Originally known as the Poudre Canyon Filling Station, Ted's Place opened in May 1922 under Edward "Ted" Herring and his older brother Cameron as a service station, grocery store, and restaurant. Among its first customers were convict crews building the road that opened the upper Poudre Canyon to traffic, and Ted sold them groceries and chewing tobacco. The original small bungalow store was replaced in the 1930s by one with an Alpine appearance. Ted's wife Nellie served as freight hauler and cook, and she and their son Dick took over operations in 1948 while Ted served several terms in the Colorado House of Representatives and Senate. A local landmark in a canyon known as Colorado's "Trout Route," the business sold fishing licenses and tackle, was known as "The West's Mecca for Anglers," and stayed open all night on the first day of fishing season. It became the only business establishment used as a reference point on Colorado maps, remained in Ted's family until 1962, and after 70 years in business was razed in 1989, with a park later built on the site as a memorial to it by Conoco gas.