Memorial Day, 2016 Summer Fun Guide

CourierPikes Peak

T e l l e r C o u n t y , C o l o r a d o

Teller County Calendar – Summer 2016

May 29-Labor Day, daily except Thursdays: Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company Tours, Vic-tor – By reservation, VictorColorado.com

3: Farmers Market Fridays 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., Woodland Park Station

3: Jazz in June – Woodland Park Music Series – Ute Pass Cultural Center

8: Teller County Kids Bike Rodeo – Meadow Wood Sports Complex, Woodland Park

10-16: Cripple Creek Top of the World Rodeo, Cripple Creek

11: Full Moon Tour, Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, Divide

11: Outdoor Family Fun – Dinosaur Resource Center, Woodland Park

11: Woodland Music Series “Pikes Peak Brass Band” – Ute Pass Cultural Center


17-19: Victor Gem & Mineral Show, Victor

19: Father’s Day Celebtration – Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center – Divide

24-July 4: “Once Upon a Time in the West” Art Show – Heritage Center, Cripple Creek


24-August 27: “Darling of the Donkey Derby” (Melo-drama & Summer Olio) – Thin Air Theatre Company,

Symphony Above the Clouds returns July 5 at Woodland Park Middle School. /Photo illustration by Avalon A. Manly for The Courier

Events, history and getting the most out of the season

More on page 2The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center off ers Full Moon tours. /Photo by Avalon A. Manly

Gaming in Cripple Creek:read more on page 10

2 Pikes Peak Courier Summer Fun Guide May 25, 2016www.PikesPeakNewspapers.com

Cripple Creek

25-26: Donkey Derby Days – Cripple Creek

26: Pikes Peak International Hill Climb – Pikes Peak Highway


1-August 27: “Pippin” A Musical – Thin Air Theatre Company, Cripple Creek

2: Outdoor Art/Craft Fair, Dinosaur Resource Center, Woodland Park

4: Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration

4: July 4th Fireworks – Woodland Park

4: July 4th Fireworks – Cripple Creek

5: Symphony Above the Clouds – Woodland Park Middle School


9: Woodland Music Series “Purely Blue-Grass” – Midland Pavilion

15: Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce 29th Annual Gold Tournament


16: Full Moon Tour – Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, Divide



30: Ute Pass Hike and Bike – Aspen Valley Ranch


6: Vino & Notes – Woodland Station, Woodland Park

6 & 7: 31st Annual Mountain Arts Festival – Midland Pavilion

6 & 7: Critter Rescue Roundup – Dinosaur Resource Center, Woodland Park

10: Touch a Truck Day – Meadow Wood Park, Woodland Park


13: Mayor’s Cup 5K & 10K Run – Woodland Park

13: Woodland Music Series “Jazz – Big Band” – Midland

Pavilion

13: Quilts in the Aspens – Woodland Park Middle School

19-21: Salute to American Veterans Rally – Cripple Creek


20: Full Moon Tour – Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, Divide


27: Alpine Music Festival – Divide

Teller County Calendar – Summer 2016 Continued from page 1

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Woodland Park celebrates its quasquicentennial By Pat HillFor the Courier

Better bring your party hats, noise-makers and plenty of candles when you come to Woodland Park this year because 2016 marks the 125th anniversary of the City Above the Clouds.

It’s going to be one long celebration.Events throughout the year will cel-

ebrate the birthday with careful attention to honoring the town’s history and tradi-tion, but with an eagle eye on the future.

The founding of Woodland Park isn’t the only notable milestone being toasted.

The year-long celebration includes a tribute to the past with the 40th anniver-sary of the founding of the Ute Pass His-torical Society.

“We’ve come a long way since 1891, so it’s important to retrieve and save as much of that history as possible,” said Donna Finicle, the society’s president.

Woodland Park was incorporated on Jan. 26, 1891, when the town had a popu-lation of 122. The surrounding area was home to several thousand additional resi-dents.

Thanks to the arrival of the Colorado Midland Railroad in 1887, the population had increased signifi cantly.

The same is true for the area’s three main industries: lumbering, mining, and tourism. Saw mills, gold and silver mines, and resort hotels dotted the mountains and forests that surround Woodland Park.

In the early years, Woodland Park was one of the last places in the Ute Pass area to stock up on supplies before going into the wild country, Finicle said.

But Woodland Park was not a wide-open mountain town, Finicle said.

“The town was straitlaced and con-cerned about lawlessness, and the fi rst building erected was the town jail in 1891,” she said. “The original town jail, or cala-boose, is located at UPHS’ History Park.

“Some of the fi rst laws on the books concerned cursing and spitting in public. Cattle rustlers, cowboys, railroaders, In-dians, and miners represent the history of Woodland Park.

“Schools and churches were soon part of the expanding area. As some opportu-nities faded with the changing economy, emphasis shifted more to tourism. Dude ranches catered to those seeking a taste of the Wild West.”

Over the years, it was transformed from a hotbed of gambling, drinking, street-fi ghting, and other “entertainments” into the family-friendly — actually, everyone-friendly — city of 8,000-plus residents that it is today.

Special events marking the anniversa-ry will be held throughout the year.

Events such as Cruise above the Clouds, Oktoberfest, and the Lighter Side of Christmas Parade will, in their own way, highlight the intriguing past of the

city.One of those events will

include the unearthing of a 50-year-old time capsule, if its exact location can be found. Several long-time residents have confl icting theories about just where it is. In the spring, a histo-ry-themed event promot-ing local businesses is in the works.

For information about events over the year, con-tact Jan Wilson, chair of the 125th Anniversary Steering Committee, at 719-660-7510; Sally Riley, City Liaison to the Com-mittee, at 719-687-5283; or Donna Finicle, president of UPHS, at 719-439-3621.

