The Garden of the Gods, perhaps Colorado Spring’s most famous attraction. Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971, The Garden of the Gods is a spectacular formation of horizontal layers of deep red, pink and white sandstone faulted into fins by immense tectonic pressure. Individually named rocks – The Gateway, the Three Graces, the Sleeping Giant – evoke the sense of mystery that has always attracted the imaginations of those familiar with them. For the Ute people this place is sacred ground, as they believe they emerged from it. Ancient petroglyphs attest to their presence here throughout history.
In true Colorado fashion, the park got its name from a conversation about beer.
In 1859, Melancthon Beach and Rufus Cable, two railroad surveyors, were sent to locate and establish the city of Colorado City. When the two happened across the rock formations — it’s said — Beach exclaimed, “This would be a capital place for a beer garden!” Cable replied, “Beer garden! Why this is a place fit for the gods to assemble. We shall call it the Garden of the Gods!”
Back in 1879, railroad mogul, Charles Elliot Perkins, bought the portion of land containing many of the unusual formations. Perkins wanted the property to be open to the public for everyone to enjoy. After his death in 1907, Perkins’ family deeded the property in December 1909 to the City of Colorado Springs under several stipulations — one of which being that the park remain “forever free” and open to the public.
The 1,334-acre park grows almost every year as more land is donated. Roughly two million visitors from all over the world visit the park every year. According to the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, the visitation density at Garden of the Gods is 100 times that of the 265,461 acres of Rocky Mountain National Park. Long story short, come in the off season when there is a lot less traffic.
Colorado College professor James Kerr found the only known Theiophytalia kerri in the Garden in 1878. Although technology to prove the new species took more than a century to catch up after the finding, Kerr was still honored as the discoverer. The dinosaur was named after him and the place it was found. Theios is Greek for “belonging to the gods” and phytalia meaning “garden.”
Garden of the Gods was neutral ground for Native Americans. Even rival tribes laid down their weapons when entering the garden. This peaceful area was sacred and a hub for trade between nomadic tribes. The Ute people were native to the area and made the land near the formations their home during the winter months.
The Bighorn Sheep, the state mammal of Colorado, is an elusive creature that can often be found on the sides of Colorado’s fourteeners. If climbing mountains isn’t for you, you might get a glimpse of the large Rampart herd in garden of the Gods or at nearby castle, Glen Eyrie.
Five different ecosystems converge at the Garden of the Gods.
Cottonwood-willow, prairie-grassland, mountain shrub, pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine are the ecosystems that make up the Garden. Several other ecosystems could account for the cliffs and the plants and animals that live there, but the rocks don’t meet the exact definition. Because of the drastic changes of scenery, you’re sure to see a variety of plants and wildlife that might include bears, mountain lions, hawks, deer, raccoons and more.