Within Colorado Springs rests Garden of the Gods, a national natural landmark blooming with opportunities to enhance self-wellness. Visitors who feel an affinity with nature can bask in the park’s geological wonders, as it is bounteous in sandstone rock formations. Goats can be seen tucking themselves into the mountainsides. Deers with large antlers often emerge from the bushes. The scenery ensures its uniqueness upon each visit and provides enough open space for all ages to enjoy.
Preparing a visit has never been easier, as their Visitor & Nature Center can create a personalized itinerary. All it takes is filling out a form on the official website, which ensures a schedule full of activities upon completion. Events are held throughout the year, from guided walks to acrylic painting classes and educational presentations on native plants or animals.
M. S. Beach and Rufus Cable are the surveyors responsible for the landscape’s illustrious name. In 1859, the two saddled their horses and rode south, hoping to find someplace new to construct a supply town. They soon came upon the land, filled with red rock spires that lifted high into the sky, and exclaimed that it could be a biergarten. One that was fit for the gods to assemble.
Charles Elliot Perkins purchased 240 acres of land within the Garden of the Gods for a summer home. Despite additions he made to the property, the land remained in its natural state, much to the joy of the public. Before Perkins passed in 1907, he solidified arrangements for Garden of the Gods to be a public park. Two years later, his children conveyed his acres to the City of Colorado Springs.
Not one drop of liquor is sold or dispensed there. All buildings are there to ensure its protection and nourishment. For those needing somewhere to hike, clear the mind, or breathe fresh air, Garden of the Gods is the right place to be.