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- Colorado Springs – A True Western Adventure
- Scenic & Historic Trains of Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Welcome to the Great Outdoors in Colorado Springs, Colorado
The strong heritage is obvious throughout Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region. If you’ve always wanted to live out your dream of becoming a cowboy, then take this opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture of the American West. Horseback ride, eat and learn about the lifestyle of the American cowboy as well as the original American Indian settlers to the area. The Pikes Peak region's first inhabitants were American Indian people. The Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho and other tribes gathered at the base of Pikes Peak, near its abundant springs and in what is now called Garden of the Gods Park. Inspired by a trip to the summit of Pikes Peak many years later during the late 1800’s, Katharine Lee Bates penned what has become our country's most famous poem and song, "America the Beautiful."
Get a glimpse of the first settlers at the Pioneers Museum in downtown Colorado Springs. Spend a day in the historic mining town of Cripple Creek and place a bet in one of the western-style casinos. Take a tour of the Outlaw and Jail museum. Visit the Pikes Peak Heritage Center and learn about gold mining yesterday and today, geologic and human history, view displays that showcase the unique mountain environment, and learn about regional recreational activities. Even stop by the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, the country's only 1,000-foot vertical shaft gold mine descends deep into the earth to explore the underground mine workings of the 1890's hard rock gold miner.
Manitou Cliff Dwellings - This rare, historical treasure was built by the Ancestral Pueblo tribes more than 700 years ago. At this unique attraction you are free to touch and even go inside these architectural remnants of an American Indian culture from the region.
Turn back your watch 100 years at the Ghost Town Museum or Buckskin Joe’s Frontier Town and Railroad where the old west explodes to life (even more convincing with gunfights throughout the day). Stop by Flying W Ranch for a Chuckwagon supper followed by a western stage show from the world’s second oldest western singing group, the Flying W Wranglers. If you’d like a more leisurely taste of the west, travel the old-fashioned way – on horseback. Take a tour through the Garden of the Gods with the real working cowboys of Academy Riding Stables as your guides.
Another option, totally immerse yourself in the cowboy and old west culture by staying or working on one of Colorado Spring’s many dude ranches. Stay, eat and help run one of our six functioning dude/guest ranches.
Whether you take an hour tour or stay an extra day or two, Colorado Springs provides an original western adventure.
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