Seven Falls is a series of seven cascading waterfalls in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The sum of the height of the seven falls is 181 feet (55.17 m) and there are a total of 224 steps on the staircase from the base of the falls to the peak. In the late 19th century, some of the associated property was developed as a scenic resort. It was popular for a time with travelers who arrived by horse-drawn vehicles or by horseback or burro.
On December 5, 1872, Nathaniel Colby homesteaded the 160 acres (0.65 km2) that included the present-day Seven Falls and South Cheyenne Canyon. Nine months later he sold the land to the Colorado Springs Land Company for $1000.
Later owners realized little value from the land until 1882, when James Hull purchased the property for $1300. Mr. Hull was a naturalist who was disturbed to note the scenic beauty of the canyon was being threatened by the felling of trees for their lumber value. Hull had already purchased 160 acres (0.65 km2) west of Seven Falls for $500 and later secured an additional 80 acres (320,000 m2) by preemption in 1885. With 400 acres (1.6 km2) including the heart of the canyon, Hull became one of Colorado's earliest environmental protectors.
Hull was also a businessman, and he understood the value of the "ranch" as it was then called. He advertised the property as a scenic resort. He constructed a road through the canyon to the Seven Falls, and built a stairway along the side of the Falls so tourists could visit it. He installed a toll gate at the foot of the canyon to collect fees.
Access to the Falls in those days was largely by carriages, burros and saddle horses furnished by a local entrepreneur named Hunter. He paid a kind of concession fee to James Hull and his sons of $500 to take passengers to the Falls for 25 cents each. Business flourished, and Seven Falls became a prominent tourist attraction. Helen Hunt Jackson was among many prominent visitors who went to the resort for its beauty and healthful mountain air.
In 1900 after Hull's sons took over the property, the county assessor valued the property at $80,000. The local newspaper, The Gazette, suggested the value at over $200,000. In 1905 the property, then containing 1,400 acres (5.7 km2), was purchased by C.D. Weimer for $250,000.