GOCO’s origins are unique because our state is. And because Coloradans value the outdoors. Learn more about how we came to be straight from the voices of our visionary founders.

 


It’s hard to summarize the impacts of hundreds of partners on local communities in every corner of Colorado in a series of events plotted along a timeline. Between the gaps are thousands of wins for conservation and recreation.

1990

Citizens committee gets together

Citizens committee
gets together

Gov. Roy Romer and Dept. of Natural Resources Executive Director Ken Salazar form a citizens committee, which consisted of conservation, business and political leaders from across Colorado, to answer this question: What should we do to sustain and enhance our outdoor resources—parks, trails, wildlife, and open space—for the future?

1992

Votes are counted

Votes are counted

After an extensive public process, the committee proposes establishing a trust fund to invest in the future of Colorado’s outdoors. An initiative, which would redirect up to half of Lottery proceeds each year, is placed on the ballot, and on Nov. 3, is approved with 58% of voters in favor.

2000

Mega achievement: Greenland Ranch

Mega achievement:
Greenland Ranch

One of GOCO’s most iconic investments to date—in the conservation of Greenland Ranch—materializes in July. The land protection effort by partners The Conservation Fund, Douglas County, and the landowner permanently safeguarded 17,000+ acres between Denver and Colorado Springs along the I-25 corridor.

2010

Thinking bigger

Thinking bigger

With our 2010 strategic plan, GOCO pivots to take a more collaborative role with partners and support highly impactful projects. The plan launches initiatives that lay the groundwork for the approach that guides our grantmaking to this day.

2015

Protect. Connect. Inspire.

Protect. Connect. Inspire.

Building on the 2010 foundation, the 2015 strategic plan launches special initiatives that help conserve more than 130,000 acres of high-priority land; build 57 miles of regional trails; and create the Generation Wild movement.

2016

Trampe Ranch stuns

Trampe Ranch stuns

A Gunnison County ranch with some of Colorado’s most iconic scenery and contributing 20% of the county’s agricultural production is awarded GOCO’s largest-ever, single transaction grant in the amount of $10 million. The conservation project was decades in the making.

2018

Colorado Lottery reauthorized

Colorado Lottery reauthorized

The bill to extend the Lottery Division within Colorado’s Dept. of Revenue is signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper. A coalition of hundreds of towns, cities, counties and special districts, local businesses, and nonprofits propelled the bill’s passage, supporting the state’s ongoing investment of Lottery proceeds in Colorado’s great outdoors.

2019

Meet Wilder

Meet Wilder

Generation Wild, GOCO’s communications campaign supporting the youth-and-outdoors movement, debuts Wilder. Half-goat, half-yeti, and all friend, Wilder becomes an unforgettable symbol for outdoor play.

2020

Crazy French Ranch and  its iconic peak

Crazy French Ranch and 
its iconic peak

In October, Colorado Parks and Wildlife opens Fishers Peak State Park, formerly Crazy French Ranch, near the Colorado-New Mexico Border. GOCO invested more than $17 million in the acquisition of the 19,200-acre property that contains the local identifier Fishers Peak.

2020

Bringing a mission into a new era

Bringing a mission into a new era

A fresh strategic plan launches to promote equity and diversity in the outdoors, advance projects with the potential to transform communities, and protect Colorado’s treasured outdoors for future generations.