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DISCOVER YOUR GUIDE TO THE PIKES PEAK REGION

GAZETTE.COM/DISCOVER

SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

Colorado SpringS SChool diStriCt 11

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Your ChoiCe - BeSt ChoiCe diStriCt 11

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T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

KEY CONTACTS DAN STEEVER President and publisher 636-0104, dan.steever @gazette.com JOANNA BEAN Editor 636-0273, joanna.bean @gazette.com

CREDITS

DISCOVER EDITOR Michelle Karas 476-1602, michelle.karas @gazette.com CONTRIBUTORS Lance Benzel Stephanie Earls Teresa J. Farney Wayne Heilman Stephen Hobbs Debbie Kelley Rich Laden Jen Mulson Linda Navarro Jim O’Connell Carlotta Olson Jakob Rodgers Tom Roeder Megan Schrader Maria St. Louis-Sanchez Billie Stanton Anleu Copy editing, design David Demi-Smith Bill Radford Robert Smith Josh Swearngin Cover design Nichole Montañez Cover photo Mark Reis ON THE WEB Are you new to the Pikes Peak region? Go to gazette.com/discover for all the contents of this year’s Discover. Our website, gazette.com, is also an exhaustive resource for all things Colorado Springs and beyond. Search online for information on homes, jobs, schools, health care, utilities, the arts, dining and much more. THE GAZETTE 30 E. Pikes Peak Ave, Suite 100 Colorado Springs, CO 80903

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TABLE OF CONTENTS No matter what season we’re in, there’s much to Discover in Colorado Springs. The colorful fall brings a return to school days in the Pikes Peak region’s 17 school districts, private schools, colleges and institutes. In the cold of winter, we find comfort food and nourishment in the vast number of dining establishments. Spring tempts us outside to discover our area’s multitude of hiking and biking trails. In summer, we look for day trips or longer getaways and explore the many attractions right here at home. This publication has the information you’re looking for in all seasons, whether you’ve lived here for years or are just discovering what the city and surrounding areas have to offer. At your fingertips in Discover, you have an overview of the region’s neighborhoods, schools, government services, transportation options, religious organizations, attractions, sports, dining and more. Let The Gazette’s experts be your guide, here in these pages or online at gazette. com/discover.

INDEX NEIGHBORHOODS, 6-36 Regional map ........................ 6-7 Northgate/Northeast ............... 8 Flying Horse ............................ 8 Briargate ................................ 10 Rockrimmon/Peregrine/Cedar Heights/Kissing Camels .......... 10 Village 7/Garden Ranch .......... 12 University Village/UCCS ......... 12 Downtown/Central ................. 14 West Side/Gold Hill Mesa/ Old Colorado City ................ 16 Spring Creek/Pikes Peak Park 18 The Broadmoor/Skyway/ Cheyenne Cañon/Ivywild ..... 20 Tri-Lakes ............................... 22 Black Forest .......................... 24 Falcon/Eastern Plains ............ 26 Manitou Springs .................... 28 Banning Lewis Ranch ............ 30 Fountain Valley ..................... 32 Stetson Hills/North Powers ... 33 Ute Pass/Woodland Park ....... 34 Cripple Creek/Divide/ Florissant ............................ 35 GOVERNMENT, 36-40 Politics .............................. 36-38 Services .......................... 38-40

MILITARY, 41-42 HEALTH CARE, 43-45 HOUSING, 46-50 Overview ............................... 46 Prices .................................... 47 Selection ............................... 49 New vs. resale ...................... 49 Rental market ........................ 49 By the numbers .................... 50 ECONOMY, 52-56 Overview ............................... 52 Retail ............................... 54-56 Employment .......................... 56 DINING, 57-61 Overview ............................... 57 Fine dining ........................ 57-59 Casual .............................. 59-61 SCHOOLS, 62-73 Overview ............................... 62 Academy District 20 ........ 62-63 Calhan School District RJ1 ..... 64 Cheyenne Mountain District 12 ............................ 64 Colorado Springs School District 11 ........................................ 64-66 Cripple Creek-Victor RE1 ....... 66 Edison School District 54JT ... 66 Ellicott School District 22 ....... 66 Falcon School District 49 ....... 66

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE: FALL 2014

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 ................................ 67 Hanover School District 28 .... 67 Harrison School District 2 ...... 68 Lewis-Palmer School District 69 Manitou Springs School District 14 .............................................. 69 Miami-Yoder School District JT-60 ..................................... 69 Peyton School District 23JT ... 69 Widefield School District 3 ..... 70 Woodland Park School District RE-2 ..................................... 70 Private, religious schools ...... 70 State charter schools ............ 70 Higher education ............... 71-73 Technical schools .................. 73 RELIGION, 74-77 GETAWAYS, 78-81 TRANSPORTATION, 82 SPORTS, 83 OUTDOORS, 84-86 Regional features .................. 84 Biking .................................... 85 Hiking .................................... 86 Fishing ................................... 86 ATTRACTIONS, 87-91

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T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

WOODLAND PARK

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. PEREGRINE

PAGE 10

UNIVERSITY 34 28

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. WOLF RANCH

CORDERA PAGE 8

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Y VILLAGE PAGE 12

T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

NORTHGATE/NORTHEAST

Laura Karcher and her grandson, Tyler, walk around the fountain at Wolf Ranch on Aug. 14, 2013.

orthgate is a large, developing area east of the Air Force Academy that’s home to New Life Church, Compassion International and the Rampart campus of Pikes Peak Community College. It is in Academy School District 20. Residents enjoy beautiful scenery from almost all directions: Pikes Peak and the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains to the west and south, the Tri-Lakes area and Black Forest to the north. Northgate has many newer neighborhoods, as well as long-established ranches and horse properties and the established Gleneagle area. North Gate Boulevard leads to the Air Force Academy and is near Interstate 25 in an area where major changes are taking place with a busy Bass Pro Shops, Magnum Shooting Center and a variety of new restaurants and shops as well as businesses and medical offices. Upcoming is Dave & Buster’s. Water parks are planned for the area. Flying Horse is a resort-style lifestyle 8 2 015 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

community on the north end of Colorado Springs in the Northgate area off North Gate Boulevard and Colorado 83. Along with easy access to major employers and area military bases, Flying Horse offers quick commutes to downtown Colorado Springs and Denver. It is in Academy School District 20. Neighborhood villages within Flying Horse offer a variety of home types, including premier high end, and each comes with a membership in the Club at Flying Horse, a luxurious club with family activities, a restaurant, tennis courts, gyms and multiple swimming pools. Higher-end options include access to the Tom Weiskopf-designed signature 18-hole golf course. Cordera is a master-planned community with luxury homes, trails, cul-de-sacs, a community park featuring a summer concert series and a large community center. There are more than 50 acres of open space, trails and four themed play parks. The Cordera area is 10 minutes from the interstate in the scenic north/northeast part of the city.

JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE FILE

If you love golf and sports, there’s Pine Creek. Beautiful mountain views, the 18-hole Pine Creek Golf Course, custom homes and District 20 schools. Boundaries are Old Ranch Road and Briargate Parkway, and it’s close to Colorado 83. Wolf Ranch, voted a Gazette Best of the Springs neighborhood by readers, has spectacular views of the Front Range. Amenities include parks and open space, a rec center and a dog park. Gateway Park with a waterfall and pavilion leads the way into the family community at Research Parkway and Powers Boulevard. A new custom/semi-custom subdivision tucked into the Black Forest/northeast area is Cathedral Pines, with acres of parks and open space, trails, multiple ponds and picnic areas. It’s close to the Club at Flying Horse. High Forest Ranch, off Colorado 83, is a private, gated community with homes set on several acres of land. It’s in Lewis-Palmer School District 38. A highly anticipated newcomer in this area called The Farm is being developed by La Plata Communities.

