Lost Canyon Ranch is the home of the historic Franktown Cave, a dry rockshelter in which one of the best-preserved collections of perishishable artifacts in the Western Great Plains region was discovered. Franktown Cave is 60 feet long, 20 feet deep and one of the only dry caves in the region. Archaeologists speculate that the cave housed two major cultures in different historical periods. It is presumed that the shelter was not a primary residence but used for shelter in inclement weather or for a hideout.

During three major excavations by university students, more than 4,000 artifacts were collected. These artifacts, dating back to approximately 3348 B.C. and 1600 A.D., include:

- Stone tools
- Pot Shards
- Sandals woven from yucca fibers
- Fragments of coiled baskets
- Animal snares
- Leather moccasins
- Fringed leather legging
- Stitched leather clothing
- A robe made from woven strips of rabbit hide

The Franktown Cave Collection is now housed at the University of Denver.

On February 1, 2006, the Franktown Cave was listed in the National Register of Historic places and the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties.


Official Notification of Designation