Abbott Church

Sun setting on a cloudy day. Devin San Luis (Atlas Obscura User)

The Abbott Church is a tiny nondenominational church about 100 miles east of Denver. The church is off the beaten path and stands in stark comparison to the surrounding farmlands.

To truly understand why the church is so far off the beaten path, is to understand the history of the region. The Homestead Act of 1862, a law that gave willing settlers 160 acres of public land to make their new homes, brought hundreds of settlers to the area. After six years of cultivating the land, the settlers were then given ownership of the property.

One of these new settlers was a man by the name of Albert Abbott, a rather successful settler who owned most of the land surrounding the church. Abbot’s land was just north of the up-and-coming town of Lindon. Seeing the town’s need for a church, Abbot had the building constructed in his namesake in 1913.

Today, the church acts as a county historical spot. It’s open to the public with no fee or appointment. The upkeep of the church is maintained by the local community who have had this elegant church around them their entire lives.

Know Before You Go

The Abbott Church is difficult to reach as the roads are mostly rock and gravel.

Take I-70 East out of Denver and pull off the interstate in the town of Byers, (if you have less than a half tank of gas, get gas in Byers). US-36 East will take you to County Road South. Head north to County Road 19 and the Abbott Church will be on your left.