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T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

BRIARGATE

riargate has much to offer, including family amenities and D-20 schools. The 10,000-acre master-planned suburban development on Colorado Springs’ north side is home to an explosion of retail locations, auto dealers, entertainment options and restaurants and includes Chapel Hills Mall and the Promenade Shops at Briargate. One of Briargate’s newest stars is Library 21c, the library of the future today with two makerspaces — rooms available for creative projects or fabrication projects. The family-friendly area is also known for many cul-de-sacs. Established trees and landscaping help make Briargate an attractive location. The Briargate community culture is very active. Runners, cyclists and dog walkers take advantage of the trails, parks, paths, hills, sidewalks and bike paths that weave throughout. For kids, there’s racing on a BMX track.

CAROL LAWRENCE, THE GAZETTE

The color guard for the Rampart High School marching band practices last month on a field in front of the Academy School District 20 facility.

ROCKRIMMON/PEREGRINE/ CEDAR HEIGHTS/KISSING CAMELS

here are incredibly beautiful areas on Colorado Springs’ northwest side, areas almost signature Colorado. Rockrimmon has mature trees in rolling foothills with plenty of wildlife, miles of trails and mountain views. Deer are everywhere, and the first fawn of the spring is a sight to behold. Bears, bobcats, foxes, coyotes and other critters are common visitors. Houses and other buildings — all in earth-tone colors — blend into the natural setting. You can eat at nearby restaurants, visit a sports bar or coffee shop or favorite national chain restaurant; buy groceries in the shopping plaza; visit the library; relax at a favorite watering hole. Yet, downtown, the Air Force Academy and shopping areas are just minutes away. Hike Ute Valley Park and Blodgett Peak Open Space and find yourself even farther off the beaten path. It’s in Academy School District 20. Peregrine is high above the city, a luxury development of 1,000 homes tucked into the side of the mountains at the base of Blodgett Peak where there are parks, trails and amenities, mature trees and landscaping, sub-association communities and a Peregrine Master Association.

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Rockrimmon has mature trees in rolling foothills with plenty of wildlife, miles of trails and mountain views. The houses and other buildings — all in earth-tone colors — blend into the natural setting. MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Cedar Heights is a breathtaking private mountainside community bordered by Garden of the Gods and Pike National Forest. Acres within Cedar Heights have been set aside as open space and for parks and trails. Wildlife is plentiful. Kissing Camels gets its name from the famous rock formation in Garden of the Gods, visible just across the mesa. It’s a private golf community sharing amenities with Garden of the Gods Club and Resort.

Very country club and with unmatched views. Nearby is the city’s xeriscape demonstration garden, which is open to the public. In the northwest area is the neighborhood of Mountain Shadows, which is rebuilding after the 2012 Waldo Canyon fire. Almost 77 percent of the 347 homes destroyed have been rebuilt.

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T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

N. ACADEMY BLVD. CORRIDOR

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

The Garden Ranch neighborhood is near open space and has a mix of new and older housing, including options for seniors.

illage Seven was one of Colorado Springs’ earliest planned communities, dating to 1968. A family-oriented area, the parks, greenways and unusual street names give the neighborhood its own distinctive flavor. Where else could you live on streets called Carefree, Whimsical and Merriment? The houses are mainly a mix of bi-level, tri-level, ranch and two-story designs from the 1970-1980 era, built by two of the city’s largest builders at the time — Shepard Homes and Gendron Homes. There are

several apartment complexes as well and connecting greenways. It’s still a popular area with great access to two of the city’s main arteries, Powers and Academy boulevards. Extensive use of cul-de-sac streets guarantees less traffic and a suburban feeling for growing families. Throughout are now-mature aspens and evergreens planted by first residents. Garden Ranch is near open space and yet is close to major arteries and amenities. Residents can use Garden Ranch Park and trails west of the area through

University Park to open spaces including Pulpit Rock and Austin Bluffs. There is quick access to Academy and Union boulevards and Austin Bluffs Parkway, areas with shopping centers, offices and restaurants. Residents have good access to all compass directions. Garden Ranch has a mix of new and older housing, including senior housing options. The 29-year-old Garden Ranch YMCA is well-utilized, and the bustling University of Colorado at Colorado Springs is nearby.

UNIVERSITY VILLAGE/UCCS

t’s a happening boomtown in what had been a rundown area of the city. Talk about urban renewal! It’s a destination area in the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs neighborhood. Spanking new shops, Trader Joe’s, Costco, new restaurants, a University Village Running Club with a tunnel under busy North Nevada Avenue leading from the hillside cam12 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

pus. Outdoor concerts. New apartment complexes and student housing. Two new health complexes including a cutting-edge facility for senior citizens. What’s more, ground was recently broken on the $60 million Ent Center for the Arts, anticipated to open in early 2018. The 92,000-square-foot facility is intended to become a home to university organizations including TheatreWorks

and the Galleries of Contemporary Art, and local arts organizations, including high school performing arts departments, Colorado Springs Dance Theatre, Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale and Colorado Springs Conservatory. Housing is close by on Union Boulevard and in Cragmor. The potential of this area is on the rise, and it’s all just off Interstate 25.

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T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

DOWNTOWN/ CENTRAL MUSEUM

THEATRE

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

A rainbow hangs over downtown Colorado Springs during a recent summer evening. The area has plenty of places to work, eat and play.

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For current exhibitions, theatre productions and classes, visit csfineartscenter.org 719.634.5581 30 W Dale St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 14 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

owntown Colorado Springs continues to be a great place to live, work and play. New lofts, many above shops in historic buildings, look down over the downtown action. Just a few blocks away is the new Blue Dot Place, designed for urbanite living and walking or bike riding to work and play. Parades, festivals and special events often call for the closing of the main street through downtown, Tejon Street, where no one is surprised to see daredevil motorcycle riders catapult off ramps high into the air, Olympic athletes demonstrating their skills, race cars revving their engines or people of seemingly all ages climbing walls taller than buildings. Downtown bustles every workday. And on the first Friday night of each month, sidewalks are filled with people strolling, shopping, visiting art galleries and shops, eating outdoors at the many restaurants and listening to sidewalk musicians. Weekends call for visits to restaurants, a movie — even on the roof of the parking garage in summer weather — craft brew specialty watering holes or just walking around. A new addition, The Mezzanine, offers music and performance in an intimate off-thealley setting tucked above a nightclub. Outdoor concerts are the norm downtown, and there’s ice skating in the park come Christmas. On Tuesdays, hundreds take to the down-

town sidewalks and Monument Valley Park for the regular Jack Quinn’s Runners Club. On medians, street corners and sidewalks, public art is absolutely everywhere, thanks to a local program. Some pieces honor prominent figures from local history. Others are annually juried sculptures that sometimes cause onlookers to stop and quizzically try to put their own spin on what they might be. Murals pop up along alleys and on prominent buildings. Parks include Monument Valley Park, which has trails that hook into an areawide system. Downtown’s Acacia Park is a popular gathering spot with its musical, tuba-playing Uncle Wilber Fountain, which entertains children throughout the summer. America the Beautiful Park will soon be the site of an educational setting where kiddos can learn about the life along Monument and Fountain creeks. Museums also populate the area, including the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, the Fine Arts Center and the American Numismatic Association Money Museum. And Colorado College offers numerous opportunities for performances and special entertainment. Delightful housing abounds near and north of downtown, including the historic Old North End with its mining-era mansions, apartments carved out of towering old homes and cozy, beautifully kept neighborhoods.

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T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

WEST SIDE/GOLD HILL MESA/ OLD COLORADO CITY

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Gold Hill Mesa has been transformed into a many-faceted hilltop community on the west side of Colorado Springs.

istory abounds on the west side of Colorado Springs. Central is what, in 1859, was founded as Colorado City and was, for at least five days, the first territorial capital of Colorado. Built along the railway and beside roads leading from the Pikes Peak or Bust gold-mining boom areas, it was integral to that era for processing the ore. As part of this history, it had bars and ladies of the night, and there are stories to be told at the Old Colorado City Historical Society. Old Colorado City, as it is known now, is part of Colorado Springs and home to century-old homes, a quaint historic district, one of the rare Carnegie Libraries, shops, businesses, restaurants and community events year-round. Old-timers mix with newcomers, drawn to the distinctive architecture from different eras and a successful urban renewal program. Gold Hill Mesa, which had a vital part in local mining boom history, has been transformed into a many-faceted hilltop 16 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

Old Colorado City is part of Colorado Springs and home to century-old homes, a quaint historic district, one of the rare Carnegie Libraries, shops, businesses, restaurants and community events year-round. CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE

community. As new homes and areas are developed, the tall mill smokestack still stands as a beacon. Land used for ore processing has been recycled over several

years to make way for new neighborhoods. Thereâ€™s a central community center where neighbors gather, and large parks and major hiking trails are nearby.

