Rick’s guidebook

Rick
Rick’s guidebook

Sightseeing

Pikes Peak Regional Attractions
Pikes Peak in Colorado is an American icon. From Native American tribes to early settlers to modern day travelers, this mountain resonates differently with each individual. Composed of granite and shaped by glaciers over millions of years, Pikes Peak mountain is a stunning backdrop for the modern city of Colorado Springs. The Ute Indians called it "Ta-Wa-Ah-Gath" or “Sun Mountain Sitting Big” and passed by the mountain as they traveled from their summer encampments to their winter hunting grounds. It was discovered by Spanish settlers during the 1700s. In 1803, Pikes Peak mountain became part of the United States as part of the vast Louisiana Purchase. Three years later in 1806, Lt. Zebulon Pike was sent to explore the borders of the new territory. Pike’s journey was a companion to the Lewis and Clark expedition. On November 24, 1806, Lt. Zebulon Montgomery Pike set out from his stop near modern-day Pueblo, Colorado, to climb the mountain. He was forced back by a blizzard and declared that no man would ever reach the 14,110-foot summit that now bears his name. Since the time when Lt. Pike first saw the mountain that would eventually carry his name, Pikes Peak mountain has played a significant role in the development and allure of the Pikes Peak region. In the 1850s, gold seekers heading west emblazoned “Pikes Peak or Bust” on the canvas of their covered wagons. Katharine Lee Bates, inspired by what she saw when she arrived at the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado in 1893, immortalized the mountain in her beloved anthem “America the Beautiful.” It is an ageless sentinel that overlooks the peaks and plains of Colorado, an enduring symbol of mountain majesty and western spirit.
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Pikes Peak Summit House
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Pikes Peak in Colorado is an American icon. From Native American tribes to early settlers to modern day travelers, this mountain resonates differently with each individual. Composed of granite and shaped by glaciers over millions of years, Pikes Peak mountain is a stunning backdrop for the modern city of Colorado Springs. The Ute Indians called it "Ta-Wa-Ah-Gath" or “Sun Mountain Sitting Big” and passed by the mountain as they traveled from their summer encampments to their winter hunting grounds. It was discovered by Spanish settlers during the 1700s. In 1803, Pikes Peak mountain became part of the United States as part of the vast Louisiana Purchase. Three years later in 1806, Lt. Zebulon Pike was sent to explore the borders of the new territory. Pike’s journey was a companion to the Lewis and Clark expedition. On November 24, 1806, Lt. Zebulon Montgomery Pike set out from his stop near modern-day Pueblo, Colorado, to climb the mountain. He was forced back by a blizzard and declared that no man would ever reach the 14,110-foot summit that now bears his name. Since the time when Lt. Pike first saw the mountain that would eventually carry his name, Pikes Peak mountain has played a significant role in the development and allure of the Pikes Peak region. In the 1850s, gold seekers heading west emblazoned “Pikes Peak or Bust” on the canvas of their covered wagons. Katharine Lee Bates, inspired by what she saw when she arrived at the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado in 1893, immortalized the mountain in her beloved anthem “America the Beautiful.” It is an ageless sentinel that overlooks the peaks and plains of Colorado, an enduring symbol of mountain majesty and western spirit.
History of the Garden of the Gods Early Inhabitants The human history of the Garden of the Gods commences many centuries before our present time. Stone hearths and fire rings found in the Garden dating over 3000 years ago indicate the presence of early inhabitants, according to Ute traditions, their people have always lived in this area, not having any stories of migration from elsewhere. The Utes were known to winter in the Garden of the Gods prior to removal to reservations in southwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah. How the Park was Named Modern history of the Garden begins in 1858 when gold was discovered along the Front Range and in South Park, northwest of Colorado Springs. Thousands of prospectors and settlers flocked to the area, including a party from Lawrence, Kansas, who camped along the stream known as Camp Creek, and carved their names on the sandstone boulder we call “Signature Rock.” In 1859, the Garden was named by two surveyors who were laying out the town of Colorado City, south of the Park. As they were riding their horses through the Garden, Malancthon Beach remarked the place would be a “capital place for a beer garden.” Rufus Cable replied, “Beer Garden! Why it is a place fit for the gods to assemble. We will call it “Garden of the Gods.” A City Park The city of Colorado Springs was founded in 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer, founder of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, who built his home in Queens Canyon, just north of the Park. In 1879, General Palmer talked a fellow railroad man, Charles Elliot Perkins, into buying 240 acres of the Central Garden for a summer home. Perkins later added another 240 acres. However, he never built on the land but always kept it open to the public. It became Mr. Perkins wish to give the land to the city of Colorado Springs for a park, but he died before making these wishes know in a will. However, his 6 children honored his wishes, and on Christmas Day of 1909 the 480 acres were conveyed to the city with the provision it would always remain free to the public. Later acquisitions by the city brought the total park size to 1,367 acres.