The Ute Pass Historical Society har-bors historical treasures, books, CDs and photographs. Drop by and check it out and get help from the staff that keeps things humming: Finicle, Paul Lloyd, Karla Sch-weitzer and Judy Perkins. Scores of volun-teers also donate their time.

The staff can tell you lots of great his-tory of the region including the circum-stances surrounding the founding of Woodland Park.

In a confl uence of history and the pres-ent, the city goes all out to host a bang-up 4th of July celebration this year, the na-tion’s 240th birthday.

A festival in Memorial Park will include games, food and camaraderie. The Old Fashioned 4th will feature a vintage base-ball game. That evening, fi reworks will cap off the celebration.

Merry Jo Larsen stands before her image on the mural where she is painted as the rodeo queen in 1957. /Photo by Pat Hill for The Courier


National monument, 35 million years in the makingAncient landscape, lifeforms

preserved in volcanic mudflows

By Norma [email protected]

There are 409 U.S. National Park units scattered across 50 states and territories including one in the Pikes Peak region: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Teller County on Teller County Road 1.

After a long fight involving scientists and grassroots activists, the monument was created by an act of Congress that was signed by President Richard Nixon on Aug. 20, 1969.

It’s a great time to visit because 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the Na-tional Park Service, which was created on Aug. 25, 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson signed the agency into law.

A year-long celebration of a century of preserving America’s past for future gen-erations includes a series of special events at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

Today’s visitors to Florissant Valley see rolling hills and dry prairies, but 34-35 million years ago they would have seen a 12-mile-long lake dominated by and, in fact, formed by the Guffey Volcano Com-plex.

Repeated eruptions formed the land-scape and destroyed many of the lifeforms in the valley. But the ash and water also preserved their remains for present-day visitors.

A trip to the monument starts with the Visitors Center where visitors can view a 14-minute movie called “Shadows of the

Past.”It tells the story of how the landscape

was formed, how more than 1,700 species of plants, insects and animals were pre-served and later discovered and how this world-renowned scientific site was saved from developers.

After the video, visitors can tour the center’s many displays before heading out into the monument. Digging isn’t allowed in the monument but just outside the cen-ter, some of the monument’s largest fossils, the stumps of giant redwood trees are on full display.

“There are no giant redwoods in Colo-rado now, but 35 million years ago they were scattered throughout the Northern Hemisphere,” said Ranger Jeff Wolin. “Now they live only in California and Oregon and there is another species in China. … Here in our backyard we’re preserving all of this history for future generations, unim-paired.”

The monument is a great place for families. Kids can explore the past in the Fossil Discovery Lab and become Junior Rangers using a new book that is coming out this year.

The monument’s 14 miles of trails are great for hiking and some are suitable for people with disabilities; trail-suitable wheelchairs are available in the visitor’s center.

“Our trails are not as heavily used as some others in the area,” Wolin said. “We have guided hikes, workshops and a Night Sky Program in partnership with the Colo-rado Springs Astronomical Society.”

The monument also participates in the National Park Service’s Every Kid in a Park program for all fourth-graders nationwide.

This summer, the monument’s regular program will be augmented with special events including a Plein Aire Festival.

Florissant Fossil Beds unveils new geology trailFor The Courier

A new Geology Trail is among the activi-ties in June announced by the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, a 5,998-acre park located about 15 miles west of Woodland Park.

Ribbon will be cut in a Saturday, June 4, ceremony celebrating the new trail in honor of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, said Jeff Wolin, lead interpreter at the park. The festivities begin at 9:30 a.m. as com-munity members, park staff and paleontolo-gists gather behind the visitor’s center for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting followed by a hike on the new Geology Trail.

Guided hikes by the park paleontology staff are planned from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on the trail, which is a one-mile round trip and takes about 90 minutes.

Then, from 9-11 a.m. on Sunday, June 5, join Ranger Shawn as he leads a hike to look for blooming wildflowers. The hike will cover up to two miles and it will be offered each Sunday morning.

Yoga hikes are planned each Monday at 9 a.m., starting June 6 through Aug. 29.

Certified yoga instructor and a Park Ranger will lead the hikes, which cover one mile and last 75 minutes. Hiking will be interspersed with standing yoga poses. This program is geared for beginner to intermediate yoga enthusiasts. Meet at the visitor center.

The park’s famed Night Sky Program will be offered 8-10 p.m., Friday, June 24 as the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society visits

to scan the skies with guests.And don’t forget there are daily ranger pro-

grams from Memorial Day to Labor Day.The list of daily activities includes:• 10 a.m. – Ranger Talk in the Amphi-

theater• 11 a.m. – Ranger Guided Walk on the

Petrified Forest Loop, 1 mile• 1-3 p.m. – Fossil Learning Lab (Yurt)• 3-4 p.m. – Tour of the Hornbek Home-

stead GroundsThere are no additional fees for any park

programs beyond the daily entrance fee. In addition to the regularly scheduled pro-

grams, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monu-ment offers 14 miles of beautiful, yet lesser known, hiking trails to explore, a free Junior Ranger Program, a park video and museum exhibits, and bookstore.

The trails include the famous one-mile Petrified Forest trail where visitors see some of the largest petrified tree stumps in the world, remnants of 200-foot-tall redwood trees that grew some 35 millions years ago in a subtropi-cal forest, scientists say.

The forest was buried in ash from a massive volcanic eruption. Then the region flooded, scientists say, and an algae bloom pre-served the trees along with prehistoric insects and plants.

The monument was created after the gov-ernment bought the beds in 1968.

The park entrance fee is $5 per adult (16 years and older); children and federal pass holders are free.

May 25, 2016 Pikes Peak Courier Summer Fun Guide 5 www.PikesPeakNewspapers.com

For more information or to place an ad

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“Make sure NOT to miss advertising in the upcoming Summer Inserts!”

