Local Communities Military BasesThe Academy is one of four military bases throughout Colorado Springs. To the southeast of the city is Schriever Air Force Base, to the east (next to the city airport) is Peterson AFB, and to the south is the Army’s Fort Carson. Several Academy employees who live in Colorado Springs choose to take advantage of base exchange, commissary and recreational facilities at these other installations.
Colorado SpringsWhen Capt. Zebulon Pike sighted Pikes Peak in 1806, “Pikes Peak or Bust” became a rallying cry for miners headed west to seek their fortunes. A group of prospectors chose the Colorado Springs site as the center for mountain mining activity, and this town became known as El Paso City. Prior to the Civil War, the name was changed to Colorado City. The onset of the railroad was the impetus for organization of a town located near the popular mineral springs in 1871. The nearness of Colorado City and the mineral springs gave this new town its name: Colorado Springs. By 1917, Colorado City was completely absorbed by Colorado Springs.
Combining scenic beauty, pleasant residential areas, clean modern industry, attractive military installations, and cultural activities to satisfy every taste, Colorado Springs is an unusually well-rounded community. Colorado Springs offers a variety of recreational and cultural activity. You can ski in the morning, golf in the afternoon (several courses averaging 300-350 golfing days a year) and if you’re not too tired, take in a chuck wagon dinner, a graduate-level class or perhaps even attend the symphony. The city is situated on a gently rolling plateau 6,035 feet above sea level, sheltered by the towering 14,110 foo thigh Pikes Peak. This locale assures cool, dry summers and comfortable, mild winters with the low humidity tempering the extremes of the respective seasons.
The average relative humidity is very similar to that of Tucson and Phoenix—just one of the reasons that Colorado Springs enjoys a comfortable year-round climate.
The city boasts a population of more than 400,000 and comprises an area of some 183 square miles. Colorado Springs proudly claims the highest education level of any area its size in the nation. Public, private and parochial schools alike enjoy a favorable student-to-teacher ratio. The city boasts two major malls and 31 shopping centers. The city of Colorado Springs provides for and manages the sale of water, gas, electrical and sewer services. Twenty-seven bus routes provide travel throughout the city. For more information, call 385-9502 or visit
http://www.springsgov.com, under “Transportation and Transit.” The Colorado Springs Municipal Airport is city owned and operated. Allegiant, American, American Eagle, America West, America West Express, Comair, Continental Express, Delta, GoJet, Mesa Air Group, Northwest, Skywest and United Airlines provide airline services. The railroads provide only freight service. Greyhound provides passenger service via bus lines For more information on Colorado or the Pikes Peak Region, call the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) DO-VISIT or (719) 635-7506.
Manitou SpringsManitou Springs, located on the western boundary of Colorado Springs, derives its name from the many mineral springs in the area. The area was once marked off as a sanctuary by the local Indian tribes, who attributed supernatural powers to the waters of these mineral springs (Manitou is the Ute Indian word for “Great Spirit”). Today, Manitou thrives as a tourist resort. Specialty shops, art galleries, restaurants and motels catering to the tourist trade abound in the downtown area. Within this small community are 50 motels and more than 30 restaurants, as well as 10 campgrounds, four city-owned and operated parks and a large heated municipal pool. There are eight restored mineral drinking springs.
Fountain
Founded in 1859, Fountain, Colo., is the oldest community in the Pikes Peak region. It is a growing city just a few miles south of Colorado Springs on Interstate 25, with a population of about 20,000. To the west, the city is bordered by Fort Carson, an army post employing around 20,000 people and currently under major expansion. To the east and south lay great grasslands and ranches. The Colorado Springs Airport is on the northern border. Fountain is a family town with a relatively young population that enjoys its trails and parks. With fabulous views of Pikes Peak, the city retains its small-town atmosphere, historic downtown and Rocky Mountain Front Range frontier spirit. The Roping and Riding Club is decades old and still holds regular events in their arena in Metcalfe Park. The city is linked to the county trail system along Fountain Creek.
Residents enjoy good schools, safe neighborhoods, quick commutes, spectacular vistas and annual community events that draw huge crowds, like the Spring Blast Dance and Fall Festival. Proclaimed “the Millennium City” in 2000, the city’s population mirrors that of the USA. In 2002 Fountain was named an All-America City for its sense of community spirit, as evidenced by a new city hall, new historical museum, first-class school facilities and a brand new library designed by famed architect Elizabeth Wright Ingraham. Fountain continues to respect the past while working for the future.
MonumentNorth of Colorado Springs on Interstate 25 is the small community of Monument. Monument is slightly higher in elevation than Colorado Springs and receives a heavier snowfall. The commute to downtown Colorado Springs along I-25 takes about 25 minutes, one-way. Monument is only about five miles north of the Academy.
