[3] The community is a lush area on the south side of the Cache la Poudre River, at the mouth of Rist Canyon, concealed from the open Colorado Piedmont near Fort Collins and LaPorte by the Bellvue Dome, also known as "Goat Hill".

The Colorado Division of Wildlife maintains a large trout hatchery in the valley just north of the Bellvue town site.

In 1860, Abner Loomis, who was also an early prominent resident of Fort Collins, settled on a ranch in the valley.

In 1873, Jacob Flowers arrived in the valley and set up a homestead on a parcel of land he purchased from Joseph Mason.

The influx of railroad workers to work the quarries prompted Flowers to open a general store, saloon, barber shop, and post office.