Tourism in Colorado Springs

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Main article: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Much tourism in Colorado Springs is attracted to the surrounding area, most famously Pikes Peak. The city has numerous trails and parks due to its proximity to the Rocky Mountains, making the city a popular destination for its scenery. With the mountains as close as they are, Colorado Springs has also gained fame for its rock formations and other geological features. Tourism is the city's third largest industry.

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[edit] Early tourism

Early travelers were attracted to the city's high altitude and dry air for recuperation from tuberculosis. Sanatoriums of all shapes and sizes sprung up, though most were not built in the residential city. Many of the buildings survive, though they are no longer used for medical purposes. The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs' Main Hall is a prime example of a sanatorium in the city retrofitted for another purpose.

The Antlers Hotel, named for the extensive antler collection of General Palmer that adorned its walls, was the premier hotel in the area. That honor now goes to the Broadmoor Hotel, opened by Spencer Penrose.

In 1960 the city was the site of the National Scout Jamboree.

[edit] Modern tourism

As new medicines for tuberculosis were introduced, and British tourism declined to the United States during the World Wars and depressions, Colorado Springs was faced with declining tourism. The mass ownership of automobiles, the building of the National Highway System and the decline of Passenger Rail (currently not available to the city) brought a new kind of traveler to Colorado Springs and is a driving force behind how the city's tourist attractions operate today.

[edit] Tourist-oriented districts

For a complete list of registered historic places, see List of Registered Historic Places in Colorado El Paso County

  • Colorado Springs Downtown, the oldest part of the original city, planned by founder General William Palmer, has many shops and interesting buildings, including the city's earliest high rises. The Lon Chaney Theater, housed in the Colorado Springs City Auditorium and numerous civic and private buildings in the area are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Pioneers Museum, originally the county courthouse, houses an extensive collection of early city history. The Pikes Peak Center houses traveling and local musical and theatrical performances.
  • Memorial Park and its adjacent areas are home to the Printer's Home, the Firefighter's Museum, the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, the United States Olympic Training Center, and the two oldest hospitals in the city (Beth-el Nursing School was once located here as well). The area consists mainly of houses constructed directly after World War II for young families eager to move to the suburbs.
  • The North End, Primarily consisting of newer suburbs, is home to the sprawling campus of the United States Air Force Academy[2] famous for its unique architecture, particularly its 17-steepled cadet chapel. The Focus on the Family visitor center, children's center, and head offices are located on the North End, with tours available of facilities.

[edit] Attractions

These attractions have not been placed in a neighborhood:

According to the Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau [3], the area attracts some six million visitors yearly.

[edit] Events

Colorado Springs and nearby Manitou Springs host dozens of festivals and competitions each year, including:

  • The State Games of America
  • The Pikes Peak Marathon and Pikes Peak Ascent, an annual run to the top of the mountain, the marathon completes the entire ascent and descent back into Manitou.
  • The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, an annual automobile race with multiple car classes over several days.
  • Frontier Days
  • The Colorado Balloon Classic, the largest hot air balloon event in the area.
  • Parades and festivities for most major holidays, including the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, St Patrick's Day and Mardi Gras.
  • Host of the 2008 National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association National Championship Tournament.

[edit] Famous hotels

  • The Antlers Hilton Hotel, one of the first buildings to be erected in the city. Unfortunately, the original hotel no longer stands. A complex of modern towers now occupy the block, one still a hotel bearing the name.
  • The Broadmoor Hotel and Resort, a luxury resort and conference center rated Five-Star by Mobil and Five-Diamond by AAA, since the beginning of both.[4]
  • The Cliff House at Pikes Peak, a luxury boutique hotel located 10 minutes west of downtown in Manitou Springs.

[edit] Musical organizations

[edit] See also