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Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center
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History of the Garden of the Gods Early Inhabitants The human history of the Garden of the Gods commences many centuries before our present time. Stone hearths and fire rings found in the Garden dating over 3000 years ago indicate the presence of early inhabitants, according to Ute traditions, their people have always lived in this area, not having any stories of migration from elsewhere. The Utes were known to winter in the Garden of the Gods prior to removal to reservations in southwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah. How the Park was Named Modern history of the Garden begins in 1858 when gold was discovered along the Front Range and in South Park, northwest of Colorado Springs. Thousands of prospectors and settlers flocked to the area, including a party from Lawrence, Kansas, who camped along the stream known as Camp Creek, and carved their names on the sandstone boulder we call “Signature Rock.” In 1859, the Garden was named by two surveyors who were laying out the town of Colorado City, south of the Park. As they were riding their horses through the Garden, Malancthon Beach remarked the place would be a “capital place for a beer garden.” Rufus Cable replied, “Beer Garden! Why it is a place fit for the gods to assemble. We will call it “Garden of the Gods.” A City Park The city of Colorado Springs was founded in 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer, founder of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, who built his home in Queens Canyon, just north of the Park. In 1879, General Palmer talked a fellow railroad man, Charles Elliot Perkins, into buying 240 acres of the Central Garden for a summer home. Perkins later added another 240 acres. However, he never built on the land but always kept it open to the public. It became Mr. Perkins wish to give the land to the city of Colorado Springs for a park, but he died before making these wishes know in a will. However, his 6 children honored his wishes, and on Christmas Day of 1909 the 480 acres were conveyed to the city with the provision it would always remain free to the public. Later acquisitions by the city brought the total park size to 1,367 acres.
CRIPPLE CREEK HISTORY Cripple Creek’s history begins with the Native Americans, the Ute tribe, who lived off the land. Cripple Creek was put on the map by a cowboy named Bob Womack, who for almost 15 years searched the southwest slope of Pikes Peak for gold. In 1890 he finally discovered the precious metal in Poverty Gulch, which later became the town of Cripple Creek. Thousands of prospectors flocked to the region between 1890 and 1910 and it became the “World’s Greatest Gold Camp.” More than 22,400,000 ounces of gold was extracted from more than 500 mines in the Cripple Creek and Victor region. This amounted to $11.2 billion (in today’s dollars) in gold. After 1900, the area’s gold production declined, and by the early 1940’s gold production was down to less than one percent of what it once was. By 1990, the town was almost dead with only 600 residents, but in 1991 with legalized gambling, the town was revived. Many of the old town’s historic buildings were refurbished as casinos. In 1995, an open-pit mining operation was established at what was the site of the former Cresson Mine. Today, that mine annually produces over 250,000 ounces of gold and is the largest mining operation in the continental United States. The Cripple Creek Historic District is designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service. Today, visitors to the area can experience the rich Cripple Creek, history through its shops, attractions and museums. • The Cripple Creek Heritage Center is a great way to for visitors to immerse themselves in the past, with hands-on exhibits that will entertain and educate you on Cripple Creek’s history. • The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine allows people to go 1,000 feet underground in a historic gold mine. • The Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad takes people on a train ride through the old mining days.
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Cripple Creek
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CRIPPLE CREEK HISTORY Cripple Creek’s history begins with the Native Americans, the Ute tribe, who lived off the land. Cripple Creek was put on the map by a cowboy named Bob Womack, who for almost 15 years searched the southwest slope of Pikes Peak for gold. In 1890 he finally discovered the precious metal in Poverty Gulch, which later became the town of Cripple Creek. Thousands of prospectors flocked to the region between 1890 and 1910 and it became the “World’s Greatest Gold Camp.” More than 22,400,000 ounces of gold was extracted from more than 500 mines in the Cripple Creek and Victor region. This amounted to $11.2 billion (in today’s dollars) in gold. After 1900, the area’s gold production declined, and by the early 1940’s gold production was down to less than one percent of what it once was. By 1990, the town was almost dead with only 600 residents, but in 1991 with legalized gambling, the town was revived. Many of the old town’s historic buildings were refurbished as casinos. In 1995, an open-pit mining operation was established at what was the site of the former Cresson Mine. Today, that mine annually produces over 250,000 ounces of gold and is the largest mining operation in the continental United States. The Cripple Creek Historic District is designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service. Today, visitors to the area can experience the rich Cripple Creek, history through its shops, attractions and museums. • The Cripple Creek Heritage Center is a great way to for visitors to immerse themselves in the past, with hands-on exhibits that will entertain and educate you on Cripple Creek’s history. • The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine allows people to go 1,000 feet underground in a historic gold mine. • The Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad takes people on a train ride through the old mining days.
