The town of Grand Lake was originally an outfitting and supply point for the mining settlements of Lulu City, Teller City, and Gaskill, but today is a tourist destination adjacent to the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, which surrounds the lake and the town on three sides.

He operated a stage line with his brother as well as saloons and other businesses in the early days of Grand Lake.

When he died he owned 300 acres of land in and around Grand Lake as well as interest in two mining operations.

He was referred to as "The Hermit of Grand Lake", but was known to have loaned money to locals, and rumored to have stashed up to $500,000 on his property.

[10] The intrigue surrounding the hermit and his wealth made the crime mystery a national story.

Lawrence Coffee was credited for helping identify the two suspects that would later confess to Selak's murder.

When found on August 17, Selak's remains were still hanging from the pine tree where he was killed almost a month earlier.

[14][15] The two perpetrators, Arthur Osborn, 22 at the time of the murder, and his cousin, Ray Noakes, 21, were found guilty and given the death penalty.

The wildfire rapidly spread eastward toward Grand Lake and into Rocky Mountain National Park.

The image to the right features a vintage post card of Grand Lake in its early days as a tourist attraction.

Lake and Granby reservoir are a vast new development for fishing, cabins and water sports."