June 29 - Showcasing 4th of July/Symphony Above the CloudsJuly 20 - Stampede and RodeoAugust 10 - Back to School/Fall events

Valuable tips for avoiding and treating altitude sickness

Ahhh, spring is upon us with summer not far behind. And with the onset of summer comes the flatlanders to our high-altitude paradise with the obligatory visits to the ER for those wondering who hid the oxygen.

I thought the topic of altitude sickness might be of inter-est to those of you who are expecting visitors this summer, as a trip to Teller County can be a very unpleasant experi-ence for some flatlanders.

Can you recall your first visit to Teller County? Does any of the following sound familiar: headache, fatigue and weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, lightheaded-ness, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, increased urination and flu-like symptoms?

Chances are you were suffering from high altitude sick-ness, also known as acute mountain sickness or AMS.

AMS is a mild form of altitude sickness that affects 20 to 30 percent of all visitors to Colorado. Most people experi-ence the symptoms of AMS within the first three days after arriving at high altitude with the symptoms usually dissi-pating by the fourth day.

There is no difference in the percentage of oxygen at sea level and higher altitudes. The air is comprised of 21 percent oxygen everywhere on the planet. As one ascends through the atmosphere, however, barometric pressure decreases and every breath contains fewer and fewer mol-ecules of oxygen.

There are certain normal physiologic changes that oc-cur in every person who goes to a higher altitude. Hyper-ventilation, shortness of breath during exertion, increased urination, changed breathing pattern and frequent awak-

ening at night are to be expected.No specific factors such as age, sex or physical condi-

tion can predict susceptibility to altitude sickness. Some people get it and some don’t.

Certain diseases, however, can make going to a high al-titude dangerous. Those with lung disease, emphysema or severe heart disease are at greater risk.

The majority of those who experience mild AMS get better with no treatment. People with moderate to severe symptoms need to seek medical assistance.

The No. 1 suggestion for avoiding AMS is “staging” in changing altitudes. For example, if you are coming from sea level, it is better to spend the night in Denver or Colorado Springs prior to coming to Teller County.

In addition, the diuretic Diamox, taken one to two days prior to arrival, can help your body prepare for higher alti-tude. You may want to talk to your doctor about this pre-scription medication.

Once you arrive at a higher altitude, avoid alcohol, sleeping pills and narcotics as they intensify symptoms. And drink plenty of water. It is, also, advisable to avoid strenuous exercise the first few days and do not ascend to a higher altitude until your body has had time to acclimate.

Home oxygen can relieve symptoms and is safe, cheap and easy to use. It can be used at night when symptoms are worse and on and off during the day, as needed. And finally, if nothing is helping alleviate the symptoms, or if the symp-toms get worse, return to a lower altitude and seek medical aid.

Cord Prettyman is a certified master personal trainer and owner of Absolute Workout Fitness and Post-Re-hab Studio in Woodland Park. He can be reached at 687-7437, by email at [email protected] or via his website at cordprettyman.com

FIT AND HEALTHYCord [email protected]

Rocky Mountain National Park, a popular summer hiking destination, at dusk.


WP Arts Alliance revives downtown Antlers Arch BreezewayBy Pat HillFor the Courier

In conjunction with the city’s 125th anniversary this year, the Woodland Park Arts Alliance is reviving the signature Antlers Arch Breezeway downtown. Because of instability, the city removed the arch last year.

● The arch is a draw for residents and tourists alike who often pose for photos with the sculpture as back-ground. • The sculpture uses antlers shed by deer and elk. • The piece is a collaborative effort among the alli-

ance, the Downtown Development Authority, the city, local businesses, residents and the Main Street program.

• The breezeway, between Dana’s Dance and Cow-bells gift shop, enhances downtown, from a walk-ability and beautification perspective.

• The project continues the WPAA’s commitment to enhancing downtown, beginning with the 145-foot mural, “The Story of Us,” that covers the exterior east wall of the Ute Pass Cultural Center.

• The arch project is a building block and an out-growth of what mural artist, Lois Sprague, started.

• The alliance intends to dedicate the arch in time for the Old-Fashioned Fourth of July celebration in Woodland Park.

By Ralph Holloway

Formally organized in 2004, Woodland Park Arts Alliance (WPAA) set out to establish itself as the voice for art and cultural activities in Woodland Park and the surrounding Pikes Peak area.

Today the guiding principles of the nonprofit orga-nization are as follows.

VISION: To foster an environment where art and culture strengthen the economic vitality of our com-munity and enhance quality of life.

MISSION: To enhance the positive quality of life of individual, family and community by facilitating artistic, cultural and economic development through effective action and leadership.

PURPOSE: Through collaborative partnerships with businesses, community, government, local art and cultural organizations, WPAA will provide a continuum of support and promotion of the community economic vitality by:

• Advancing the common good by leading, strength-ening, and mobilizing our community;

• Engaging in community and downtown revitaliza-tion, economic development, business ownership and housing rehabilitation;

• Contributing significantly to tourism resulting in a stronger economic base;

• Providing direct employment;• Generating, developing, supporting and promot-

ing art, culture, educational and entertainment activities and venues;

• Awarding arts grants and scholarships, providing art and cultural services, events and activities, co-ordinating arts advocacy and generally promoting appreciation and participation in arts and culture.

COMMUNITY – We value art and culture that builds community.

EDUCATION – We support local projects that priori-tize collaboration with local youth, local artists, local businesses and local educators.

REVITALIZATION – We value creative entrepre-neurs in our community who infuse new energy and innovation which enhances quality of life as well as economic and civic capital.