Royal Gorge The Royal Gorge is a spectacular canyon along the Arkansas River near Cañon City in south-central Colorado. With a narrowest width of just 30 feet at the bottom of the canyon and a depth exceeding 1,200 feet in some places, the nearly ten-mile-long canyon is considered a world wonder of geology. With its iconic red granite formations and extreme height, the Royal Gorge was dubbed the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas River by the first American explorers to see it. As an ancient wintering location for Ute Native Americans, as the site of intense and sometimes violent feuds between corporations, and now as a popular location for tourists, Colorado’s Royal Gorge stands as an iconic piece of the state’s history. Royal Gorge Bridge and Amusement Park In 1906 Congress voted to give the Royal Gorge and surrounding land to Cañon City, Colorado. In 1929, Cañon City authorized the Royal Gorge Bridge and Amusement Company to build the Royal Gorge Bridge. At 1,053 feet above the river, the bridge is the highest suspension bridge in the United States and one of the highest in the world. The project was financed by Lon P. Piper, president of the newly formed Royal Gorge Bridge and Amusement Company, with another Kansas architect, George E. Cole, who served as chief engineer of the project. Construction began on June 4, 1929 and was completed by early December 1929 at a cost of $350,000. From start to finish, visitors came each day from across the United States to marvel at the construction of the bridge and the grandeur of the canyon. The Royal Gorge Bridge officially opened to the general public on December 8, 1929. To finance the construction and ongoing maintenance of the bridge, a toll of 75 cents per person was charged to those who wished to cross it, beginning the bridge’s long career as a preeminent tourist destination. The Royal Gorge Bridge has attracted more than 25 million visitors since opening and is the centerpiece of the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park Amusement Company’s 360-acre theme park.
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Royal Gorge
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Royal Gorge The Royal Gorge is a spectacular canyon along the Arkansas River near Cañon City in south-central Colorado. With a narrowest width of just 30 feet at the bottom of the canyon and a depth exceeding 1,200 feet in some places, the nearly ten-mile-long canyon is considered a world wonder of geology. With its iconic red granite formations and extreme height, the Royal Gorge was dubbed the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas River by the first American explorers to see it. As an ancient wintering location for Ute Native Americans, as the site of intense and sometimes violent feuds between corporations, and now as a popular location for tourists, Colorado’s Royal Gorge stands as an iconic piece of the state’s history. Royal Gorge Bridge and Amusement Park In 1906 Congress voted to give the Royal Gorge and surrounding land to Cañon City, Colorado. In 1929, Cañon City authorized the Royal Gorge Bridge and Amusement Company to build the Royal Gorge Bridge. At 1,053 feet above the river, the bridge is the highest suspension bridge in the United States and one of the highest in the world. The project was financed by Lon P. Piper, president of the newly formed Royal Gorge Bridge and Amusement Company, with another Kansas architect, George E. Cole, who served as chief engineer of the project. Construction began on June 4, 1929 and was completed by early December 1929 at a cost of $350,000. From start to finish, visitors came each day from across the United States to marvel at the construction of the bridge and the grandeur of the canyon. The Royal Gorge Bridge officially opened to the general public on December 8, 1929. To finance the construction and ongoing maintenance of the bridge, a toll of 75 cents per person was charged to those who wished to cross it, beginning the bridge’s long career as a preeminent tourist destination. The Royal Gorge Bridge has attracted more than 25 million visitors since opening and is the centerpiece of the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park Amusement Company’s 360-acre theme park.
