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With a growing economy, relatively mild winters and summers, and features of any modern urban area like parks, business centers, cultural opportunities, Colorado Springs has been recognized by many publications as one of the best larger cities in which to live in the United States.

Colorado Springs History

 

This picturesque setting near Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods provided General William Palmer inspiration to create a premiere resort community. Seeking to create an idyllic sanctuary away from the rough and tumble of the mining town of Old Colorado City, Palmer sought to create a totally dry town (which remained so until the end of Prohibition in 1933). Even going so far as to buy the land immediately east of Colorado City to create a buffer zone between the rambunctious miners and tourists, Palmer took extreme measures to make sure that his dream became a reality.

In the first years after the resort town was opened, Colorado Springs saw relative success in attracting tourists. The first resort hotel, Antlers Hotel, opened a couple of years after the first tourists came to town. Colorado Springs also earned the nickname of “Little London” for the large number of British tourists who flocked to the area. Other U.S. and international travelers also journeyed to Colorado Springs to seek out the high altitude and dry climate that was believed to promote well-being, especially among those who suffered from tuberculosis. Colorado Springs also attracted famed scientist Nikola Tesla, who chose the area to work on his high-voltage and high-frequency experiments.

To bring more people to his resort town, Palmer founded the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Along with other lines, Palmer’s railroads would become a vital transportation route not only for tourism, but to capitalize on the gold pouring from the mines of the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush.

Those who struck it rich in the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush and the surrounding industry did not stay in the mining boomtown of Colorado City. Instead, seeking a quieter place to settle, these more affluent people built their homes in nearby Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs Military

A major player in the Colorado Springs economy is the presence of the US Military. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Army established its first installation, Camp Carson, in Colorado Springs in 1942. Camp Carson served primarily to prepare new soldiers for service in World War II. The Army also began using the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport. Renamed Peterson Field, this facility still exists today and shares a flightline with the municipal airport.

The Korean War prompted the United States Air Defense Command to move to Colorado Springs, opening Ent Air Force Base. After the Korean War, Peterson Field was renamed Peterson Air Force Base and was permanently activated. In 1954 Camp Carson became Fort Carson, Colorado Springs' first Army post. Later that same year, President Dwight D. Eisenhower selected Colorado Springs, out of 300 other sites around the nation, to be the site of the Air Force's military academy. A new and growing Army post, an Air Force Base, and the Air Force's military academy together jump-started Colorado Springs' growth.

Through the Cold War, Colorado Springs continued to see military growth. In response to a growing Soviet airspace threat, NORAD established its main facility in Cheyenne Mountain in 1963. Because military spending grew at exponential rates during the Cold War, the Colorado Springs economy grew as a whole, and the city expanded vastly during that period. While Ent Air Force Base was decommissioned in 1983 and converted into the United States Olympic Training Center. The same year Falcon Air Force Base (later renamed as Schriever Air Force Base) was founded to aid in missile defense and satellite control.

Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation

The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services department of Colorado Springs maintains 7 regional parks, 8 community parks, 136 neighborhood parks, 5 sports complexes, 2 golf courses and 47 open space areas. The founder of Colorado Springs, General William Jackson Palmer began the park system in the city by donating over 1,200 acres of parkland, trails and scenic roadways. Some of the most popular locations include The Garden of the Gods, Memorial Park, North Slope Recreation Area, Palmer Park and Cheyenne Canyon.

Garden of the Gods
These unusual rock formations have attracted day visitors and rock climbers for almost 100 years. In addition to rock climbing, the park offers picnicking, hiking, horseback riding and running trails. Also in the park is the Rock Ledge Ranch, a working historical ranch giving visitors a glimpse of life 100 years ago.

North Slope Recreation Area
A short half-hour drive from Colorado Springs, the North Slope Recreation Area offers hiking trails, mountain biking, picnic areas, boating and fishing. Boating one of the parks three reservoirs is permitted. The park has handicapped accessible areas with some paved trails and fishing areas.

Memorial Park
This park is located one mile east of downtown and is home to a variety of sports facilities. At Memorial Park, one can find the Municipool, the Mark Pa Sertich Ice Center, two softball diamonds, tennis courts, a baseball park, and soccer fields. Also at the park is Prospect Lake. Fishing, swimming and boating are all popular activities at this lake. Cyclists train at an Olympic-size velodrome located at the park facility.

North Cheyenne Canyon and Palmer Park
Both of these parks exhibit the best of rugged Colorado scenery. Hiking trails and picnic facilities are popular at the park. Some trails are open to horses and dirt bikes.

Click here for more information on Colorado Springs parks

Colorado Springs Events and Attractions

 

Colorado Springs is home to a variety of events and attractions. Naturally, Colorado Springs is known by many for the best in outdoor adventures. Colorado Springs today is known for much more than the great outdoors! The city prides itself on offering many of the cultural opportunities and venues like other larger cities. Catch nationally known comedy acts, or see live music and theater. Great museums and galleries can also be found in Colorado Springs. Whether indoors or out, spring, summer, winter or fall, Colorado Springs has it all!

Events Calendar
For top events and attractions in Colorado Springs, The Gazette, Colorado Springs’ newspaper, has a great calendar. This calendar is updated weekly and is a great source of information if you want to find out what’s going on in Colorado Springs

Famous Colorado Springs Attractions

Pikes Peak Mountain
One of the most eastern peaks of the Rocky Mountains, Pikes Peak was, and continues to be, a symbol of America’s obsession with the frontier. “Pikes Peak or Bust” was the slogan of many seeking to make their fortune in the 1859 gold rush. Today this iconic peak is the second most visited mountain in the world behind Japan’s Mt Fuji. Even though Pike’s Peak towers over 14,000 feet above sea level, climbing this mountain by car is popular with tourists. Cars can traverse a 38 mile round trip trail that will take visitors to the summit of Pike’s Peak.

Cave of the Winds
One of Colorado’s most unique attractions, Cave of the Winds is home to some of the most stunning underground geologic displays in the world. Known to the Jicarilla Apaches as where the Great Spirit of the Wind resided, these caves were rediscovered in the late 1800’s, and have since been one of Colorado Springs’ greatest natural attractions.

Manitou Cliff Dwellings
The Manitou Cliff Dwellings is located in Manitou Springs, Colorado, at the foot of Pikes Peak. The Cliff Dwellings were home to the Anasazi and built more than 700 years ago. The Manitou Cliff Dwellings are open seven days a week, year round, except for Christmas Day and Thanksgiving. Authentic Native American dance is exhibited at the dwellings in the summer.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
See animals from around the world at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. In the “African Rift Valley” exhibit, see giraffes, meerkats, zebra, antelope and more. The “Primate World” features lion tailed macaques, orangutans, siamangs, and gorillas. In the “Asian Highlands” area, see tigers, Pallas cats and leopards. The new “Rocky Mountain Wild” exhibits features animals native to Colorado and beyond with moose, mountain lions, Canada lynx, North American river otters, grizzly bears and bald eagles.

For more information on Colorado Springs, CO visit the official website by clicking here

For the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau website click here

For the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce website click here

Monument Area Guide
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