 Have you ever wondered what Cheyenne Mountain is all about? Where did it gets its name? What’s its history? What do you know about Cheyenne Mountain? What are those towers on top? Is NORAD still in Cheyenne Mountain? Just some of the answers to the questions above: Where did Cheyenne Mountain get its name? Named for the Cheyenne people. Native Americans found that Cheyenne Mtn was a good wood source for teepee poles. It was also visited by the Arapaho people. They sought spiritual inspiration from the mountain’s waterfalls. The Mountain was also used by the Ute Tribe to safely cross from the plains and benefit from its steep slopes and hidden valleys. Its history – what do you know about Cheyenne Mountain? Cheyenne Mountain is a triple-peaked mountain. The mountain serves as host for military, communications, recreational, and residential purposes. It was designed to withstand bombing and the fallout from a nuclear attack. The underground operations center for North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) was built in the 1960s during the Cold War to monitor the potential intrusion to North American airspace Soviet missile launches and military aircraft. Homesteading activity began in 1867. The mountain was the site of resorts and retreats beginning in the 1880s. Spencer Penrose, who built and widely promoted The Broadmoor in 1918, bought several properties on the mountain. Penrose built the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Highway, Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, a lodge on one of the mountain peaks, and a retreat at Emerald Valley. The site of the lodge recently became the wilderness Cloud Camp. Emerald Valley is now the site of The Broadmoor’s Ranch at Emerald Valley. Land on The Mountain once owned by The Broadmoor is now the site of numerous luxury homes. The two parks on and at the base of Cheyenne Mountain are Cheyenne Mountain State Park and North Cheyenne Cañon Park. What are those towers on top? You cannot miss the noticeable tower feature on the top of one of Cheyenne Mountain’s peaks. Those features are an antenna farm with transmitters for cellular phones, radio, television, and law enforcement transmitters. They are not related to the military installation in the mountain. They are obviously hidden from public view. During the 1950s, an antenna farm was built on the middle peak of the mountain when Bert Swisher deeded ten acres to Bud Edmonds and several backers and Swisher signed a non-compete agreement. Edmonds, John Browne, and Buck Ingersoll agreed to replace the trails to the area with a real road, which was opened in 1960 by the Cheyenne Propagation Company. Currently there are 700 cell phone, television, radio, and law enforcement transmitters on the antenna farm. The Cheyenne Mountain radio repeater site, 145.160, covers south central and southeast Colorado along the Interstate 25 corridor from Monument to the New Mexico border. Since 2002, it has been operated by Cheyenne Propagation Company. Is NORAD still in the Cheyenne Mountain? NORAD used to offer public tours, but due to security concerns they were suspended after 9-11. Most of the center’s operations moved to Peterson Air Force Base in 2006,. Then in April 2015, the Pentagon reported that some operations would be moving back. For more info, click here... Find out more about Cheyenne Mountain: More information on Cheyenne Mtn (Parks) – Click Here!
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Buena Vista is a small community with big time attractions and lots of things to do. Been There – Loved It!  * Best Fly Fishing in the state of Colorado, if not in the U.S. If you’re an experienced angler, you can set out on your own. However, beginners and those that want to improve their skills might want to hire a guide. * Perfect Base Camp for activities in the Arkansas River Valley – Horseback riding, Jeep tours, Mine tours, Rafting – Watch out for the Hair Raising Rapids of Pine Creek. For those that like to zipline, you will not be disappointed! * Access to the Monarch Crest Trail for biking – 11 miles all above 11,000 feet (Bring O2) – You can also access a lower altitude flatter trail in the area (No O2 required on this one). * Collegiate Peaks mountain climbing – A Fourteen-er Location that will add to your Over 50 list of Fourteen-er accomplishments in Colorado. * Quaint little home town feel to enjoy great shopping, art galleries and restaurants. There are also camping facilities in the area as well as boutique properties and other options which will keep you cozy and comfortable. An abundance of vacation rentals from mountain cabins to homes with Victorian-era charm are also great options! *Buena Vista is located in scenic Chaffee County between the Collegiate Peaks and the Arkansas River in south-central Colorado. It is known for its laid-back, mountain-town vibe!  