Lois Sprague spent most of the summer of 2015 painting “The Story of Us,” a mural on the wall of the Ute Pass Cultural Center. The city celebrated the mural with a dedication ceremony in October. /Photo by Pat Hill for The Courier

Lois Sprague, Woodland Park artist, who created the mural, a project spearheaded by the Woodland Park Arts Alliance. /Photo by Pat Hill for The Courier

Replacing the antler arch in downtown Woodland Park is the latest project of the Woodland Park Arts Alliance. The alliance hopes to complete the project by July 4. /Photo by Pat Hill for The Courier


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History around every bend in Teller County

Driving west up U.S. 24 from Colorado Springs, you pass by several historic spots you might be interested in.

Did you notice the Safeway store on the south side of the highway? Did you know it was the site of the Paradise Lodge and dude ranch some 60 years ago?

Just to your right on the curve, across the highway from the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, you might stop at the Visitors Center, which is in the old school. They can point out some of the historic shops on Midland, just ahead of you. The mural on the east side of the building is worth the stop.

Ahead, at the rest area on the south side of the high-way, you might spot the old railroad station. It used to sit where the bank ahead of you is now located. Only a short distance north of here is Memorial Park, where they have done a lot of work. The lake here was the favorite for skaters in the winter.

The intersection with Colorado 67 marks the road to Manitou Park, a few miles north. It was the park that brought many visitors up the pass. Woodland Park was originally called Manitou Park Station. It was a stop on the wagon road to Leadville, before there was a railroad up Ute Pass.

This little community sits on the Hayden Divide.

The Colorado Midland Railroad passed through here on its way to Leadville. A century ago, the little station actually served two railroads: the Colorado Midland and the Midland Terminal, which went to Cripple Creek.

As you approach town from Woodland Park, on the north is a huge valley where a hundred years ago they raised lettuce and potatoes. On the south side, off the road a ways, is Coulson Lake where they cut ice in the winter for these crops. These products went as far as Chicago and St Louis.

The unique railroad station served both railroads and is undergoing restoration. Ahead of you is a

notch, just north of U.S. 24, which is where the railroad passed. You see some of the old grading between here and Florissant.

We have the choice of two roads here: U.S. 24 west to Florissant, or Colorado 67 south to Cripple Creek.

Driving south on Colorado 67, the entrance to Muel-ler State Park marks the location of the town of Mid-land. Yes, there was a town of several hundred people here in the rip-roaring mining camp days.

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An overlook on the Highway, looking fown on Cripple Creek. /Photo by Avalon A. Manly


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The road divides here. You can continue on 67 or take the original route to Four Mile Hill. The highway follows the road bed of the Midland Terminal Railroad as far as Gillette. Four Mile road meets 67 just past Gil-lette.

At the top of Four Mile Hill, we can look down to Cripple Creek. On the way down into town, we pass a travel kiosk with district history and information, as well as the Mollie Kathleen Mine, one of the last work-ing “shaft” mines. They do tours, if you’re so inclined. The Visitors Center has some interesting displays, showing the development of mining in the area.

Once you arrive at Bennett Avenue, you have reached the casinos. One interesting spot is the old

railroad station, now part of the district’s fi ne muse-um. The little train ride takes you on the old railroad path out to grand views of the camp and the distant Sangre de Cristo mountain range.

This street was once lined with department stores as well as businesses you might expect to fi nd in any metropolitan center. Cripple Creek was once the fourth largest city in Colorado.

In the center of town, the road to Victor leads you through three “ghost towns” as well as past the huge open pit gold mine. The road has been rebuilt in recent years as the gold mine develops. The mining compa-ny has even built a display area where you can safely view part of the mine.

Through a notch, the city of Victor comes into view. Called the City of Mines, the two large towns in the camp were rivals; however, here there are many old mines right in town. The atmo-sphere here is relaxed compared to Cripple Creek. Little shops can be found, as well as two rail-road stations. In the park, you might fi nd the old Alta Vista station from the Florence and Cripple Creek railroad, which came up Phantom Can-yon. The road still winds south through spectacu-lar vistas.

Above the business center is the brick Mid-

land Terminal station, which serves as a nice little home. Above it are many of the richest mines in the camp. These mines are on the rim of the big open pits of today’s mining.

Around the corner to the north is Goldfi eld, a “bed-room” community in the district. Many of the miners in the mines across the valley rode streetcars to work. This side of the big mountain has been preserved a bit, showing much of its past, but not far away the big mine buzzes.

You can take the road from Goldfi eld north and west back to the top of Four Mile Hill, or continue

Driving Continued from page 7


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north back to Gillette. This road to Gillette is where the railroad connected. Gillette was also a mining town, but it was also a “holiday” center. A now seldom-used landing strip parallels the road. Behind that is all that remains of a Catholic church.

The winding road west of Divide was the route of the Colorado Midland to Leadville. Twin Creek also goes down this canyon.

Many of the big rocks in this valley have received names. One of the best known is Frog Rock, though others have been long forgotten.

There were two communities in the area, but when the railroad stopped coming this way in 1918, they

went away too.Rounding the curve into Florissant, it is hard to

imagine that 100 years ago the town was even bigger. Where the main highway sits was once railroad yards. More than a dozen trains a day passed over this line, making connections to the West Coast.

South on Teller One, past the town’s interesting museum, the Florissant Fossil Beds contains a wealth of nature’s gems. The Hornbek Homestead helps pre-serve the memories of the early residents.

Guffey is an isolated spot, once a mining camp in its own right. Now most of the visitors are looking for relaxation. You can pass through hardly knowing you are in a historic area. The road continues on to Cañon City, or you can approach Cripple Creek. In the forests around you are many cabins that date back more than 100 years.

West of Florissant is Lake George, named for George Frost’s ice lake on the South Platte River. A hundred years ago ice cutters worked through the winter to fill huge storage buildings with 500 pound blocks of ice.

In the summer, this ice was shipped as far as Oma-ha and St. Louis in the days before machines made ice. When the railroad stopped in 1918, this business moved to Coulson Lake in Divide.

