History
Riviera Lake has a rich history that dates back to the 1880s. It was one of ten reservoirs built to store water from Bear Creek for use in irrigating ranch and farm lands in what is now Lakewood and Southwest Denver.
Originally known as Ward Lake #2, and then as Ward Reservoir #5, the reservoir was christened Riviera Lake in the 1950s by real estate developer Lou Carey to promote his small community of lakeside custom homes.
Because of the unique location, these homes are often passed down from generation to generation. Several homes today are owned by the children or grandchildren of the original homeowners, ensuring that the legacy of Riviera Lake lives on.
Enjoy a glimpse into our lake’s history by viewing the handwritten claims, hand drawn maps, and other documents that were filed with the state by the original settlers to lay claim to water rights for Riviera Lake.
1880s
William Shaw Ward
In September 1883, two early residents of Denver, William S. Ward and Panthea M. Kendrick (relation unclear), filed a declaration with the Arapahoe County District Court staking claim to water from Bear Creek. This water was to be taken at a headgate near the town of Morrison and delivered by Ward Ditch to a system of ten reservoirs for the irrigation of 5,000 acres of land. A map that accompanies this filing identifies our lake as Ward Lake #2, and notes that it was constructed in 1883. The water rights claimed in this filing were adjudicated in 1884 as the Elliott Decree, and today allow Riviera Lake to store water from Bear Creek.
In May 1889, William S. Ward and father-in-law Jasper D. Ward filed a new appropriation in the State Engineer’s office claiming the right to Clear Creek water, with a headgate from the Ag Ditch near the Ford Street Bridge in Golden delivering water down to the Ward Canal and then to our lake. By this time, Ward Lake #2 had been renamed Ward Reservoir #5, and its storage capacity had been enlarged from about 150 to 216 acre feet, with a surface area of 25 acres and a depth of 9 feet, according to State records. Ward Reservoir #5 was “constructed and enlarged for the purpose of storing water for domestic, agricultural, manufacturing, mining, milling and sanitary use.”
1920s to 1940s
Paul Whiteman (AP Photo 1935)
Paul Whiteman, a famed jazz conductor, purchased a ranch property in 1924 and built a house for his parents Wilberforce and Elfrida Whiteman.
By the 1930s, ownership of the reservoir was claimed by two different widows, Julia Merritt of New York City, NY and Nellie Hurt of Wheat Ridge, CO.
At some point, the Whiteman property came to own the irrigation reservoir that is now Riviera Lake. A boathouse built by the Whitemans on the lake still stands today, although it has been extensively renovated. It is grandfathered in as the only boat house allowed on Riviera Lake.
The Whiteman house was significantly altered and expanded after it was sold by the Whitemans in 1936 to Frenchman Henri deCompiegne. Ten years later deCompiegne sold the house to Fredrick W. Bonfils (of Denver Post fame) who lived there for two years with his wife before selling it in 1948 to Tex Harvey. For years, the Whiteman house served as a venue for social events and formal dance parties.
1950s to 1970s
Denver Post Ad (9 Sept 1955)
Riviera Circle Lake Club was formed in 1955 as part of the Harvey Park development in southwest Denver. Harvey Park was developed by Arthur “Tex” Harvey, a prominent oilman and Denver businessman. Harvey Park was created as part of a growth spurt in which the City and County of Denver annexed thousands of acres of former Arapahoe and Jefferson County ranchlands and farmlands to build houses during the post-World War II baby boom.
RCLC signed a contract with Mayflower Homes in 1957 from which it acquired “certain water stock, water rights and certain real property", all for Riviera Circle Lake. Thirty-seven custom ranch-style homes were built in the late 1950s on lots surrounding Riviera Circle Lake.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the lake was enjoyed by families with many children. HOA activities including boat regattas, water skiing events, lake olympics, and cross-lake tug of wars created a close community of homeowners. RCLC began its annual tradition of hosting a fireworks party for the neighborhood to enjoy on the last Saturday in August.