For approximately 50 years beginning in 1920, a group of women fondly known as “the Bluebirds” visited Gold Hill each summer. They arrived via any means of transportation that existed at the time, including a “bus” driven by Tim Walters. We have been gifted with a found chassis from a garage in Gold Hill which is exactly like the one the Bluebirds would have taken.

It is our hope to refurbish this important piece of Gold Hill history.

Swing by and help us kick off phase II of the Blue Bird Bus restoration project’s fundraising campaign.

The action starts the morning of Sept. 5 at the Bocce Tournament in Gold Hill, on Pine Street, west of College. The bus will be there in all its glory. See the progress we’ve made over the last two years and help us plan a vision for the future.

As many of you know, these trucks were used in Glacier, Yellowstone, and Rocky Mountain national parks to transport tourists. Here in Gold Hill, they were used to bring the Blue Bird ladies to their Gold Hill summer residences, and at least one was used by the Walter family to haul products for various businesses and residents.

The fun starts at 8:30. We will have coffee and donuts, and volunteers will be standing by to help show off the bus and describe the work that has been done to date.

Generous local donors have provided us a $3,500 matching grant. We have set a fundraising goal of $10,000 to complete the restoration, which will include a canopy and benches.

The fundraising campaign begins now and will run through Sept. 30. We can accept cash, checks, Paypal and Venmo. You can also donate here. We look forward to seeing everyone then. Thanks for your support of the Blue Bird Bus Restoration Project and Historic Gold Hill Inc. We could not do this work without your help!