The town has moved with the times. First, on the old road to Leadville, it was about half a mile north of where it sits now. Some eighty years ago it moved when the modern highway was built. Hundreds of visitors to Elevenmile Canyon and Elevenmile Reser-voir travel through town.


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Gaming in Cripple CreekThere is no shortage of unique casinos in Cripple CreekBy Danny [email protected]

The “World's Greatest Gold Camp” and renowned min-

ing district was founded in 1891, not long after Bob Wom-ack discovered gold in Poverty Gulch in October 1890.

Folks began streaming into the area by the thousands with dreams of getting rich.

By 1896, the population was 25,000, and the region boomed to as many as 50,000 in the early part of the 20th Century.

The wide-open mining towns had bars, dance halls, casinos, theaters, shops, hotels, restaurants and well-patronized bawdy houses. There were 41 assay offices, 91 lawyers, 46 brokerage houses, 88 doctors and dentists, 14 newspapers and 70 saloons.

Today, 125 years later, Cripple Creek remains one of Colorado’s top destinations for many who love to play a game of chance, or two.

In 1991, Cripple Creek was transformed into a gam-bling mecca. Today, numerous hotels and casinos are scat-tered throughout the district, offering Las Vegas-style fun in comfortable surroundings.

Seven casinos opened to great fanfare on Oct. 1, 1991. Six more casinos opened a few days later. That first month, the casinos took in more than $2.5 million. Gambling in Cripple Creek was here to stay.

There are no shortage of hotels/casinos to wander in and out of while you are in Cripple Creek; whether that’s for an afternoon with friends, or part of a vacation with your family.

If you are a sports lover, Bronco Billy’s Sports Bar and Casino might be the place for you to hang out. All sum-

mer, you can cheer on the Colorado Rockies baseball team. Or, on Sundays in winter, join the fans of the Denver Broncos, or whatever football team you follow with a passion.

Bronco Billy’s has long been one of the more pop-ular gambling destinations in the district for sports fans. It has nearly 70 satel-lite televisions throughout the casino. You won’t miss out on all the action while you play.

The casino occupies a historic building built in 1905. The sister properties of Bronco Billy’s are Buffalo Billy’s and Buffalo’s Casino.

Most of the casinos are located on Cripple Creek’s scenic main street, Bennett Avenue. They offer the usual assortment of slot machines and video poker. Most also have blackjack, roulette and craps games.

The maximum betting limit in Cripple Creek is $100. This applies to slots, blackjack, other table games, and Texas Hold’em poker.

However, poker tournament entry fees can exceed the $100 limit.

The Brass Ass is part of the Triple Crown Casino group, along with McGill’s Hotel & Casino and the Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino.

The Brass Ass claims to be the oldest casino in Cripple Creek (according to their website). They even have a brass donkey in the lobby that people rub (or kiss) for good luck. While various denominations of slot machines cover the main floor, upstairs offers blackjack, craps and roulette.

McGill’s Hotel & Casino is also located along Bennett Avenue, as is the Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino. Over 300 slot machines line the Midnight Rose casino floor.

The poker room has nine tables, high-hand jackpots and tournaments.

The Century Casino is known as “little brother” to the fancier Century Casino in Central City, Colorado. The Cripple Creek version has a hotel with 21 rooms.

This casino is known for its Wild Six Card Draw Poker; a game against the house involving 52 cards plus two joker cards.

The Colorado Grande Casino and Hotel is another brick building with an old-time feeling.

The Double Eagle Hotel and Casino opened in 1996 and is located on the far eastern end of Bennett Ave.

Don’t forget to visit Johnny Nolon’s Saloon & Gambling Emporium. It might as close to what Cripple Creek looked like during the 1890s. Johnny Nolon’s saloon was originally a saloon during the Gold Camp’s heyday and was operated by, you guessed it, Johnny Nolon.

The Wildwood Casino & Hotel is the largest and newest casino in Cripple Creek. It’s the most Vegas-type casino of all the gambling parlors in town.

The Wildwood opened in 2008. Its 58,000-square-foot building is home to over 500 slot machines, table games, two-table poker room with tournaments, a buffet, and a 67-room hotel.

Just in time for summer, the Friends of the Florissant Library presents its annual Book, Bake and Plant Sale 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 3 and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. June 4 at the Florissant Public Library. Stock up on adult

and children’s books, enjoy homemade baked goods and buy garden and house-plants, while helping the Friends support the library.

A member of the Friends of the Florissant Library gets all kinds of plants for its annual Book, Bake and Plant Sale. /Courtesy photo

Shoppers browse through a large selection of books at the Friends of the Florissant Library’s annual Book, Bake &

Plant Sale. /Courtesy photo

Friends of Florissant Library host annual Book, Bake and Plant Sale


Pikes Peak Hill Climb: Start your enginesBy Danny [email protected]

If you happen to be in the Pikes Peak region in late June, you might consider checking out one of the most unique races in the world as it celebrates its 100th birth-day.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will take place June 26. America’s second-oldest automobile race – only the famed Indianapolis 500 is older – is run up a 12.42-mile stretch of Pikes Peak Highway. Top drivers will reach the summit in about nine minutes, exceeding better than 150 mph on the straightaways.

That was hardly the case on Aug. 12, 1901, when two Denver men named Yonk and Felker drove – and occa-sionally pushed – the first automobile to the summit of the 14,110-foot peak.

It took them more than nine hours to get their two-cylinder “locomobile steamer” to the top. The horseless carriage descended the mountain in an August blizzard.

Things changed dramatically in 1915, thanks to Spen-cer Penrose – founder of The Broadmoor hotel who started building his fortune during the Cripple Creek gold rush when he and a partner, Charles Tutt, bought the C.O.D. Mine.

