Fort Uncompahgre was one of the many trading posts built by Antoine (Anton French) Robidoux, first built around 1828 at the juncture of the Grand (Gunnison) and Uncompahgre Rivers in what was then a territory of Mexico and Ute Indian country on the well traveled Old Spanish Route that ended in Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Kit Carson, Robert B. Lee, and Joe Meek were frequent visitors. The fort remained until Sept. 1844, when most of the occupants were killed in an attack by the Ute Indians.