Estes Park is a Statutory Town in Colorado with as estimated population of 6,006 (2006 census estimate). It is named after Missouri native Joel Estes who was the one who established Estes Park in 1859. Known for being a summer resort, Estes Park is also the headquarters of the Rocky Mountain National Park. The Stanley Hotel, located on the outskirts of the town infamously inspired author Stephen King to change the setting of his book 'The Shinning'. He changed it from an amusement park to the Overlook Hotel, which was the fictional stand in for the Stanley. In 1982, the town suffered from a severe flood when the Lawn Lake Dam failed.

Being a summer vacation destination, Estes Park has several historic ski areas which have been defunct. These include Davis Hill, Hidden Valley, Leydman Hill Jump, and Old Man's Mountain. The town is served by the Denver International Airport, which is located a short 38 miles away. Several major highways also serve Estes Park. They are US 34, US 36, and State Highway 7. The Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous highway in the United States starts at Estes Park. It runs through the Rock Mountain National Park and extends to Grand Lake over the continental divide. The sister city for Estes Park is Monteverde in Costa Rica

The town is also known for being the site of the organization of the Credit Union National Association. This was an important milestone in the history of credit unions in the United States.