Penrose, who was always looking for ways to entertain guests at his Colorado Springs resort, spent $263,000 to rebuild the road to the summit for automobile travel.

The “World’s Highest Highway” featured 156 perilous turns, 10 percent grades and up to 2,000-foot drop offs with no guard rails.

A year later, Penrose started the Pikes Peak National Hill Climbing Contest as a way to advertise the highway, and to encourage growth of the burgeoning automobile tourism industry in Colorado Springs.

Hill Climb organizers had pretty lofty expectations from the very first event. Many of the cars were archaic by today’s standards, and from the beginning, fans and top drivers showed enthusiasm. Thousands of spectators gathered to watch the first running Aug. 10-12, 1916.

Among the notable entrants in that inaugural event were Indianapolis 500 speed demon Barney Oldfield, who drove a big Delage, and Eddie Rickenbacker, later to be-come famous as a World War I flying ace.

Duisenberg automobiles were driven, as were Cadil-lacs, Hudsons and a Stutz.

Entry fees were $25 to $50, depending on the event. Entry fees today are around $1,500. First prizes for that in-augural event ranged from $500 to $2,000 cash, again de-pending upon which event the driver entered. To further encourage competition Penrose offered a 43-inch trophy, overlaid in Colorado silver and gold, valued at $10,000. The winners could keep the trophy for a year.

Surprises from the beginning

Oldfield was expected to take home the top prize in the prestigious open wheel division, but he finished with a disappointing time of 31 minutes, 39 seconds, more than 10 minutes behind the winner – 22-year-old Ray Lentz of Spokane, Wash.

Lentz’s car, a Romano Demon Special, was the smallest in the race (he was also the youngest driver). It had an 8-cylin-der, 125-horsepower air-plane engine on a hybrid chassis. His time was a blazing 20:55.6. After his win, Lentz never returned to the Hill Climb and was never heard from again by anyone associated with the race.

While this first event was successful, World War I disrupted the continuity of the Hill Climb.

The Hill Climb was not held again until 1920. That race was sanctioned by the American Automobile As-sociation (AAA), and was won by Otto Loesche of Indy 500 fame. He repeat-ed his victory in 1924.

The 1922 race, won by 23-year-old Noel Bullock, needs no fabrication. Bullock won in a modified 1916 Ford Mod-el T truck that he drove all the way from North Platte, Ne-braska. Most of the drivers drove top cars like Packard, Ford, Hudson, Mercer and Essex.

In the early races, mechanics rode with drivers due to the many mechanical malfunctions and breakdowns. It also may not have been specified that the driver must stay on the road. There are several accounts of short-cuts over the rough terrain.

Motorcycles were also an important part of the race in 1916. One of the most popular models was the Excelsior. Built by Ignaz Schwinn, these cycles were ridden by 19 out of the 29 entrants. Schwinn, in partnership with his son Frank, later produced the famous “Schwinn-built” bicycles.

Glen Schultz was one of the premier hill climb drivers of the era. He captured seven Open Wheel Division titles from 1923 to 1933. He also won the Stock Car Division in 1929. His 1929 Open Wheel victory was in 17:41.6 in a mas-sive vertical 8 engine and a Stutz Sphinx radiator cap.

The race gained instant popularity in the U.S. and around the world. A movie crew filmed the race in 1924, and by 1926 the local Unser brothers – Colorado Springs residents Louis, Jerry and Joe – started a racing family that has resulted in more victories than any other family in the history of the “Race to the Clouds,” save the Vahsholtz family, which has 42 wins. Pikes Peak came to be known as “Unser Mountain.”

The Unsers were the first to take a motorcycle with sidecar to the summit. Beginning in 1934, Louis won his first championship, and competed over the next 35 years, running his last race at the age of 70. The next year he re-turned as a mechanic.

The Open Wheel and Stock Car classes are two of the more popular. The early racers all drove Open Wheel cars. The Stock Car Division was added in 1929, but was dropped in 1935. It resumed again in 1956.

The Open Wheel has been won by such racing legends as Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Bobby Unser and Robby Un-ser. Robby’s time of 10:05.85 in 1994 set the standard that has held the test of time. On July 4, 1966, Bobby Unser won the event overall for the eighth time in 10 years.

Who will be this year’s Bobby Unser? Come out June 26 and find out.

© 2005 Kenneth Wyatt / www.wyattphoto.com


Things to do while you are here:

• Enjoy Pikes Peak scenic views• Shop along the streets of our historic downtown• Visit our Dinosaur Resource Center for a whole new species of fun• Browse the Woodland Park Public Library - they have Something for Everyone• Experience food, fun, and drinks at one of Main Street’s restaurants and breweries• See our amazing new mural - The Story of Us• Experience one of our signature events throughout the year• Visit the Ute Pass Historical Society Museum and learn the history of Ute Pass• Play and relax at our newly renovated Memorial Park• Explore our Farmers Market for unique gifts and delicious foods

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Wilkerson Pass Visitor Center to reopen in time for Memorial DayBy Evan [email protected]

For nearly a half century, motorists have stopped at the Wilkerson Pass Visitors Center to stretch their legs, absorb stunning views of South Park and the Sawatch and Mosquito ranges.

That is until February 2015 when its vault toilets failed and the center, located 14 miles west of Lake George on U.S. Highway 24, was closed.

Since then, big changes have taken place. The U.S. For-est Service has spent $20,000 or so repairing the toilets.

And the South Park Ranger District has partnered with the South Park National Heritage Area to take responsibil-ity for the center and staff it with volunteers through a special use permit approved earlier this month.

Best of all for the 200,000 or so estimated annual visi-tors, the center is expected to reopen by the Memorial Day weekend, which is the traditional start of the summer tourism season.

According to Jeff Hyatt, program manager for recre-ation, said the center was busy when it was open.

