OUR LADY OF THE PINES CATHOLIC COMMUNITY (1979)

Conifer was first called Bradford Junction after the 1860s stage stop built there by Robert Bradford. Not until 1894 was Conifer established and named for the surrounding evergreen trees or, according to some, for a George Conifer who kept a roadhouse nearby.

This little hamlet, which remains unincorporated, began to boom during the 1970s. Our Lady of the Pines was established in 1979 as a mission of Christ the King parish in Evergreen. John J. Murphy, pastor of Christ the King and Our Lady of the Pines, reported in 1988 that some 300 families worshipped in the multifunctional parish building. "As no resident priest serves Park County," Father Murphy added,

we take care of many Park County families, as well as the people of Aspen Park, Bailey, Conifer, Pine, and Shaffers Crossing. Today we have 300 registered families and only 430 seats. Some day the parish hopes to build a church, but in the meantime we use the upstairs of our building for worship services and the bottom for meetings and classrooms.