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| Picture by Kolohe |
After traveling on backroads and fighting traffic in the Denver Metropolitan area, we finally arrived in Arvada where we met Greg, Suzanne, and Erica for dinner.
The next morning we were up early and drove up Lookout Mountain to visit Buffalo Bill's grave and Museum. About 50 years ago I made this journey, but at that time it was a lot more remote. There has definitely been a lot of development on the mountain in the last 50 years.
Buffalo Bill originally wanted to be buried in Cody, Wyoming, but changed his mind before he died and picked out a spot on Lookout Mountain. He died on January 10, 1917, from kidney failure while visiting his sister in Denver. It was not possible to drive up Lookout Mountain for his burial during the winter, so his remains were kept in cold storage at Olinger's Mortuary for six months. During his stay at the mortuary his remains were embalmed six times before he could be buried. Olinger's Mortuary is now Linger Eatuary Restaurant and people can eat at the spot where Buffalo Bill was embalmed. Somehow, that does not sound too appetizing.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Boettcher Mansion is also located on Lookout Mountain, not too far from Buffalo Bill's grave. Guided tours are available through the Mansion and around the grounds, which are now used for conferences and weddings.
While we were taking pictures, a butterfly kept following us as we walked around the blooming flowers. Eventually, the butterfly landed on us so that we could take close-up pictures. Must have been some type of Hollywood butterfly that wanted some free publicity.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Georgetown (population 1,118) was founded during the 1859 Pike's Peak Gold Rush; but it was silver, not gold, that made Georgetown the "Silver Queen of Colorado." The Georgetown-Silver Plume Historic District is now a popular tourist destination during the summer months. Unfortunately, we arrived just before a rainstorm and got drenched while trying to eat lunch on a park bench.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
When we lived in Colorado, Loveland Pass was one of my favorite ski areas. Now, the Eisenhower tunnel passed through the area that was once a chairlift location.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
The town of Dillon (population 1,064) has moved locations four times. The first three moves were to get closer to the railroad and the last move was in 1956 when a dam was constructed just downstream from the townsite. A new townsite was selected one mile to the north and the town is now situated on the shoreline of Dillon Reservoir.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Vail (population 4,835) is a tourist destination with family outdoor activities during the summer and skiing during the winter months. During WW II this area was used for ski training by the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division. After WW II ended, some of the soldiers returned to open a ski resort where they had trained with the military. With the help of investors, in December 1962, Vail opened its first ski season and the rest is history. By 1969 Vail was the most popular ski resort in Colorado.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
I typically do not like driving on the Interstate roads because they are usually very boring. Interstate 70 between Vail and Glenwood Springs is an exception. This stretch of the Interstate was designed to maintain the canyon's beauty by incorporating elevated roads and tunnels to minimize the disturbed areas.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
When we lived in Aurora (Colorado) I worked for the Public Service Company of Colorado and our survey crew often traveled to Glenwood Springs for various job assignments. While in Glenwood Springs we stayed at the historic Hotel Colorado, which is one of the oldest hotels in the state. The hotel was built as a replica of the Villa de Medici in Rome, Italy. The cost to build the hotel in 1891 was $850,000.
Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft spent extended summer visits at the hotel and it became known as "The Little White House of the West." It is alleged that the Teddy Bear was invented here when the hotel's staff presented President Roosevelt with a hand-made stuffed bear.
Although I did not ever see any ghosts when we stayed there, the hotel is reported to be haunted. According to Wikipedia:
Several ghosts are believed to reside there, notably a young girl in Victorian clothing seen playing with a ball, a female that peers over sleeping male guests, and a male presence on the fifth floor. The two suites in the bell towers are frequently reported to be haunted The elevator moving on its own without passengers, strange smells and sounds have also been reported by guests and staff. In September 2006, CCPI Paranormal Investigations visited the hotel and recorded two areas of higher electromagnetic energy, one in the corridor in front of room 325 and the other outside of room 551.
The screams of a woman are often heard throughout the hotel, believed to be of a chamber maid who was involved in a love triangle, and was murdered by one of her lovers. The room in which the woman was believed to have been murdered was a guestroom. It has now been turned into a storage room, due to the history of paranormal happenings occurring there.
At a gas station just down the street from the hotel, we found a friendly little Garter Snake that had apparently gotten lost and was slithering down the street looking for his home.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Grand Junction (population 65,560) has been nicknamed "River City" because it is at the confluence of the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers.
Colorado's first vineyard was planted in Palisade, just east of Grand Junction. Numerous other vineyards were started after it was discovered that grapes grew well here and the area is now known as "Colorado Wine Country."
We met Craig and Lisa for dinner in downtown Grand Junction and while we were waiting on our food, I walked up-and-down the street admiring the outdoor art displays. I was surprised to find out that bicycles were so popular even dinosaurs rode them around town.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
On the way home we stopped in Fruita (just west of Grand Junction) to see Craig and Lisa's new house.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Before reaching Las Vegas we ran into a bad rainstorm. The roads became very slick and a truck hit the guardrail and then turned over on its side at Exit 93. Fortunately, we made it around the accident and home safely.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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