Photo Credit: www.scenicbuenavista.com Buena Vista should be at the top of your “bucket list” of places to visit! For More: https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/buena-vista Related Travel Post: Vail Did you know that the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve has the tallest dunes in North America? The Sand Dunes of Colorado can reach as high as 750 Feet! The sand dunes constantly shift with the wind, water and time sculpting its appearance and beauty. The dunes are in the shadow of the Sangre de Cristo (“Blood of Christ”) Mountains. The Dunes stretch across 30 square miles with an average elevation of 7,500 feet.   Interesting Facts About the Sand Dunes in Colorado: 1) Members of the Ladies P.E.O. sponsored a bill to Congress asking for national monument status for the Great Sand Dunes. The bill was signed into law in 1932 by President Herbert Hoover. 2) In 2000-2004 the Sand Dunes in Colorado was expanded into a national park and preserve. 3) About 500,000+ people visit the Great Sand Dunes every year because of the oddly beautiful combination of desert dunes and high mountain peaks, the spring-time flow of Medano Creek, and dark, quiet nights in the Dunes wilderness. 4) Camping, hiking, and photography opportunities are plentiful in the area. “Visitors must walk across the wide and shallow Medano Creek to reach the dunes in spring and summer months. The creek typically has a peak flow from late May to early June in most years. From July through April, the creek is usually no more than a few inches deep, if there is any water at all. Hiking is permitted throughout the dunes with the warning that the sand surface temperature may reach 150 °F (66 °C) in summer. Sandboarding and sandsledding are popular activities, both done on specially designed equipment which can be rented just outside the park entrance or in Alamosa.” Source… The Great Sand Dunes of Colorado is a “Must See” Attraction!
All images courtesy of posted website links or wikipedia.com
Travel Related Post: Colorado Museums Enjoy going back in time by visiting these Colorado ruins! Put camping in Colorado on your activity list this summer! There are thousands of campsites in Colorado ready to help visitors experience the beauty of the state’s wilderness areas. Since there are so many campsites, it’s easy to find a tranquil spot to get back to basics and enjoy the simplicity of nature. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance. That means it's time to reserve your spot for this summer!  Basic Info to Know About Summer Camping in Colorado: 1) Colorado State Parks administers forty-two parks throughout the state. This system alone has more than 4,000 campsites. 2) In addition, the US Forest Service manages 14 million acres of land in the state’s 11 National Forests and two National Grasslands. 3) The Bureau of Land Management oversees an additional 8.4 million acres. 4) Both the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management have campsites that range from developed areas with restrooms, fire rings, water and other amenities to remote areas. They have no amenities and are reached only by horse, mountain bike or backpacking. Reservations can be made at recreation.gov. 5) There are many privately owned campsites in Colorado which have perks you may not find on public lands. These include playgrounds, hot tubs, laundry facilities and Wi-Fi. 6) One caveat for camping in Colorado is that the weather can change quickly, even in the summer months. It’s best to wear layered clothing. 7) You may be required to purchase a pass or permit depending on your location. Plan ahead by visiting the website listed below and the information posted at campground entrances.  Packing Essentials for Summer Camping in Colorado: (Courtesy of Camping in Colorado: The Basics) • Tent with a rain cover • Down sleeping bag (even in summer, it can get below freezing in Colorado’s higher altitudes) • Pillow and sleeping pad (keeps you warmer than just sleepin’ on the ground) • Camp stove and/or matches to use your campsite’s fire pit • Plenty of drinking water and food • Can opener, aluminum foil, paper plates, cups/mugs, utensils, multipurpose knife, trash bags, paper towels • Layers of clothing, including water-resistant coat, wool socks and long underwear • Flashlights/headlamps/lanterns • Sunscreen, bug spray, first-aid kit, toilet paper (Above Photo Courtesy of: Palisade Basecamp RV Resort) Camping in Colorado…A Camper’s Paradise!
