Famous Colorado Park’s Name Has Nothing to Do with Robin Hood

For most, the name Nottingham is widely associated with the English folklore hero-turned-Disney icon Robin Hood. However, for those who are either familiar with or possibly have called Colorado's Vail Valley home at one point or another, Nottingham represents something entirely different.

The iconic Nottingham Park in Avon, Colorado has been around for many years and is named after a highly influential family who are considered pioneers of the area.

History of Avon Colorado's Nottingham Park

In order to understand how the park got its name, we must look at the history of its namesake family.

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The Nottinghams first arrived in Colorado during the silver boom back in 1882 in a covered wagon. The patriarch of the family, William Nottingham, served as an Eagle County Commissioner until pistols were drawn during a dispute with an associate. This Wild West scene would unfortunately claim William's life.

William's son Harry would go on to follow in his father's footsteps by securing an Eagle County Commissioner title himself in 1933, a post that he would serve for 32 years.

It was in this period that Nottingham would make strides in the local highway system and even became the man responsible for the neighboring town of Vail receiving its iconic name, a nod to highway engineer Charles Vail.

Avon Colorado's Nottingham Park Today

Today, the park that carries Harry A. Nottingham's name is synonymous with the annual 4th of July fireworks show, water activities including paddleboarding and fishing in the lake, and much more.