Fairplay was settled in 1859 near a promising gold strike on the South Platte River. Its founders, determined that conditions would differ from those in Tarryall, were said to declare, "in this camp we'll have fair play." By 1867, when Fairplay became the county seat, it had a population of about 300 miners, bar keeps, merchants, fancy women, and burros, and the town preserves a western heritage reflected in sites including the Fairplay School, Sheldon Jackson Memorial Chapel, Fairplay Hotel, Park County Court House, South Park Lager Beer Brewery, Summer Saloon, Senate Saloon and Newspaper Office, Odd Fellows Hall, McLaughlin Livery and Fairplay Motor Co., Fairplay Bank Building, Hand Hotel and Burro Monument, and Cohen's Store.