In 1999 the U.S. Forest Service and Historic Routt County! (HRC!) partnered to preserve the Mad Creek Barn, built in 1906 by early forest ranger Harry Ratliff. The building was added to the Routt County Register of Historic Places in 2000. The Colorado Historical Society's State Historical Fund provided funding for the stabilization of the barn. A series of preservation projects were initiated using a local contractor and HRC! volunteers. Work on the barn was largely completed in late 2001 and two interpretive signs were placed on the trail leading to the site.