Head for Steamboat Springs any season of the year – Here’s Why!  It's fun, beautiful and full of activity! Steamboat has a unique mix of warm sun, cowboy boots and friendly locals which gives an inviting and laid back atmosphere to this historic Colorado resort town. This is where western heritage meets outdoor adventure, and there's something for everyone to enjoy! Fun Activities & Entertainment: * Tubing at several locations – Howelsen Hill – Steamboat – Saddleback Ranch’s Yee-Haw Tubing Hill – Yampa River * Natural Hot Springs and Mineral Pools (To Die For – Very Relaxing!) * Steamboat Pro Rodeo – Old Fashion Wagon rides and Dinner * Slingshot Bungee Jump Trampoline (oh boy… be careful) * Plenty of music festivals all year round for all ages (Click the link below) * Mountain activities include, Hiking – Mountain biking – Horseback riding – ATV and Jeep tours – Hot air balloon rides * Steamboat is listed as one of "The 10 Best Ski Resorts in the US" by Snowpak.com * Travelers in the early 1900s visited Steamboat Springs in the summer months for the natural hot springs and the vast hunting and fishing opportunities * Your top destination to learn about the history of Steamboat Springs is the Tread of Pioneers Museum. It has engaging and interactive exhibits which feature local and regional American Western history.  Steamboat Springs is a “must visit” in Colorado! Find out more here: https://www.steamboatchamber.com/ Related Travel Post: Buena Vista Adventures Autumn Leaves Changing Colors As summer ends and autumn comes Days get shorter, misty and cold And in this spectacular season Nature’s beauty graciously unfold Trees get ready to slow down And in autumn take some rest And show amazing colors of love That are all at their best  Green fades away quickly And yellow and orange appear To show off their vibrant hues And warmup their surrounding dear Sunlight and cool nights of autumn Help leaves to turn orangish red And combine all things smoothly To add magic in season’s lovely bed And all this shedding and replacement Of leaves continue throughout the year And trees only shed leaves in autumn To prepare for another winter dear This is God’s spectacular display Of beautiful colors of the fall During which many changes occur Including yellow, orange and red of all. ***Inspired by the changing colors of Autumn in Canada. Enjoy Autumn with these Pumpkin Dessert Recipes - Click Here  The Cumbres and Toltec Railroad is a National Historic Landmark. It's a 64-mile day trip that you will thoroughly enjoy and never forget. The narrow-gauge heritage railroad operates between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. It crosses the borders of Colorado and New Mexico 11 times as it chugs its way up and over the 10,015′ high Cumbres Pass. The Cumbres & Toltec goes where no automobile can go. Most of the route is through “off-the-grid” wilderness, so you’ll experience views into canyons and over ridges that can’t be seen in any other way. The train travels at a top speed of 12 miles an hour, and that’s the beauty of it! You won’t miss the aspen groves, the wildflowers, the steep mountain canyons, or the plentiful wildlife. The steam engine is coal fired and carries you through steep mountain canyons, high desert, and lush meadows as you zig zag between the Colorado and New Mexico borders. There is, indeed, spectacular and rare Western scenery which can only be viewed from the train's unique route. The Cumbres and Toltec Railroad has steamed through history and across the Rocky Mountains since 1880, when first tracks were laid across Cumbres Pass. This unique experience will take you back in time and off of the grid so you can experience the sounds, steam and steel of bygone years. Your daily grind can’t follow you into the great, unspoiled West. Originally part of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad's narrow-gauge network, the line has been jointly owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico since 1970. In 1988, a nonprofit organization called the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was established to preserve the history of the railroad and help maintain infrastructure and rolling stock. The Friends of the C&TSRR also participates in various education programs and provides the railroad guides, known as docents, who inform passengers about historical aspects of the railroad as well as locations of interest. (Image Courtesy of Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad) A recent honor: USA Today - "Best Train Ride in America” Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad ranks among the most authentic steam-operated railroads still in existence. Passengers aboard this National Historic Landmark travel along a track laid in 1880 between Chama, N.M. and Antonito, Colo. Source... Related Travel Info... Did you know there are hot springs destinations in Colorado? For hundreds of years Coloradans have flocked to the relaxing and healing waters that are distinct to natural hot springs. Due to the heat and minerals found in these hot springs all over Colorado, they are said to have healing properties which leave you feeling rejuvenated! Hot spring pools are, without a doubt, extremely relaxing and beautiful. Why should we make a trip to an Earth’s natural spa? The main benefits of hot spring pools are:
With all these therapeutic benefits, how could you not want to make your way to a hot spring? We created a list of some of the most popular hot springs to visit in Colorado. We hope you’ll go check them out! (For more Hot Springs Destinations in Colorado, Click Here) Click on each title to go to their website. 1. Avalanche Ranch      |
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