T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

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SPRING CREEK/PIKES

he southeast section of the city is at once one of the oldest, with modest homes, and newest, with developments convenient to military facilities. Spring Creek is a Traditional Neighborhood Development with a neighborhood streetscape and front porches. It’s designed as a small-town environment with neighborhood parks. Pikes Peak Park is an established neighborhood along South Circle Drive and Chelton Road. It’s a straight shot to Interstate 25 and minutes from Fort Carson, the airport and downtown. Some new housing areas have been built here as well as apartments and townhomes, but most of the homes in Pikes Peak Park were built in the 1970s and early 1980s. It is close to Harrison District 2 schools and recreation. Three major sports complexes — Leon Young Sports Complex, El Pomar Youth Sports Park and Sky View Sports Complex— are in or near the Pikes Peak Park neighborhoods. The busy Southeast and Armed Services YMCA has a special mission to serve military families as well as schools in the area and the surrounding community.

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Apartment complexes are seen off Airport Road in the Pikes Peak Park area, an established neighborhood along South Circle Drive and Chelton Road.

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T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

THE BROADMOOR/SKYWAY/ CHEYENNE CAÑON/IVYWILD

Housing in the Broadmoor is some of the priciest and most sought after in the region.

gainst a mountain backdrop, the Broadmoor area has some of the city’s most spectacular original mansions. Central to the area is the five-star Broadmoor hotel with championship golf courses, a spa and multiple-star restaurants. Broadmoor area housing is some of the priciest and most sought after in the region, ranging up into the multimillion dollars. Beautiful homes and townhomes, many in gated communities, cover hilly, wooded areas running from the resort up the mountainside to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, rated one of the best in the country, and up Cheyenne Mountain. The area around the Broadmoor hotel property includes some historic residences.

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The Skyway area is another that stretches up the mountainside, with incredible views, as does Broadmoor Bluffs. Nearby Cheyenne Cañon has some more-affordable living. Many homes are on heavily wooded creekside lots. Residents in this southwest part of the city typically love the outdoors. There are trails to hike and bike, rock edifices to view or climb, waterfalls and spectacular views. Wild animals are neighbors and frequent visitors. P ublic schools here are in Cheyenne Mountain District 12. Private schools in the area include The Colorado Springs School. The Ivywild neighborhood has a long, friendly history dating to 1888. There are

CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE

many smaller homes, a number along Cheyenne Creek. As the area population aged and the number of students at the 1916 Ivywild School shrank, the elementary school was closed in 2009. Along came Joseph Coleman and Mike Bristol, who turned the grand old building into a community resource with Bristol Brewing, a bakery, deli, concert venue, art gallery and a farmers market. It is the centerpiece for a multiuse commercial/ residential development that includes the Millibo Art Theatre. Nearby is Cheyenne Mountain Resort, done in Colorado-lodge style, which has its own golf course, restaurants and adjacent country club and lake.

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Serving Colorado Springs & all of El Paso County! THE GAZETTE

Families and friends gather in historic downtown Monument for the Tri-Lakes Fourth of July celebration. Events included a pancake breakfast in the morning before the parade that was held along Front Street.

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hat’s not to like about living in one of the smaller towns that share one Interstate 25 exit between Colorado Springs and Denver? The growing communities of Monument, Woodmoor and Palmer Lake have their own personalities and smalltown feel but with all the conveniences of today’s busy lifestyles. Business is booming at big-box stores and restaurants as well as longtime mom-and-pop establishments. You’ll find regulars at their tables at the coffee shops. Tri-Lakes schools are in Lewis-Palmer District 38. And the expanded YMCA has a full healthy-living schedule as well as an adjoining Tri-Lakes Health Pavilion. Palmer Lake — yes, there’s a lake — is home to the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts, where you can catch a play, listen to concerts or see artwork by area artists and sculptors. Downtown Monument is lined with specialty shops and excellent cafés and restaurants. Woodmoor was developed with more of

a country-club atmosphere and is home to the private Country Club at Woodmoor. Even as it grows, Tri-Lakes continues a tradition of quirky and special small-town events, from more serious Chautauqua historic re-creations to a holiday yule log hunt, a July 4 parade and races between people-powered artistic creations. This, after all, is an area known for landmarks like the Dirty Woman Park in Monument. Volunteers help at Tri-Lakes Cares and its thrift shop to make certain no one goes hungry or cold. This was an active site during the 2013 Black Forest fire, when area residents rallied to the call. The senior citizens center serves as a meeting place where seniors can share meals, bingo and even a friendly game of pingpong. Since 1973, the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club has provided grants for community needs.

T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

BLACK FOREST Volunteers with Black Forest Together make mulch in August 2015 from the burned trees on Brian and Sherri Little’s property in Black Forest. The nonprofit group has a long list of projects on private property and is looking for volunteers to help. CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE

he 2013 Black Forest fire burned hundreds of homes and more than 14,000 treed acres, but the independent residents of this community continue to push forward under the banner: “Regrow, Rebuild, Rebound.” Many residents work with the nonprofit Black Forest Together to help the community recover. The uniquely rugged Black Forest in unincorporated El Paso County touches

24 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

the northern boundaries of Colorado Springs. Residents cherish their area’s history as a one-time logging camp, and their Black Forest Community Club is a famous log building where today there are community meetings and celebrations, yoga, spaghetti dinners and the popular Black Rose Acoustic Society concerts. Vendor booths at the annual August Black Forest Festival were, as always, sold

out this year. And the popular everyone’s-welcome-to-march parade was led by the honorary Keeper of the Keys to the Forest. A 2015 festival highlight was the dedication of a memorial honoring two people who died in the fire. Schools are in Academy District 20. The popular MeadowGrass Music Festival is held each Memorial Day weekend at La Foret Conference and Retreat Center in the forest.

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T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

FALCON/EASTERN PLAINS

ut east of Colorado Springs, it’s “the plains” as far as you can see. To the west, there are suburban developments and shopping not that far away. The options for lifestyles are diverse. As Gazette columnist Bill Radford has said, his family chose the country out east “so my wife could have horses in the backyard.” It’s a place for barnyard animals, solitude, wide-open spaces and raising your own food. Nearby Falcon has shopping areas and the equestrian-centered Latigo Trails development where the Latigo Equestrian Center is operated by the Pikes Peak Range Riders Foundation and is home to the riders’ new museum. The center also houses the Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center. In this developing area close to military facilities is family-oriented Woodmen Hills with two recreation centers and ample trails. Golfers, it’s for you: Antler Creek Golf Course in Meridian Ranch. Meridian Ranch is a 2,500-acre master-planned community with new homes, golf and recreation community close to life’s necessities and pleasures — but feels a world apart from city hassles. A large

A horse grazes in a field off U.S. 24 just east of Falcon in October 2014. Falcon has shopping areas and the equestriancentered Latigo Trails development. MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

recreation center, outdoor pool, parks and trails keep you moving. And the lively CreekView Grill is your go-to spot for everything from post-game drinks to dinner with friends. Students in this area attend Falcon District 49 schools. Driving past large properties — some agricultural, others with cattle — you’ll find small towns here and there dotting the plains. They’re places where it’s no

problem when residents know to call a local cafe to ask the mayor a question and where high school football is fodder for days of conversation. Ellicott and Limon, for example, are known for their winning high school teams and strong community support. There’s Peyton and Ramah. Calhan is home to the El Paso County Fair, cattle auctions and auto races. It’s all just a short distance from a city and the suburbs.

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Before, during and after the sale...

