Why Is Carl’s Point Named Carl’s Point?

The Story Behind the Attorney Who Helped Save South Table Mountain - 52 years in the making

by Mary Eiberger

In 1974, when neighbor Betty McFerren asked attorney Carl Frederick Eiberger II for help stopping a proposed quarry on South Table Mountain, he answered, “How can I help?” That moment sparked an effort that would span from 1974 to 1998, protecting one of Golden’s defining landscapes.

*Carl Eiberger (left) and Carl's daughter Mary at Carl's Point (right)*

Eiberger became a central leader of the Citizens Coalition to Preserve South Table Mountain, working alongside McFerren, Lowell Hudson, and hundreds of residents. The coalition organized public opposition, coordinated expert testimony, and sustained community engagement through years of hearings and legal challenges.

Facing a proposed 75-year quarry that would have permanently altered the mountain, Eiberger donated over a million dollars in legal services and helped guide the coalition through winning all 98 public hearings before Jefferson County commissioners, the Colorado Land Reclamation Board, and others. Expert testimony—including that of mining engineer S. Alex Scott—demonstrated the project’s risks and infeasibility.

The effort became one of Jefferson County’s most significant land-use battles, ultimately preserving approximately 1,484 acres. Don Parker of Save the Mesas is quoted as saying, “There would not be a South Table Mountain Park without Carl Eiberger.”

Eiberger’s legacy also includes founding Applewood Park and helping create ten other parks. In 2021, a scenic overlook was named Carl’s Point in his honor—a tribute to his leadership and to the community effort that ensured South Table Mountain— “the Gateway to the Rockies,” as quoted by The Denver Post—remains preserved for generations to come.