Waterwheel, Historic waterwheel in McCoy, Eagle County, Colorado, United States.
Description
This 46-foot tall wooden waterwheel stands along the Colorado River, featuring 35 handcrafted buckets that rotate continuously to lift water 32 feet high for irrigation purposes.
History
Constructed in 1922 by rancher Earl Brooks using jackpine logs and hand tools, this waterwheel served as essential irrigation infrastructure during the early agricultural development of Eagle County.
Culture
The waterwheel represents the resourcefulness and engineering ingenuity of early 20th-century Colorado settlers who utilized local materials and natural river power to sustain their agricultural communities.
Practical
Located at coordinates 39.902786, -106.717235 in McCoy, the site is accessible year-round with interpretive signage explaining its historical function and significance to visitors.
Did you know?
This structure remains the last surviving waterwheel of many that once operated along the Colorado River, making it an extremely rare example of early water-lifting technology.
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