MANITOU SPRINGS

We’re here for you every step of the way.

CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE

Manitou Springs is a popular tourist destination, and the quaint town west of Colorado Springs has plenty of shopping and outdoor pursuits.

2015

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here are few places that are as quaint and quirky, and proud of being a bit eccentric. This is tiny Manitou Springs, a tourist destination. Though it is home to fewer than 5,000 residents, Manitou Springs makes the national news thanks to creative “only in Manitou” events such as the Emma Crawford Coffin Races, fruitcake toss competitions and, in one case, chairs — everyday, locally owned chairs — lining the center of the main drag. Manitou Springs is artsy and full of energy and whimsy. For outdoor enthusiasts, Manitou is famous for the Incline, the heart-pounding,

2,000-vertical-feet workout hike up what were the tracks of the former Mount Manitou Incline cable cars. The area around Manitou has beautiful hiking trails, a running marathon up and down Pikes Peak and the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, which leaves from Manitou, delivering breathtaking views as it climbs to the summit of Pikes Peak. A never-miss spot is the ageless Penny Arcade downtown. As they always do, Manitou Springs residents pulled together in 2013 after Fountain Creek flooding that swept down into the town. Young and old shoveled mud, helped neighbors, and packed sandbags.

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BANNING LEWIS RANCH

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Banning Lewis Ranch, marketed as the top-selling master-planned community in El Paso County, is attracting people who like the vast panoramic views of the Front Range and the proximity to shopping and the city.

n the eastern edge of Colorado Springs is an exploding community named for and filled with the personality of the massive ranch it replaced: Banning Lewis. The community’s logo: a Western BL and spurs branded on weathered lumber. Although annexed into the city in 1988 along with Colorado Centre, the 24,310acre master-planned community didn’t begin developing until 2007. Marketed as the

30 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

top-selling master-planned community in El Paso County, it is attracting people who like the vast panoramic views of the Front Range and the proximity to shopping and the city, as well as easy commutes, especially to military sites. It’s all about life on the fringes of the city without giving up all the city services: police, fire protection and city utilities. Schools are in Falcon District 49. Numerous amenities in place in the development called the Frontier at BLR

include a $2.75 million aquatics center, the Ranch House Community Center and plans for a 28-acre community park as the area grows. The YMCA will operate amenities in the BLR villages. A huge part of the former ranch — 18,000 acres — was purchased for fracking by an oil company. That plan went dry, and those acres have since been purchased by a major local real estate developer. There are more big things to come.

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FOUNTAIN VALLEY

he Fountain Valley area, just south of Colorado Springs, includes the communities of Fountain, Security and Widefield and some of the most famous ranches in the state. This area is rich in history, natural beauty and community pride. Residents also enjoy lower home prices and convenience to Interstate 25 and Fort Carson. Security and Widefield have been recognized nationally as “cities on the rise,” and Fountain has retained its small-town atmosphere as it’s surrounded by growth. There are many local parks and open spaces, such as the Fountain Regional Park and the Fountain Creek Nature Center, one of the top spots in the country for migratory birds. These provide opportunities for educational and recreational activities, including hiking, fishing, walking and bike riding. Around the Fountain Valley, which has a heritage of farms and ranches, there are numerous free, family-oriented annual events. Weekly farmers markets provide residents with access to local produce and goods. Venetucci Farm is maintained by a nonprofit as a working farm and continues the beloved tradition of providing free pumpkins for kids at Halloween.

Two-yearold Kiefer See plays in August in the Splash Park in Fountain’s Aga Park. Fountain has retained its small-town atmosphere as it’s surrounded by growth. MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Also in the area is Pikes Peak International Raceway, which has most recently specialized in luxury sports-car racing and show events. An exclusive private boarding school, Fountain Valley School of Colorado, is in the valley. In Widefield, the school district has the unusual distinction of owning and operating its own parks and recreation district, as well as a community center where there

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are year-round activities. Fountain Valley has its own theater troupe. Fountain, a home-rule town, has been nationally recognized as a special place to live for its Olde Town Fountain-area downtown, its support of almost 300 businesses and its Veterans Memorial recognizing the Fountain Valley veterans from all wars and conflicts. Many military personnel and veterans call the Fountain Valley home.

STETSON HILLS/ NORTH POWERS

BROYHILL FURNITURE GALLERY

Before You Buy, Buy Better, Buy Broyhill

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Sand Creek runs through the Stetson Hills neighborhood. With busy Powers Boulevard nearby, the area has lots of shopping and entertainment.

tetson Hills spreads east from the Powers corridor, one of the busiest, most-happening, suburban areas of the city. Itâ€™s just one of the plethora of developments and communities along Powers. Every type of shopping, an always-increasing number of restaurants, big-box stores, entertainment venues, major hospitals and varieties of events are up and down Powers Boulevard, easily accessible north and south. Powers leads south to the

Colorado Springs Airport as well. Security Service Field, home of the Sky Sox, the Triple-A minor league team of the Milwaukee Brewers, is in Stetson Hills and just off Powers. Fireworks after games light up the night during baseball season. Stetson Hills is replete with parks, trails and open spaces, including Stetson Hills Open Space and Pring Ranch Park. Many others are just a short distance away. Falcon D-49 schools are nearby.

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UTE PASS/WOODLAND PARK

CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE

Green Mountain Falls, one of the quaint Ute Pass communities, features a lake with an on-the-water gazebo.

isiting Woodland Park and Ute Pass is like coming home, especially if you happen to live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, with Pikes Peak as your background. A small, hometown atmosphere encompasses Woodland Park, up Ute Pass west of Colorado Springs. Woodland Park has grown, with a nice selection of businesses, and has community and special events throughout the year to attract a variety of vendors and attendees. Some new housing has come to town, and Charis Bible College is building a new campus. Woodland Park is well-known for its restaurants and the Donut Mill, an almost imperative stop for drivers as they head for the mountains. Visitors looking for Woodland Park’s Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center typically receive instructions to “look for the palm trees in front.” Yes, indeed, palm trees and not pines. Don’t ask. The center is a project of Triebold Paleontology, a world leader in fossil and cast replica 34 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

Pikes Peak is the backdrop from the windows of the Seven Arrows Gallery in Woodland Park. The community has grown, with a nice selection of businesses, and features a variety of community and special events. JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE

skeletons. Residents of Woodland Park and all the Ute Pass communities — Cascade, Chipita Park and Green Mountain Falls — have incredible access to hunting,

camping, fishing, biking and hiking. The focal point of Green Mountain Falls is its lake and its on-the-water gazebo as well as popular eateries such as The Pantry, on the lake.

CRIPPLE CREEK/DIVIDE/ FLORISSANT

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE FILE

“Red Tail” (the only name given) leads a group of burros up Bennett Avenue for the start of the Donkey Derby Races on June 29, 2014, during the second day of activities at Donkey Derby Days in Cripple Creek.

id you know that Divide is the “Center of the Known Universe?” That’s a pretty bold claim for a bump in the road, but it’s true. So named because water runs off in all four directions, Divide is centrally situated at U.S. 24and Colorado 67, a welcome stopping point for travelers who might be on their way to Colorado Springs, Cripple Creek, Buena Vista or Breckenridge. An unexpectedly great place to stop for a bite to eat is McGinty’s Wood Oven Pub. A short but scenic drive along the Gold Belt Byway or Colorado 67, and spectacular routes packed with their own attractions, such as Dome Rock, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and Hornbek Homestead, will take visitors from Divide to Cripple Creek and Victor. These are some of the most beautiful areas in the state when the aspen leaves turn to gold in the fall.

Hiking and camping enthusiasts love the Divide area, which features Mueller State Park, Dome Rock State Wildlife Area, left, and The Crags.

