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Rufus Cable, awestruck by the impressive rock formations, ex-

claimed, “Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the gods to assem-

ble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods.

The Garden of the Gods’ red rock formations were created during

a geological upheaval along a natural fault line millions of years

ago.

Archaeological evidence shows that prehistoric people visit-

ed Garden of the Gods about 1330 BC. At about 250 BC, Native

American people camped in the park; they are believed to have

been attracted to wildlife and plant life in the area and used over-

hangs created by the rocks for shelter.

In 1879 Charles Elliott Perkins, a friend of William Jackson Palmer,

purchased 480 acres of land that included a portion of the present

Garden of the Gods. Upon Perkins’ death, his family gave the land

to the City of Colorado Springs in 1909, with the provision that it
While in Colorado, a visit to Garden of the Gods is a must.
would be a free public park.

Garden of the Gods is a remarkable and beautiful red rock public

park located just minutes from downtown Colorado Springs, Col- The 300 foot orange sandstone rocks in the Garden of the Gods
were once sand dunes. They may have looked similar to those at
orado. One of the most amazing experiences is just driving there. the Great Sand Dunes National Monument in southern Colora-

As you move towards the Garden of the Gods, you are surrounded do. An inland sea once again covered Colorado about 225 million

by hills with grasses and trees and then out of nowhere you drive

around a curve and come across massive red rock structures. years ago.

Here are 5 things you probably never knew about Garden of the

Gods that will blow your mind.

The area was first called Red Rock Corral. Then, in August 1859,

two surveyors who helped to set up Colorado City explored the

site. One of the surveyors, M. S. Beach, suggested that it would

be a “capital place for a beer garden“. His companion, the young