“It’s always packed, especially during the weekends,” he said. Many came to view the interpretive displays retracing 10,000 years of local history. Others walked a .9-mile loop. Others picnicked or just relaxed.

Then the toilets failed. According to Hyatt, the toilets were poorly designed with of a “liner inside of a liner.”

Linda Balough, director of Park County Heritage, said she was disappointed when the center shut its doors. Interpretive exhibits at the center aim to educate travelers on the history of ranching, mining and railroading of the area. Ancient archeology stands also inform those who are interested.

According to Balough, the center is “more than a place to get brochures.”

“Seeing the visitor center closed was too diffi cult,” she said.

Balough asked the county asked the Forest Service what was going to be done to the center and offi cials men-tioned the possibility of the center being bulldozed.

“No, no, no, no,” she said, and began the process of saving the building, which dates to 1968, by applying for a

special use permit. The reopening is welcome news to the Veterans of

Foreign Wars Post 11411.VFW Post 11411, based out of Florissant, holds fund-

raising events at the center every year, and has been hurt fi nancially by the closing.

“Wilkerson Pass was essentially our money maker,” said Randy Ford, Post 11411 commander. Ford explained that it was diffi cult to raise money as Florissant does not have a “big box store,” such as Walmart, where the post can hold fundraising events.

Every year, during the long weekends, like Memo-rial Day, the post goes up to the pass and provides aid to travelers, along with refreshments and copies of the U.S. Constitution.

“We have miniature fl ags we give to the kids,” said Bar-bara Riley-Cunningham, Post 11411 Adjutant.

“The post has been doing this since its inception since 1993,” Ford said.

All of the money that is raised at the center is donation based.

“If someone feels like dropping a buck in the jar for a handful of cookies, you know, that’s fi ne with us,” said Ford.

The post even has repeat customers when they are at

the visitor center, ranging from all over the nation, even some out of the country.

“We have people that come from Kansas that say ‘this is my favorite cookie’ and they always stop in,” said Riley-Cunningham.

The money the post raises is turned back to veterans and family members in need, giving rides to hospitals and putting food on the table.

“We’ll go ahead and take care of somebody who’s down on their luck for some of those things they might need to make it through,” Ford said.

The post even donates money to other groups such as youth mentoring organization 4H.

“The money doesn’t stay with us that we collect, it goes to somebody else eventually,” Ford said.

Such work even got the post the Teller County Cares Service Organization Award for 2015.

Ford said the post has been getting through the past year with donations from VFW members.

Balough hopes to have the center open into the fall, and is glad to have VFW Post 11411 hold their fundraising events.

“They’re more than welcome, I’d like to have that,” she said.


By Avalon A. [email protected]

Colorado is famous for its grand vistas and the varied wildlife that inhabits them. Whether you’ve lived in Teller County all your life or are just passing through, there are a number of ways to interact with the wild – past and present – of the Front Range.

Nestled in the woods off Twin Rocks Road in Di-vide is the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, a non-profit animal sanctuary where visitors can get up close and personal with the center’s resident foxes, coyotes and, of course, wolves. For $15 (or $8 for kids), you can take an hour-long tour of the center, meeting ambassador animals and learning about the wolves and the work the center does to ensure their survival in the wild. VIP, feeding and monthly howl-at-the-moon tours are also available, and allow for up-close contact with the center’s ambassador animals.

While not in Teller County, the nearby Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a cultural staple of the Pikes Peak Region. Tour the mountainside zoo by foot or sky tram, feed giraffes by hand, and wander the many ex-hibits all while enjoying the view of Colorado Springs from high atop Cheyenne Mountain. There is even a special area of the zoo dedicated to wildlife native to the Rocky Mountains. Adult tickets are $17.25, but military, senior and child discounts are also available. Some days offer Starlight Safari activities in the eve-nings, and holidays frequently feature themed events. In the heart of the mountain town of Woodland

Park is a world-class dinosaur research center and museum. With a rotation of exhibits and specimens on display, the museum offers displays of dinosaurs,

prehistoric marine reptiles and fish, all supplemented by backdrops, graphics and information to help you learn about the creatures that used to inhabit Teller County and the surrounding areas. Tickets range from $7.50 to $11.50.

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RECOGNITION TO OUR “PARTNERS” IN THE COMMUNITY

Dale Schnitker at Vectra Bank for believing in us and helping us to get startedDr. Jed Bowman, our School Superintendent, for allowing us to network with the entire WP School District Admin Staff and Teachers, and for nominating Hot Heads and winning the 2012 Chamber of Commerce Business of the YearAdele and Michael Faber, and Joanie’s Bakery & DeliTanner Coy from TweedsRenee Bunting and Sheriff Mike Ensminger at the Teller County Sherriff’s DeptPikes Peak Regional Hospital Lynne, Kenny, and the entire Hot Heads Team have truly enjoyed the opportunity to work with and give back to these Teller County community members and fellow business owners that work so hard, give so much, and who really make a difference to everyone who lives here!

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If you are seeking to experience Teller County from the ground, as it were, there are a number of ranches that offer horseback riding. Most are guided trail rides, but the Historic Triple B Ranch will allow experienced riders to take an unguided journey. Most ranches average $35 per hour per rider, and some have age restrictions, so be sure to check online or call ahead before you sad-dle up.

For the intermediate or experi-enced climber, Teller County is a veritable playground. Mueller State Park, Eleven Mile Canyon, Red Rocks north of Woodland Park and Shelf Road in Cripple Creek all offer climbing routes of varying diffi culty. Remember that climbing brings risk: never climb alone and ensure you have the proper gear before you take to the formations.

