Historic Cimarron is located south of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, about 20 miles from Montrose, Colorado. Its known history dates back to 1870s and Captain Cline who owned a 480-acre cattle and grain ranch there.

In the 1880s, the Denver and Rio Grande narrow gauge railroad was built through the Black Canyon, until then considered impossible. A construction camp was located near Cline's Ranch on Cimarron Creek. The name Cimarron appears to date back to the railroad construction time due to the landscape's similarity to Cimarron, New Mexico. And there must be similarities elsewhere, or a lack of fantasy, since there is also Cimarron, California, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. now, which one of these was the inspiration for the children's movie Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron?

Instead of disappearing as initially though as the railroad moved west Cimarron developed into a full railroad town due to the need for helper engines to cross the Cerro Summit.

Aside for servicing the ore mines of the San Juan mountains the D&RG railroad also provided scenic excursions all the way into the 20th century, including a hotel built in Cimarron.

Over time, mining declined and Cimarron became a major livestock shipping center. Eventually, large trucks on improved highways replaced the narrow gauge railroad. In 1949, the last scenic excursion train ran through the Black Canyon before the railroad was taken apart and removed.

Sources:

- Historic Cimarron and the Curecanti National Recreational Area on nps.gov
- Narrow Gauge Railroad Through Black Canyon on nps.gov