Pioneers and homesteaders moved to the area that would become Arrowhead under President Abraham Lincoln’s Homestead Act, farming hay and lettuce, and raising cattle to feed local miners. The location was a prime wildlife corridor for deer and elk.

McCoy Ranch was located on the west side of what is now Arrowhead and was owned by Vernon and Zelma Eaton Mann. The land had a small stream known as McCoy Creek. The Manns farmed lettuce on the property. The Mann home/cabin can still be seen along the upper mountain areas off the Arrowhead Mountain Trail, also sometimes known as the Mud Springs Trail.

David “Pete” Dodo bought the McCoy Ranch. Ultimately, he took ownership of all the property making up Arrowhead. Pete spent years working the 1,200-acre ranch to level it and raised Hereford cattle on the land until he sold it in 1972.

Pete sells the ranch to Jim Krentler of Colorado Springs. Jim expected that he would make money on the land with Colorado hosting the 1976 Winter Olympics which was subsequently vetoed in a statewide voter referendum.

Kingsbury Pitcher designed and cut the first run on the mountain, named The Real McCoy. It started on what is now Cresta just above the entrance to the current Tomahawk run and continued down the current Tomahawk run to the bottom of the mountain. The mountain had no lifts, with skiers skinning up the mountain or taking a ride in snow cats. Krentler then worked with Marty and Jack Mankamyer to position the property to sell with the assistance of a planning firm from San Francisco and architect-planner Jared B. Morse who developed a master plan proposal for residential development. The property ran from lower Bachelor Gulch on the east to the current boundary on the west.

While walking the property one day, Marty Mankamyer found a white quartz arrowhead after which the property was named Arrowhead at Vail. The arrowhead was likely from the period when the Ute were in the area.

The property was sold to a group of individuals: Fitzhugh Scott, Pepi Gramshammer, Jennings Wright, Fred Green, Andrew Norris, Bill Duddy and Jim Viele. The vision of the community evolved with a plan developed by Gage Davis. Inspired by Fred Green, the golf course and clubhouse became an integral part of Arrowhead. The name Country Club of the Rockies was selected as there was already a golf club in Denver named Arrowhead. Jack Nicklaus was selected to design the golf course and he then built a home in Arrowhead. The Nicklaus’ lived in the house for years, watched their kids grow up, learn to ski, and fly fish.

The Houston-based Wedge Group purchased most of the interest in Arrowhead and the development of the land began. Cresta run was cut. Pete Seibert would organize snow cat tours on the mountain.

The first nine holes opened with inaugural tee shots by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Apple, the club pro. Pete Dodo noted- “I spent years trying to make the land level for farming and they put hills and bumps back in.”

Jack Nicklaus and Tom Apple opened the back nine of the course with their inaugural shots and the Country Club of the Rockies clubhouse opened.

The Arrowhead ski area opened based on ski runs designed by Pete Seibert, Pete Seibert Jr. and Jim Clark with a lift in its current location. In addition to The Real McCoy and Cresta, Golden Bear and Upper Little Brave were available runs. The base area consisted of an old Ranch House with tickets sold out of a window in the garage.

Ownership of Country Club of the Rockies was turned over to the Club members, debt free and unencumbered.

Arrowhead has the first Yurt in the valley in the current Yurt’s location. Arrowhead ski area had the first modern snow making fan guns, ahead of Beaver Creek and Vail Mountains.

European style village to village skiing became available for Beaver Creek with the connection of Arrowhead and Beaver Creek.

The Arrowhead Alpine Club opened creating the social, activity, skiing, and fitness facility for its members.

An expanded and updated Country Club of the Rockies clubhouse opens offering its members and the community special dining, social and fitness engagement opportunities.