History books might show Colorado’s own Cave of the Winds as being discovered 147 years ago, but the caves are actually millions of years old! As early legends of over a thousand years ago tell, the Jicarilla Apaches told of a cave near Manitou Springs where the Great Spirit of the Wind resided. In 1869, a Colorado settler named Arthur B. Love noticed a thin cleft in the western wall of Williams Canyon. Upon further inspection, he discovered a dramatic limestone archway and cave entrance to what we know as Cave of the Winds Mountain Park. Nothing much happened with the caves after that until 1880, when two brothers named George and John Pickett went exploring for new caves in the Williams Canyon area. As they were searching, the Pickett brothers found a small shelter cave near the same limestone archway that Love had discovered. As they approached the mouth of the limestone entrance, legend has it that their candles flickered mysteriously in the wind blowing from a nearby crevice. This signaled them to explore further, and when they crawled through the limestone archway, they discovered a large chamber unlike anything ever seen before. This discovery promised the Pickett brothers an amazing and dramatic new underground world to explore, unlike anything ever experienced! Exploration of Cave of the Winds was further opened up by an Ohio stonecutter named George Washington Snyder, who came to Colorado seeking his fame and fortune. Late in 1880, Snyder excavated several passages of the stunning Williams Canyon caves and uncovered Canopy Hall. In awe of its beauty, Snyder said, it was as though Aladdin with his wonderful lamp had affected the magic result. After discovering the massive caves, he continued to excavate and began to offer guided tours in 1881. Electricity was brought into parts of the caves on July 4, 1907, making it even easier to tour certain caves. Operations have continued at Cave of the Winds since 1881.
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Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
100 Cave of the Winds Rd
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History books might show Colorado’s own Cave of the Winds as being discovered 147 years ago, but the caves are actually millions of years old! As early legends of over a thousand years ago tell, the Jicarilla Apaches told of a cave near Manitou Springs where the Great Spirit of the Wind resided. In 1869, a Colorado settler named Arthur B. Love noticed a thin cleft in the western wall of Williams Canyon. Upon further inspection, he discovered a dramatic limestone archway and cave entrance to what we know as Cave of the Winds Mountain Park. Nothing much happened with the caves after that until 1880, when two brothers named George and John Pickett went exploring for new caves in the Williams Canyon area. As they were searching, the Pickett brothers found a small shelter cave near the same limestone archway that Love had discovered. As they approached the mouth of the limestone entrance, legend has it that their candles flickered mysteriously in the wind blowing from a nearby crevice. This signaled them to explore further, and when they crawled through the limestone archway, they discovered a large chamber unlike anything ever seen before. This discovery promised the Pickett brothers an amazing and dramatic new underground world to explore, unlike anything ever experienced! Exploration of Cave of the Winds was further opened up by an Ohio stonecutter named George Washington Snyder, who came to Colorado seeking his fame and fortune. Late in 1880, Snyder excavated several passages of the stunning Williams Canyon caves and uncovered Canopy Hall. In awe of its beauty, Snyder said, it was as though Aladdin with his wonderful lamp had affected the magic result. After discovering the massive caves, he continued to excavate and began to offer guided tours in 1881. Electricity was brought into parts of the caves on July 4, 1907, making it even easier to tour certain caves. Operations have continued at Cave of the Winds since 1881.
Some of these trails might be impassable in the winter. The link to ALLTRAILS is below. https://www.alltrails.com/explore/us/colorado/cascade?a[]=hiking
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Woodland Park
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Some of these trails might be impassable in the winter. The link to ALLTRAILS is below. https://www.alltrails.com/explore/us/colorado/cascade?a[]=hiking
St. Elmo is a ghost town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1880, St. Elmo lies in the heart of the Sawatch Range, 20 miles southwest of Buena Vista and sits at an elevation of 9,961 feet. Nearly 2,000 people settled in this town when mining for gold and silver started. The mining industry started to decline in the early 1920s, and in 1922 the railroad discontinued service. The community is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the St. Elmo Historic District. It is one of Colorado's best preserved ghost towns. Alpine Lakes right around St. Elmo, must have 4Wheel Drive https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/2453-baldwin-lake https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/313-grizzly-lake https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/423-pomeroy-lakes
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Saint Elmo
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St. Elmo is a ghost town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1880, St. Elmo lies in the heart of the Sawatch Range, 20 miles southwest of Buena Vista and sits at an elevation of 9,961 feet. Nearly 2,000 people settled in this town when mining for gold and silver started. The mining industry started to decline in the early 1920s, and in 1922 the railroad discontinued service. The community is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the St. Elmo Historic District. It is one of Colorado's best preserved ghost towns. Alpine Lakes right around St. Elmo, must have 4Wheel Drive https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/2453-baldwin-lake https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/313-grizzly-lake https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/423-pomeroy-lakes

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Grocery Stores (within 10 miles) Walmart - Woodlan Park Safeway - Woodland Park Natural Grocer - Woodland Park City Market - Woodland Park Venture Food - Divide Best Restaurants (within 20 miles) Wines of Colorado - Cascade Swiss Chalet - Woodland Park Mountainara Cucina - Woodland Park Iron Tree - Florissant The Creek - Cripple Creek The Hungry Bear - Woodland Park (breakfast) Local attractions Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Cripple Creek For more visit, pikes-peak dot com