Lyons, Colorado, also known as "The Double Gateway to the Rockies," lies within the valley of the St. Vrain Creek in Boulder County, Colorado. This stream is fed from two canyons to the west, the north and South St. Vrain, allowing dual access into the mountains.

The Town was founded by Edward S. Lyon in 1880 when he purchased the Sawyer Farm. It wasn’t long after Mr. Lyon settled into the area when he noticed the red sandstone in the nearby hills and started a stone quarry business. As his business grew families moved to the Town and surrounding areas. As more families located to the area, businesses that directly or indirectly supported the quarry industry flourished.

For many years, and to some extent today, families depend on the sandstone industry, and the quarries continue to fuel the local economy. A visitor needs only to walk the streets of downtown Lyons to see the influence “red stone” has had on the Town’s culture, history and architecture. It can be fairly stated that this beautiful stone is engrained in the Town’s soul and character.

The Town has reinvented itself over the years and its direct dependency on the stone quarries has diminished. The Town has managed to maintain and nurture its small town character and continues to build on a standard of living that is the envy of Boulder County.

The town is blessed to possess numerous natural assets, such as the St.Vrain River, acres of parks and open space, wildlife, trails, and easy access to numerous outdoor activities like hiking, biking, fishing, and kayaking. The town is also very fortunate to have a great elementary, middle and senior high school with many dedicated teachers and administrators. These many assets are some of the reasons why young families have been attracted to the lifestyle in Lyons.

For many years, the town has proudly promoted itself as the Gateway to the Rockies with literally millions of visitors passing through Lyons each year on their way to Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park.