Teller County is riddled with lakes, streams, reservoirs and rivers for the aspiring and dedicated trout fi sher. Some of the waterways are open to boats, and others have fl ies-and-lures restrictions or access fees, so scope out which fi shing arena you prefer. Catamount Reservoirs, Manitou Lake, Elevenmile Reser-voir, Rampart Reservoir, Skaguay Reservoir, the South Platte River and Spinney Mountain Reservoir are all

prime area spots for trout fi shing.

The Front Range is famous for its network of excel-lent hiking, backpacking and mountain biking trails. Throughout Teller County, you can fi nd literally thou-sands of miles of trails, of varying degrees of grade

and diffi culty. Mueller State Park, Pike National For-est, Eleven Mile State Park and the wilderness around Cripple Creek, Divide and Cascade offer a wide vari-ety of trails for the discerning hiker or biker. Due to the mountainous landscape, it’s wise to grab a topo-graphical map before setting out. Try shops like Team Telecycle in Woodland Park or Rockhound Rental in Cascade if you don’t have a bike (or even ATV) of your own.


Yappy Hour!Sunday, June 5, 2016 from 2–5pm

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A FUNdraising event for our furry friends at TCRAS – See website for more detailsPurchase tickets at tcrascolorado.org or at TCRAS!

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Take a ride this summer...Then Stop, Shop, Dine, and

Unwind on Main Street!

• A Full House• A Pause for Massage• Alpine Firearms• Aspen Groove Creations• Beauty by Barbi• Bierwerks• Bliss Hair and Nail Salon• Brenda’s Boutique • Café Leo• Colorado Mountain Spas• Cowbells• Cowhand• Curves• Dana’s Dance Studio• Deersnake Gallery• Dinosaur Resource Center• Donut Mill• Exclusively Nails• Grandmother’s Kitchen• Historic Ute Inn• Hot Heads Studio & Day Spa• Hungry Bear

• Joanie’s Deli • Mountain Wookies• Pikes Peak Hydroponics Garden

Supply • Pikes Peak Polaris• Radiance Skin and Nail

Boutique• Rainbow Twist Yogurt Shop• Sheer Designs• South Avenue Salon• Studio West Aveda• SYS Auction and Sales• The Salon and Hair Studio of

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Old Ponderosa pine memorialized in WP City HallTree saw a lot of history in its 208 yearsBy Norma [email protected]

For more than two centuries, a Ponderosa pine stood in what eventually became Woodland Park and ultimately in Memorial Park.

When it sprouted in 1808, the land was part of the Loui-siana Territory, which the U.S. purchased in 1803 from France.

In fact, it took root just two years after Zebulon Pike abandoned his attempt to reach the summit the peak that now bears his name.

Consider, it was in its fi fth decade of life when the Civil War ended slavery.

And by the time Bob Womack discovered gold in Poverty Gulch in 1890, triggering the Cripple Creek gold rush, the tree was closing in a century of life.

The year it turned 100, in 1908, was the last time the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. And it was the same year Henry Ford produced his fi rst Model T.

It’s life spanned world wars, the Great Depression, the birth of fl ight, space travel, the dawn of electricity and the computer age.

All that history was taken into consideration when the tree was removed recently for park renovations.

“We knew it had to come down, but it was such an old tree that we wanted to do something with the wood,” said Suzanne Brown, administrative assistant in the city’s pub-lic works department. “We were hoping we could have it milled into lumber, but it had too many nails to make mill-ing safe.”

Only a cross-section of the tree was saved. But it’s been given special treatment by Bruce Vanderpool, Parks, Streets and Grounds crew chief, and his staff.

Vanderpool fi lled in the cracks, sanded and coated the surface for display.

Buz Jennings, a crew member with a passion for wood and woodworking, counted the tree’s rings to come up with an age of 208 years.

The rings show numerous droughts separated by a handful of wet years, as is typical of Colorado’s climate.

Brown and other city staff members created a timeline of U.S. and lo-cal history and created la-bels that point out various events as the tree was grow-ing.

“At fi rst we had a list of about 25 events, but we couldn’t fi t them all in with-out covering most of the slab so we whittled the list down to about 12,” Brown said.

Now, the giant slab hangs on display in City Hall’s Council Chambers.

Part of the slab has a blue stain, but it wasn’t caused by the fungus that kills these trees when they are infested by bark beetles. Because the wood was still fresh when the cross sec-tion was cut, its surface has oxidized to a bluish color much like a potato or apple changes color when it is ex-posed to air.

The tree’s age is not unusual. On average, Pon-derosa pines are considered mature from 70 to 250 years, depending on climate. But to reach that age, they must sur-vive the many creatures that have the trees on their menus: rabbits and deer, mistletoe, disease and insects.

They are drought tolerant, but are likely to be injured or even killed by too much water. If they survive into maturity, they might live to be about 300 years old, although some 750-950-year-old Ponderosas have been found in Utah, Washington and Oregon.

The tree at Memorial Park was showing its age, but it was in fair health with no major disease or insect damage. Human activities, such as nailing up garage-sale and other

signs did far more damage. The slab from the Memorial Park tree joined other tree-

related display in Council Chambers, which shows the bark and wood of fi ve of the area’s most common trees.

Public Works Director William Alspach brought the idea for that display back from Japan when he visited his son there a few years ago.

At the Feb. 18 Woodland Park City Council meeting, Mayor Neil Levy showed off a postcard the city received from an elderly gentleman living in Stockton, Calif.

The card was a picture of Woodland Park taken in 1929, showing Memorial Park and the tree. It was 121 years old at the time.

This is a slab taken from a Ponderosa Pine tree that was removed from Memorial Park dur-ing renovations. The tree had too many nails in it to be milled for lumber, but a Woodland Park Parks, Streets and Grounds crew was able to save this slab. Tree rings show that the tree was 208 years old. /Photo by Norma Engelberg for The Courier

Memorial Day, 2016 Summer Fun Guide

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