Woodland ParkOne of the four “Ute Pass” communities (the others are Green Mountain Falls, Cascade and Chipita Park), Woodland Park is located 25 miles west of Colorado Springs on U.S. 24, in Teller County. Year-round residents commute daily to Colorado Springs on a wide, well-paved (though mountainous and twisting) road. This area is rapidly becoming quite popular as a mountain resort community. Castle Rock Castle Rock is ideally located on the front range of the magnificent Rocky Mountains, offering a unique community for both the residential and business sectors. This picturesque town is situated 30 miles north of Colorado Springs at an elevation of 6,200 feet.
With a population of 42,000, this Douglas County area has several retail districts, including historic Wilcox Square, Prime Outlets at Castle Rock and other areas featuring over 300 unique shops, restaurants and banquet rooms. Many national retail chains and hotels have expanded into Castle Rock to better serve both tourists and the community. Six golf courses, with more on the drawing board, enhance the area’s outdoor recreation opportunities.
Castle Rock offers a variety of community annual events, including the Front Range Showcase in April, a business expo for the entire family; the WineFest in July, one of five wine festivals sanctioned by the Colorado Wine Board; and the Artfest in September, a juried art festival of over 170 artists. Other community events include the Douglas County Fair Parade in August, and the Starlighting in November, the lighting of the star atop the castle rock that signals the beginning of the holiday season.
With the Douglas County School District receiving national recognition for its excellence, combined with the town’s mild temperatures, beautiful countryside, outstanding business economy and close proximity to Denver and Colorado Springs, Castle Rock is a wonderful place to live, work and play.
Area Attractions
SkiingWinter weekends are fun and easy with more than 22 fully furnished ski lodges in the vicinity of Colorado Springs. In most areas, ski season is from November through March. Ski trips can be affordable by taking advantage of the equipment and discount tickets offered by the two ski shops located in the outdoor recreation centers.
U.S. Olympic ComplexThe U.S. Olympic Complex is located at 1750 E. Boulder, downtown Colorado Springs, and is the national headquarters for the U.S. Olympic Committee, Olympic Training Center and fifteen national sports governing bodies. There are free daily tours available for the public that feature a walk down the Irwin Belk Olympic Path into the Olympic Hall of Fame, as well as a rooftop terrace with an Olympic Torch display, with a panoramic view of Colorado Springs. Tours are conducted Monday through Saturday, yearround. For more information call (719) 866-4792 or visit us at
http://www.usolympicteam.com.
Pikes PeakRising to 14,110 feet, Pikes Peak provides some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world. It was after visiting the summit that Katherine Lee Bates wrote the words to “America the Beautiful.” There are several ways visitors can get to the top. The Pikes Peak Cog Railway has the distinction of being the highest railroad in the Unites States. From April through October, visitors can take the scenic three-hour round-trip ride to the summit, where they can relax in the gift shop/snack bar and enjoy the views of Denver, Kansas and New Mexico. Reservations are recommended. Call (719) 685-5401 for reservations and information. The Pikes Peak Highway is a 19-mile paved and gravel journey to the top that begins in Cascade, only 15 minutes from downtown Colorado Springs, on Highway 24. A round-trip excursion can easily take two to three hours. The highway is open year-round, but hours vary throughout the seasons. For more information, call (719) 385-PEAK (7325) or (800) 318-9505. For the adventurous, the 13-mile (one-way) Barr Trail offers the opportunity to hike to the summit.
Seven FallsThis clear mountain stream plunges 200 feet over seven separate falls. It has been called the “grandest mile of scenery” in Colorado. Beside the falls is a 224-step stairway that leads to a mile long nature trail and a panoramic overlook of Colorado Springs. At night, the falls are illuminated with spectacular light. Seven Falls is open year-round and is located north of the Broadmoor Hotel on Mesa Road. Call (719) 632-0765 for more information.
Garden of the GodsDrive or hike the trails through this 1,300-acre park of towering red sandstone rock formations. The park is located off of Highway 24 on 30th Street and is open year-round. The trading post at the west end of Garden of the Gods is the largest gift shop and art gallery in the Pikes Peak region. The visitor’s center has a 12-minute multimedia presentation and state-of-the-art interactive exhibits on the area’s cultural history, American Indian heritage and unique ecology and geology. For more information, call the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center at (719) 634-6666.
Cave of the WindsCave of the Winds, the highest cave in the world open to the public, is one of America’s most spectacular prehistoric natural wonders. The caverns started forming more than 200 million years ago. Tours along the cave’s Discovery Trail are available year round. From May through Labor Day, a spectacular laser light show called “Legends of the Night” is held after dark. The show uses the cliff faces as a screen to project upon. Cave of the Winds is located four miles west of Colorado Springs on Highway 24. Call (719) 685-5444 for tour information.
Pro Rodeo Hall of FameThe Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame is the only museum in the United States devoted exclusively to the sport of rodeo and to the men and women who have made it a world-class sporting event. The history of the cowboy from his origin to the modern rodeo cowboy is presented in multimedia displays and exhibits. The museum also features an outdoor garden with rodeo livestock. The hall is open year-round and is located at Exit 147 off Interstate 25. Call (719) 528-4764 for more information.
