As the largest of the tiny prairie towns in Weld County, Ault Colorado lies north of Greeley on U.S. 85. Named for Alexander Ault, a grain merchant who saved town farmers from bankruptcy by buying wheat during difficult times, Ault remains true to its frontier and farming roots.
Ault anchors the northern end of the Pawnee Pioneer Trails scenic byway. The historic road traverses the Colorado Piedmont, a grand expanse of shortgrass prairie highlighted by the towering Pawnee Buttes. Watch for coyotes, prairie dogs, rattlesnakes, pronghorn antelope and hundreds of bird species along the way. Tracing the route, visitors can imagine what life was like for the homesteaders, frontiersmen and cattle ranchers who called the prairie home.
Liberty Park in downtown Ault is a grassy spot perfect for a picnic. Nearby, the town's main street features charming antique shops offering unique relics from the Colorado frontier. Every fall, Ault hosts two grand festivals: Fall Festival, featuring food, booths, and street dancing, and the International Food Fest in October.
South of Ault stands historic Fort Vasquez, a reconstructed 1835 adobe fur-trading fort. Annual Fort Vasquez museum events include the Kids' Fur Trade Rendezvous in September and May, and the Rendezvous Workshop Series in October and April.
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