Home to some of the biggest gold finds in history, the Cripple Creek/ Victor areas delight history buffs with Old West architecture, tumble-down mines, museums and tours, including a ride on the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad. And there are donkey races in the summer in Cripple Creek, where the obstinate little creatures still have the right of way on the city streets. And, by the way, there is still active mining in the area. Meanwhile, gamblers can try their luck in the many Cripple Creek casinos. Outdoors enthusiasts will enjoy the rich opportunities for hiking, camping, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and hunting in such stunning locations as Pike National Forest, Mueller State Park and The Crags. LINDA NAVARRO, THE GAZETTE, 636-0374, LINDA.NAVARRO@GAZETTE.COM

DENA ROSENBERRY, THE GAZETTE T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

GOVERNMENT COLORADO GOVERNOR

GOV. JOHN HICKENLOOPER 200 E. Colfax Ave., No. 136 Denver, CO 80203 1-303-866-2885, colorado.gov/governor

U.S. SENATE

SEN. CORY GARDNER Republican 999 18th St., Suite 1525 1-303-391-5777 gardner.senate.gov In Washington, D.C.: 354 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 1-202-224-5941 SEN. MICHAEL BENNET Democrat 1127 Sherman St., Suite 150 1-303-455-7600, bennet.senate.gov In Washington, D.C.: 261 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 1-202-224-5852 COURTESY OF GABRIEL ECKERT

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The Colorado state Capitol in Denver.

COLORADO LEGISLATURE

HD 18: PETE LEE D-Colorado Springs 1-303-866-2932, pete.lee.house@state.co.us HD 19: PAUL LUNDEEN R-Monument 1-303-866-2924, paul.lundeen.house@state.co.us HD 20: TERRI CARVER R-Colorado Springs 1-303-866-2191, terri.carver@state.co.us HD 21: LOIS LANDGRAF R-Fountain 1-303-866-2946, lois.landgraf.house@state.co.us

the northeastern part of the county, including the eastern portion along U.S. 24, Peterson Air Force Base, Falcon, Calhan and the Stetson Hills and Springs Ranch neighborhoods. 520-6412, amylathen@elpasoco.com PEGGY LITTLETON Littleton represents District 5, which encompasses the central part of the county, including downtown Colorado Springs, Fountain Boulevard and the area around the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. 520-6415, peggylittleton@elpasoco.com

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS

REP. DOUG LAMBORN R-Colorado Springs Lamborn represents Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, which includes El Paso, Teller, Lake, Chaffee and Fremont counties. 1125 Kelly Johnson Blvd., Suite 330 520-0055, lamborn.house.gov In Washington, D.C.: 2402 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 1-202-225-4422 STATE SENATE SD 2: KEVIN GRANTHAM R-Cañon City 1-303-866-4877, kevin.grantham.senate@state. co.us SD 9: KENT LAMBERT R-Colorado Springs 1-303-866-4835, senatorlambert@comcast.net SD 10: OWEN HILL R-Colorado Springs 1-303-866-2737, owen.hill.senate@state.co.us SD 12: BILL CADMAN R-Colorado Springs 1-303-866-4880, bill.cadman.senate@state.co.us STATE HOUSE HD 14: DAN NORDBERG R-Colorado Springs 1-303-866-2965, dan.nordberg.house@state.co.us HD 15: GORDON KLINGENSCHMITT R-Colorado Springs 1-303-866-5525, klingenschmitt.house@state.co.us HD 16: JANAK JOSHI R-Colorado Springs 1-303-866-2937, janak.joshi.house@state.co.us HD 17: CATHERINE “KIT” ROUPE R-Colorado Springs 1-303-866-3069, kit.roupe.house@state.co.us 36 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

STEVE DURHAM R-Colorado Springs 1-303-866-6817

EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSION

SALLIE CLARK Clark represents District 3, which encompasses the western portion of the county and includes a section of downtown Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Palmer Lake Ute Pass and NORAD. 520-6413, sallieclark@elpasoco.com DARRYL GLENN Glenn represents District 1, which encompasses a northern portion of the county and includes Black Forest, the Air Force Academy and Briargate. 520-6411, darrylglenn@elpasoco.com DENNIS HISEY Hisey represents District 4, which encompasses a southeastern portion of the county, including Fort Carson, Schriever Air Force Base, Fountain, Security-Widefield and part of the Stratmoor Hills neighborhood. 520-6414, dennishisey@elpasoco.com AMY LATHEN Lathen represents District 2, which encompasses

City Hall, 107 N. Nevada Ave. City Administration Building, 30 S. Nevada Ave. coloradosprings.gov MAYOR JOHN SUTHERS 385-5900, jsuthers@springsgov.com

COLORADO SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL MERV BENNETT City Council president At-large 385-5469, mbennett@springsgov.com LARRY BAGLEY District 2, city’s northeast quadrant 385-5493, lbagley@springsgov.com HELEN COLLINS District 4, city’s southeast quadrant 385-5492, hcollins@springsgov.com JILL GAEBLER Council president pro tem District 5, city’s central quadrant 385-5483, jgaebler@springsgov.com KEITH KING District 3, city’s southwest quadrant 385-5470, kcking@springsgov.com

GOVERNMENT DON KNIGHT District 1, city’s northwest quadrant 385-5487, dknight@springsgov.com BILL MURRAY At-large 385-5485, bmurray@springsgov.com ANDRES “ANDY” PICO District 6, city’s eastern quadrant 385-5491, apico@springsgov.com TOM STRAND At-large 385-5486, tstrand@springsgov.com

CITY OF CAÑON CITY

128 Main St. Canon City, CO 81212 269-9011, canoncity.org MAYOR TONY GREER tony@tonygreer.com COUNCIL MEMBERS RON BATES, District 4 bates59@bresnan.net ROB BROWN, District 2 rvbrown@canoncity.org JIMMY CHARACKY JR., District 1 jjcharacky@canoncity.org SCOTT ECKSTORM, At-large scott.eckstrom@canoncity.org PATRICIA FREDA, At-large freda.patricia@gmail.com COLBY KATCHMAR, At-large ckatchmar@aol.com DENNIS WIED, District 3 dennis.canoncity@gmail.com

CITY OF CRIPPLE CREEK

337 E. Bennett Ave. P.O. Box 430 Cripple Creek, CO 80813 689-2502, cripplecreekgov.com MAYOR BRUCE BROWN 689-2396, brown316@live.com CITY COUNCIL MILFORD ASHWORTH rhinomining@yahoo.com CHRIS HAZLETT ralfsbreakroom@hotmail.com TERRY WAHRER aerocrafters@msn.com STEVE ZOELLNER srzoellner@msn.com

CITY OF FOUNTAIN

116 S. Main St. Fountain, CO 80817 322-2000, fountaincolorado.org MAYOR GABRIEL ORTEGA 287-4223, gortega@fountaincolorado.org JIM COKE, mayor pro tem At-large 382-3812, jcoke@fountaincolorado.org CITY COUNCIL SAM GIECK, Ward 3 382-4730, sgieck@fountaincolorado.org

GREG LAUER, At-large 209-4327, glauer@fountaincolorado.org PHIL THOMAS, Ward 2 502-9690, pthomas_j@hotmail.com SHARON THOMPSON, Ward 1 200-1419, sthompson@fountaincolorado.org PATTY ST. LOUIS, At-large 290-6320, pattystlouis37@gmail.com

CITY OF MANITOU SPRINGS 606 Manitou Ave. Manitou Springs, CO 80829 685-5481, manitouspringsgov.com MAYOR MARC A. SNYDER 685-2555, msnyder@comsgov.com BECKY ELDER, Ward 1 belder@comsgov.com DONNA FORD, At-large dford@comsgov.com RANDY R. HODGES, At-large rhodges@comsgov.com NICOLE NICOLETTA, Ward 3 nnicoletta@comsgov.com GARY SMITH, At-large gsmith@comsgov.com COREEN TOLL, Ward 2/mayor pro tem ctoll@comsgov.com

CITY OF PALMER LAKE

54 Valley Crescent Palmer Lake, CO 80133 481-2953, tara@palmer-lake.org townofpalmerlake.com MAYOR NIKKI McDONALD Mayor@palmer-lake.org PAUL BANTA, parks and recreation trustee parks@palmer-lake.org MITCHELL DAVIS, finance trustee Water@Palmer-Lake.Org BOB GRADO, police trustee Police@Palmer-Lake.Org RICHARD KUEHSTER, Mayor pro tem/fire trustee fire@palmer-lake.org JOHN RUSSELL, roads trustee roads@palmer-lake.org Vacant, economic development trustee EDC@Palmer-Lake.Org

