Colorado Rockies
Colorado Fun Facts
Did you know that a golf ball flies 10% further in Colorado? Did you need to know?! As well as having some of the greatest mountain ranges in the world, great hikes and some of the friendliest people in America, Colorado has a lot of other little snippets that a visitor should know.
- Colorado can proudly boast that it has more microbreweries per capita than any other state.
- The world’s largest flat-top mountain is in Grand Mesa.
- The Dwight Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel between Clear Creek & Summit counties is the highest auto tunnel in the world.
- Leadville was so named because there were so many towns named after “Silver.” Better than Copperville I suppose.
- The tallest sand dunes in America are in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve outside of Alamosa in south central Colorado. It is more than a million years old.
- Colorado is home to 54 14,000-ft mountain peaks, more than any other state in the United States.
- Colorado has the highest mean altitude of all the states.
- The highest suspension bridge in the world is over the Royal Gorge near Canon City. When crossing, it really feels like it too.
- The world’s largest natural hot springs pool is located in Glenwood Springs. The two-block long pool is across the street from the historic Hotel Colorado, a favorite stop of former president Teddy Roosevelt.
- A little gem for golf fans – A golf ball flies on average ten percent farther in Colorado than other states because of the altitude. Wonder how far it would travel from Everest.
Firsts
- The worlds first Rodeo was held in Colorado. July 4th, 1869 in Deer Trail.
- The town of Ouray is home to the world’s first park devoted completely to the sport of ice climbing in 1995.
Useless Facts
- The thirteenth step of the state capital building in Denver is one mile above sea level. Don’t attempt to jump it.
- “Beulah red” is the name of the red marble that gives the Colorado State Capitol its distinctive splendor. Extremely rare, all the “Beulah red” marble in the world went into the Capitol. It took 6 years to prepare.
- Colfax Avenue in Denver is the longest continuous street in America.
Historic Hot Spots
- The Stanley Hotel, in Estes Park, has many famous visitors and is also said to be the setting for the movie adaption of Stephen Kings novel ‘The Shining’.