Garden of the Gods, Colorado

Garden of the Gods
Colorado Springs, Colorado
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Colorado.

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The Beer Garden without the Beer...

In 1859,Colorado City was on the verge of being plotted out. Surveyors, M.S. Beach and Rufus Cable were sent out from Denver to checkout this unseen vast, rocky area. They came upon this space where colorful rocks seemed to have jutted up and out of the ground, leaning and shaped in so many different ways.  In actuality, they were formed from erosion, as softer sand shifted about over the years (many, many years) and these beauties are what is left behind.
The story goes, that M.S. Beach mentioned that the space would be perfect for a beer garden... I mean, they WERE planning out the city...but it was Rufus that saw the capabilities.  Not just any beer garden, says he... "Why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods!"
And... history and it's name sake had been made.  
Minus the beer part... when the property was donated to Colorado Springs, inside that agreement was an addendum to not serve alcohol... ever... 

But Garden of the Gods it truly is.  My daughter and I were able to visit in August with the sun shining bright and the blue skies framing every view, you'd think it would be smoldering hot, but it wasn't terrible. Every where you looked, it was absolutely breathtaking!
What was terrible was that I did that thing that everyone warns you not to do... I wore BRAND NEW hiking boots for the trail.  While it was not a treacherous uphill climb and most did it with normal tennis shoes, there were even some sandals, I chose to break in my new shoes here instead of on the hikes reserved for another day.  (It hurt that next day as well!) 
Oh... my feet hurt.
The 1.5 mile path is paved and smooth to make it perfect for walking at whatever your comfortable speed but also perfect for other modes of transportation. It is also wheelchair accessible. (see below!)
At the time I was there, they were reconstructing the parking lots which will be super nice when they get finished, but when your feet hurt (even if it was my own fault) every extra step was grueling. 
I was happiest out among the jutting rock sculptures but they also had an impressive Visitor's Center complete with a massive Souvenir shop and the Bean Sprout's Cafe!  
I do not mind spending money inside because the entire park is free.  Yes, that's right, no fees.  No parking fees, no hiking fees, no bathroom fees.  (They do charge for other services though) I am happy to support them with the purchase of a souvenir or a snack. (Yes!  They even had a small snack bar!)

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Choose Your Experience
They have so many ways for you to view this amazing park.  I chose to walk, but I did also do a drive through to get one last glimpse of everything before leaving the park.  You just don't want to leave because you know once you're gone, the pictures (all 346 of them) just won't do it justice.
Bicycle
Segway
Trolley
​Don't let anything stand in your way from seeing this place.  It is absolutely breathtaking!
For those more adventurous, there's also rock climbing (with permits) and horseback riding options as well! 

The Lonely Dinosaur

In 1878, a professor at Colorado College, James Kerr was doing some digging and discovered some dinosaur bones.  He believed them to be of the sea monster variety, and mailed his information of his find to the professors at Yale University.
In 1886, paleontologist, O.C. March came to Colorado and believed the specimen to be that of a Camptosauras.  He took the skull and sent it to the Peabody Museum for more tests, but they somehow forgot about it, and the poor dino was left untouched for 117 years!
In 1997, Dr. Kirk Johnson was on the team for the Visitor's Center Museum when knowledge of the Campto was brought to his attention.  Dr. Ken Carpenter made a plaster cast of the dino so they could share the news in a new exhibit.  The exhibit opened with great excitement and the dino was a lovely addition to the already informative Centre that discussed the Native Americans and the rocks and minerals, but Dr. Carpenter wasn't satisfied.  He felt the Capti was mis-identified.
In 2006, Dr. Carpenter and another associate, Kathleen Brill did a deeper study and took another long hard look at their one and only specimen.  They ultimately decided that it couldn't possibly be a Camptosauras!  They believed they found an entirely new species!
On May 24, 2008 the pair were happy to announce their discovery.  It is the only one of its kind.  They named the one and only dinosaur,  Theiophytalia Kerri. 

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Theios is of Greek origin, meaning “belonging to the gods” and phytalia means “garden.” Kerri honors the name of the scientist who first discovered this 125 million-year-old skull in Garden of the Gods Park.

You can stop in and see Theios just inside the Visitor's Centre

A Gift to the People

In 1879, General William Jackson Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs, invited his friend railroad magnate Charles Elliot Perkins to bring his railroad out his way and while he was there, snag up some land for himself.   Perkins visited the area and was so enamored with it, he ended up purchasing  240 acres including the massive rock formations. Over the years he would purchase more land to amass 480 acres.  He never built on it but it had always been welcoming to the public so they too could enjoy its beauty.
When Charles Perkins died in 1907, he had no plans laid out for the vast amount of property.  His children, knowing his heart decided to make a gift of the acreage to the city of Colorado Springs in 1909.

The park was donated to the City of Colorado Springs so long as it would remain free for everyone, forever. 

It would be known forever as the Garden of the Gods, “where it shall remain free to the public, where no intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured, sold, or dispensed, where no building or structure shall be erected except those necessary to properly care for, protect, and maintain the area as a public park.”

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The pictures just don't do it justice.  If you have the chance to witness the Garden of the Gods, I highly recommend it!  As I walked through the twisting trails, I was just in awe with every step.  I didn't want to take my eyes away, knowing that their sheer majesty would fade in my memory. 
Take lots of pictures and wear comfortable, already broke in shoes! 

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