CITY OF VICTOR

500 Victor Ave., P.O. Box 86 Victor, CO 80860 689-2284, victorcolorado.com MAYOR BRYON L. HAKES bhakes@victorco.us COUNCIL MEMBERS BRUCE DAVIS, Ward 1 bdavis@victorco.us TARIA PERDEW, Ward 1 tperdew@victorco.us VELDEAN PETRI, Ward 2 vpetri@victorco.us MICHAEL WALLACE, Ward 2 mwallace@victorco.us

T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

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GOVERNMENT CITY OF WOODLAND PARK

CANTINA

220 W. South Ave. Woodland Park, CO 80863 687-9246, city-woodlandpark.org MAYOR NEIL LEVY nlevy@city-woodlandpark.org CARROL HARVEY, mayor pro tem charvey@city-woodlandpark.org COUNCIL MEMBERS BOB CARLSEN bcarlsen@city-woodlandpark.org KEN MATTHEWS kmatthews@city-woodlandpark.org PHIL MELLA pmella@city-woodlandpark.org NOEL SAWYER nsawyer@city-woodlandpark.org JOHN SCHAFER jschafer@city-woodlandpark.org

TOWN OF CALHAN

oPEn DAILY 11AM HAPPY HouR SPECIALS Mon-Fri 3pm-6pm and Everyday 8pm-Close

556 Colorado Ave. Calhan, CO 80808 347-2586 MAYOR BRYAN EURICH bryan.eu@calhan.co TRUSTEES CAMERON CHAUSSEE cameron.ch@calhan.co JASMIN THORP jasmin.th@calhan.co CHAR TROJANOVICH char.tr@calhan.co

TOWN OF GREEN MOUNTAIN FALLS

DAILY SPECIALS on DRInKS, APPETIZERS AnD MoRE! GLUTEN FREE MENU AVAILABLE

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3625 W. Colorado Ave. Near Old Colorado City

719-227-1975 8050 N. Academy Blvd. Near USAFA

719-266-6680 38 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

10615 Green Mountain Falls Road Green Mountain Falls, CO 80819 684-9414, gmfco.us MAYOR LORRIE WORTHEY gmfmayor@gmail.com TRUSTEES MICHAEL BUTTS trusteebutts@gmail.com DAVID COOK cookbdse@comcast.net DON ELLIS gmfellis@gmail.com BARBARA GARDINER trusteebarbara@gmail.com CHRISTOPHER QUINN gmfcquinn@gmail.com TYLER STEVENS, pro tem GMF@tymosaco.net

TOWN OF MONUMENT

645 Beacon Lite Road Monument, CO 80132 481-2954, townofmonument.org MAYOR RAFAEL DOMINGUEZ rdominguez@tomgov.org JEFFREY KAISER, mayor pro tem jkaiser@tomgov.org TRUSTEES JEFFREY BORNSTEIN jbornstein@tomgov.org

COURTESY PHOTO

The “Four Orbits” sculpture stands in Green Mountain Falls. KELLY ELLIOTT kelliott@tomgov.org STANLEY GINGRICH sgingrich@tomgov.org JOHN HOWE jhowe@tomgov.org JEFF SMITH jsmith@tomgov.org BECKI TOOLEY btooley@tomgov.org

ELECTRICAL UTILITIES

If you live in Colorado Springs, you get all utilities — natural gas, electricity, water and sewer — from city-owned Colorado Springs Utilities. Outside Colorado Springs, utility services are supplied by utility companies, regional cooperatives, local districts and town governments. Black Hills Energy 1-888-890-5554, blackhillsenergy.com Colorado Springs Utilities 448-4800, csu.org Fountain Utilities 322-2010, fountainutilities.org Intermountain Rural Electric Association 687-9277, irea.coop Mountain View Electric Association 495-2283, mvea.org

GAS COMPANIES

Black Hills Energy 1-888-890-5554, blackhillsenergy.com Colorado Natural Gas 1-800-720-8193, coloradonaturalgas.com Colorado Springs Utilities 448-4800, csu.org

GOVERNMENT A Department of Motor Vehicles office is in the El Paso County Citizens Service Center on Garden of the Gods Road. El Paso County has four DMV offices to assist residents.

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WATER DISTRICTS

Academy Water & Sanitation District 481-0711, colorado.gov/awsd Arabian Acres Metropolitan District 1-303-704-9438, aametro.org Cherokee Metropolitan District 597-5080, cherokeemetro.org Colorado Centre Metropolitan District 390-7003, coloradocentre.org Colorado Springs Utilities 448-4800, csu.org Cripple Creek Water & Wastewater Department 689-0499, cripplecreekgov.com Donala Water & Sanitation District 488-3603, donalawater.org Florissant Water and Sanitation District 748-3565 Fountain Utilities 322-2010, fountainutilities.org Highland Lakes Water District 687-7937 Mountain Mutual Water Company 689-2527, mountainmutual.com Paint Brush Hills Metropolitan District 495-8188, pbhmd.com Park Forest Water District 494-1320, pfwd.org Rainbow Valley Water District 687-9883 Red Rock Valley Estates Water District 576-8017, rrvwd.com Rock Creek Mesa Water District 576-0746 Security Water and Sanitation Districts 392-3475, securitywsd.com Stratmoor Hills Water and Sanitation Districts 576-0311, stratmoorhillswater.org Teller County Water & Sanitation District No. 1 687-0761

Town of Calhan 347-2586, calhan.co Town of Monument 481-2954, townofmonument.org Town of Palmer Lake 481-2953, townofpalmerlake.com Triview Metropolitan District 488-6868, triviewmetro.com Victor City Public Works Department 689-3464, victorcolorado.com Widefield Water & Sanitation District 390-7111, wwsdonline.com Woodland Park Utilities 686-9680, city-woodlandpark.org/home/utilities/ Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District 495-2500, woodmenhills.org Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District No. 1 488-2525, woodmoorwater.com

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DRIVER’S LICENSES

To get a new driver’s license, applicants must take a vision test at a Department of Motor Vehicles office. Full legal name, identity, age and lawful presence in the U.S. must be presented. Details: colorado.gov.

DMV OFFICES

El Paso County, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Details: 520-6240 • 8830 N. Union Blvd. • 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road • 200 S. Cascade Ave. • 5650 Industrial Place (Open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays) Teller County Courthouse: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 101 W. Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek, 689-2951. Woodland Park branch office: 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 800 Research Drive, Suite 200, Woodland Park, 689-2951.

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GOVERNMENT VEHICLE REGISTRATION

Go to any of the listed driver’s license offices. Along with your ID, you may be required to bring the vehicle’s title and registration; proof of a current Colorado vehicle emissions test if the vehicle is diesel-powered; odometer reading; proof of insurance; and VIN verification form. Emission testing facilities include independent diesel testing stations, self-certified gas fleet facilities, independent gas testing stations, Air Care Colorado, and Air Care Colorado RapidScreen roadside vans.

Knowlegable staff, certified nursery professionals and in-staff horticulturists. Shop Harding Nursery for success with your landscaping plant material.

In El Paso County, you can register at four locations: 8830 N. Union Blvd., 200 S. Cascade Ave., 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road and 5650 Industrial Place. In Teller County, you can register at 101 W. Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek, or at 800 Research Drive, Suite 200, Woodland Park. Or you can apply online if you have a Colorado driver’s license. You can fill out the form online, print it, scan it and email it to the Colorado secretary of state’s elections division. Start here: govotecolorado.com.

