raymer’s historic side with a landscape-focused part of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Windsor, Firestone, Keenesburg, Kersey, Greeley

For the main travel overview: Weld.