Great selection of: PUBLIC LIBRARIES The Pikes Peak Library District has numerous Shade and Ornamental Trees branches and services throughout the region. Evergreen Trees • Dwarf Varieties Details: ppld.org Evergreen Shrubs Cheyenne Mountain Library 1785 S. 8th St., Suite 100, 633-6278 Colorado Native Plants East Library Xeriscape Plants • Perennials 5550 N. Union Blvd., 531-6333 Ground Covers • Flowering Shrubs Fountain Library Add beautiful Fall color with vibrant garden mums! We make wreaths and garland. Custom orders are welcome. Visit www.HardingNursery.com for upcoming events

719.596.5712

721 Powers Boulevard www.hardingnursery.com Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-6pm Sun 9am-5pm

40 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

230 S. Main St., Fountain, 382-5347 High Prairie Library 7035 Old Meridian Road, Peyton, 260-3650 Library 21c 1175 Chapel Hills Drive, 884-9800 Library Express 3337 Cinema Point (unstaffed location with vending machine) Manitou Springs 701 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, 685-5206 Mobile Library Services 531-6333, ext. 2313 Monument Library 1706 Lake Woodmoor Drive, Monument, 488-2370 Old Colorado City Library 2418 W. Pikes Peak Ave., 634-1698 Palmer Lake Library 66 Lower Glenway St., Palmer Lake, 481-2587 Penrose Library 20 N. Cascade Ave., 531-6333 Rockrimmon Library 832 Village Center Drive, 593-8000 Ruth Holley Library 685 N. Murray Blvd., 597-5377 Sand Creek Library 1821 S. Academy Blvd., 597-7070 Ute Pass Library 8010 Severy Road, Cascade, 684-9342

COMMUNITY CENTERS

Many Colorado Springs neighborhoods have their own public community centers with pools, meeting

rooms and recreational amenities. Deerfield Hills: 4290 Deerfield Hills Road, 385-5996, parks.coloradosprings.gov/explore-play/ play-programs/community-centers/deerfield-hillscommunity-center Hillside: 925 S. Institute St., 385-7900, parks. coloradosprings.gov/explore-play/play-programs/ community-centers/hillside-community-center Meadows Park: 1943 S. El Paso Ave., 385-7940, parks.coloradosprings.gov/explore-play/ play-programs/community-centers/meadows-parkcommunity-center

CEMETERIES

Crystal Valley: 502 Plainview Place, Manitou Springs, 685-2594 or 685-5481. Evergreen: 1005 Hancock Expressway, 385-6251, parks.coloradosprings.gov/residentservices/buildings-property/cemetery/cemeteries Fairview: 1000 S. 26th St., 578-6638, parks. coloradosprings.gov/resident-services/buildingsproperty/cemetery/cemeteries Memorial Gardens: 3825 Airport Road, 596-3842, memorialgardensfuneralhome.com Shrine of Remembrance: 1730 E. Fountain Blvd., 634-1597, shrineofremembrance.com

SERVICES

TRASH HAULERS Bestway Disposal 633-8709, bestwaydisposal.com L&L Disposal 473-4861 Rocky Mountain Disposal 492-2050, rockymtndisposal.com Springs Waste Systems 634-7177, springswaste.com Tri-Lakes Disposal 495-8652, trilakesdisposal.com U.S. Waste Industries 1-800-669-9552, uswonline.com Waste Connections 591-5000, www.wasteconnections.com Waste Management 632-8877, wm.com Waste Systems 390-5097, wastesysinc.com CABLE COMPANIES TDS 1-877-422-5282 hellotds.com CenturyLink 1-800-244-1111, www.centurylink.com Comcast 1-888-379-3577, www.xfinity.com Falcon Broadband 573-5343, falconbroadband.net SATELLITE TV PROVIDERS DIRECTV 1-877-544-8539, directv.com DISH Network 1-800-244-1111, www.dish.com STEPHEN HOBBS, BILLIE STANTON ANLEU AND MEGAN SHRADER, THE GAZETTE

MILITARY

THE GAZETTE

To celebrate the 240th birthday of the U.S. Army this year, Fort Carson showed the different uniforms that have been worn throughout the years. Fort Carson is the largest military installation in the Pikes Peak region.

FORT CARSON

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE

The largest installation in the Pikes Peak region, Fort Carson boasts about 24,000 soldiers, most with the 4th Infantry Division, which arrived at Fort Carson in 2009, as well as more than 3,000 civilian employees, according to post documents. And 42,000 more locals are related to soldiers stationed at Fort Carson. Units stationed at the post were among the first to be deployed to Iraq in 2003 and the last to leave the country in 2011. Thousands of soldiers were also sent to Afghanistan to fight insurgents. In 2015, the post’s efforts were focused on Europe, where Fort Carson troops trained NATO troops. About 70 percent of the post’s soldiers live off base.

Located just north of the Colorado Springs Airport, Peterson Air Force Base is a hub for Air Force operations across North America. The base is home to U.S. Northern Command — charged with deterring terrorism and guiding the military’s response to disasters — as well as the North American Aerospace Defense Command, a joint United States-Canada venture that keeps track of airspace over the continent. The base is also home to Air Force Space Command, which runs the nation’s military satellites. One of the most visible activities at the base is the 302nd Airlift Wing, an Air Force reserve unit that uses C-130 aircraft to fight fires across the world. About 10,000 people work at the base, with about half of those civilians or contractors. There are 667 residences on the base.

carson.army.mil

peterson.af.mil

SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE

schriever.af.mil

Set about 10 miles east of Colorado Springs, Schriever Air Force Base is among the most protected and secretive bases in the country — housing several space operations programs. About 8,000 people work at the base, more than two-thirds of which are contractors or civilians. Operations at the base center around the military’s satellites. Airmen at the installation are in charge of the military’s Global Positioning System satellites, a network that has worked its way into the fabric of life for most Americans. The system offers a time stamp for credit cards, helps with the navigation of commercial airplanes and offers location data for companies such as Garmin. In recent years, 242 dwellings were constructed on the base.

T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

GO RETRO

MILITARY Soon-to-be graduates march in as the Air Force Academy’s 57th graduation ceremony begins in May at Falcon Stadium. About 4,000 cadets attend the academy. Notable graduates include Gen. Mark Welsh, Air Force chief of staff, and Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot who safely ditched U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River. MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY

CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN AIR FORCE STATION

A fixture in the Pikes Peak region for 61 years, the Air Force Academy molds high school graduates into the newest batch of Air Force commissioned officers over four years at a sprawling installation north of the city. About 4,000 cadets attend the academy, which is led by Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson. About half of the roughly 1,000 cadets who graduate each year go on to pilot training — though their first flights often come in gliders that can be seen soaring above the above the academy. The academy’s most iconic buildings include its chapel, an architectural marvel that hosts a variety of religious gatherings, including a Catholic Mass and Islamic, Jewish, Buddhist and Protestant services. The academy also hosts several NCAA Division I athletic teams, including a football team that won the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy for beating Army and Navy in 2014. Notable graduates include Gen. Mark Welsh, Air Force chief of staff, and Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot who safely ditched U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River.

Though its mission has changed, the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station remains an installation steeped in secrecy and Cold War lore. The facility is tucked deep inside Cheyenne Mountain, and few people are allowed into the base that was designed to survive nuclear attack. About 1,100 people work there. Several buildings rest on massive springs inside the mountain, while a handful of reservoirs store water and diesel fuel in case the installation’s blast doors must be shut in the event of an attack. The doors have only been shut once — on Sept. 11, 2001. The complex formerly housed the North American Aerospace Defense Command before the agency was largely moved in recent years to Peterson Air Force Base. Now just 5 percent of the workforce at the mountain falls under NORAD. But the place remains busy, and leaders say they are at full occupancy. Several Defense Department agencies still have operations in the mountain, but their work is mostly classified.

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TOM ROEDER, THE GAZETTE, 636-0240, TOM.ROEDER@GAZETTE.COM

HEALTH CARE

CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE FILE

Registered nurse Jessica Lougeay-Benson works in the pediatrics unit of Childrenâ€™s Hospital Colorado at Memorial Hospital Central in January 2014. Physical and mental health needs of people in El Paso County are served by private and public institutions, as well as doctors and therapists in private practice. Hereâ€™s a rundown of some of the major medical providers in the area and the nonprofits that treat uninsured, underinsured and Medicaid/Medicare patients:

MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

This system, part of University of Colorado Health, has a campus downtown and in Briargate and operates several clinics throughout the area. Combined, the hospitals have 564 hospital beds, as well as emergency room exam rooms. Memorial Hospital Central has a Level II trauma

center, an urgent care center and primary care locations. Memorial Hospital Central also has the only pediatric intensive care unit and level III neonatal intensive care unit in southern Colorado. Memorial Hospital Central: 1400 E. Boulder St.; Memorial Hospital North: 4050 Briargate Parkway. Details: 365-5000, uchealth.org/ southerncolorado. T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

HEALTH CARE PENROSE-ST. FRANCIS HEALTH SERVICES

A nonprofit, faith-based health care system, PenroseSt. Francis operates two hospitals, one just north of downtown and the other at Powers Boulevard and Woodmen Road, with a combined 559 beds. The system also has several other operations, including urgent care centers. For eight years running, it has been the only Colorado system to make the list of America’s Top 50 hospitals, as determined by Healthgrades, an independent health care ratings organization. PenroseSt. Francis is part of Centura Health, jointly sponsored by Catholic Health Initiatives and the Adventist Health System. Penrose Hospital: 2222 N. Nevada Ave.; St. Francis Medical Center: 6001 E. Woodmen Road. Details: 776-5000, penrosestfrancis.org.

PEAK VISTA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

Peak Vista’s outpatient health centers provide medical, dental and behavioral health care for uninsured, underinsured and low-income residents, and they also accept people who are on Medicaid, Medicare, Tricare and many private insurers and offer care on a sliding-fee scale. Peak Vista servesSinus? more thanCough? 82,500 people a year. jections? Asthma? Allergy? Locations: throughout the Pikes Peak region and the eastern plains. Details: 632-5700, peakvista.org.

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Penrose Hospital is one of two hospitals operated by Penrose-St. Francis Health Services. The other is St. Francis Medical Center.

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HEALTH CARE TLC Pharmacy, 555 E. Costilla St., provides prescription medications to uninsured and low-income patients.

JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE FILE

SET FAMILY MEDICAL CLINICS

SET — which stands for service, empowerment, transformation — is a nonprofit organization that provides basic medical services and holistic health programs to uninsured, underinsured and homeless people, along with Medicaid enrollees. SET (2864 S. Circle Drive, Suite 450) operates family, homeless and immunization clinics. Details: 776-8850, setofcs.org.

AGEWELL MEDICAL ASSOCIATES

Formerly called Colorado Springs Senior Medicine, this medical provider serves people ages 60 and older — including those on Medicare or Secure Horizons plans. New Medicare patients are being accepted. In 2012, the operation moved to a new office location (2350 International Circle) that greatly increased its space, enabling it to add providers and increase its patient load. Details: 475-5065, agewellmedical.com.

ASPENPOINTE

This nonprofit offers a wide range of services related to behavioral health, substance abuse and overall personal wellness, including career development. It manages the Crisis Stabilization Unit, a facility open to walk-in consultations 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The facility, at 115 S. Parkside Drive, aims to help people in a mental health or substance abuse crisis. Medicaid, Medicare Part B, Tricare and many private insurers accepted. Details: 572-6100, AspenPointe.org.

EL PASO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH

The health department (1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road, Suite 2044) provides services for uninsured and underinsured people, as well as Medicaid enrollees. Services include preventive health screen-

ings for early cancer detection; pregnancy tests; diagnosis and treatment for sexually transmitted infections; reproductive health services; immunizations; water testing; tuberculosis testing; nutritional education and food vouchers for pregnant women and their children ages 5 and younger. General hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, though some programs, such as birth and death records, are open from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details: 578-3199, elpasocountyhealth.org.

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OPEN BIBLE MEDICAL

This Christian-based nonprofit organization (824 S. Union Blvd.) provides free medical care for those who are uninsured and low income. Its clinic accepts walkins from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and can schedule appointments on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month. Details: 475-0972, openbiblemedical.org.

MISSION MEDICAL CLINIC

A faith-based, nonprofit organization (2125 E. LaSalle St.) that provides primary care, vision, dental and behavioral health services to uninsured, underinsured and low-income people. Hours vary between clinics. Details: 219-3402, missionmedical clinic.org.

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A nonprofit that provides prescription medications to uninsured and low-income patients. TLC (555 E. Costilla St.) is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Details: 596-4449, tlcpharmacy.org

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PIKES PEAK REGIONAL HOSPITAL

635-2020

This community hospital (16420 W. U.S. 24 in Woodland Park) offers several services, including orthopedic care, surgery and family medicine. Details: 687-9999, pikespeakregionalhospital.com JAKOB RODGERS, THE GAZETTE, 476-5549

632-2020

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RICH LADEN, THE GAZETTE

Home sales and prices are up in the Pikes Peak region, while the supply of homes listed for sale has fallen.

housing recovery has taken hold the past few years in the Pikes Peak region, and the upswing in the resale, new home and multifamily markets has continued during much of the first half of 2015. Local single-family home sales totaled 1,367 in July, a 14 percent increase over the same month last year, according to the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors. For the first seven months of 2015, home sales totaled 7,651, up nearly 19 percent from the same period last year, the association said. Of homes that sold in July, the median — or midpoint — of all sale prices was $243,000, a 5.7 percent year-over-year increase. The supply of homes listed for sale totaled 3,409 in July, down 19.3 percent from a year earlier. The inventory of homes for sale remained tight compared with listings from mid2006 through fall 2011. That’s when a poor economy slowed home sales and drove up the number of financially troubled properties flooding the market. Monthly home listings routinely numbered 4,000 to 6,000 in the Colorado Springs area during that period and even topped 7,000 during a couple of months.

HOUSING

A housing recovery continues in the Pikes Peak region.

PRICES Median prices of resale homes reached a then-record high of $227,000 in July 2007 — just as the recession hit. But after the economy slumped, prices drifted downward and fell as low as $172,250 in January 2012. Starting in March 2012, prices turned around. By June of this year, the median sales price had hit a record $250,000. And the median price of area homes sold in July rose 5.7 percent to

RICH LADEN, THE GAZETTE

$243,000, which marked the 14th increase in year-over-year prices in 15 months. Some of the area’s more expensive homes can be found on Colorado Springs’ southwest and northwest sides, in the historic Old North End north of downtown and in the Tri-Lakes communities north of the Springs. More moderately priced homes can be found in much of the rest of the region; Colorado Springs’ south and southeast sides have some of the area’s least expensive housing. T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

HOUSING

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL CIAGLO, THE GAZETTE

Construction work continues on an apartment building at the Lodge at Black Forest in late July.

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A construction crew works on a new house at Banning Lewis Ranch in July.

HOUSING SELECTION

The availability of homes has done an about-face over the past 12 months. During the recession and a few years after, monthly inventories of homes for sale rose steadily. Now, monthly inventories have declined each month on a year-overyear basis since August 2014 and are well below levels reached when supplies were at their peak. Ranch-style homes are common in central Colorado Springs neighborhoods, such as around the former Wasson High School, while newer homes with a suburban look and feel can be found in Briargate, Northgate and other north and northeast-side areas. Downtown has become home to loft living in recent years, while seven-figure mansions can be found around the posh Broadmoor hotel on the southwest side and in northwest Kissing Camels. Mid- and upper six-figure homes can be found on the southwest, northwest and north sides and in the Tri-Lakes communities; starter and first-time move-up homes have been built in areas north, northeast and east of Colorado Springs, along with the city of Fountain to the south.

NEW VS. RESALE

Resales dominate the Pikes Peak region’s housing market, but dozens of homebuilders also serve the region, including several local companies. Construction is taking place in upscale Flying Horse on the north, while more moderately priced homes are underway in Wolf Ranch on the city’s far northeast side, the east side Banning Lewis Ranch and Gold Hill Mesa on Colorado Springs’ west side. Homes also are being built in Fountain and in unincorporated areas to the northeast, such as Meridian Ranch.

RENTAL MARKET

About 46,000 apartments are available in the Pikes Peak region. Many newer complexes can be found on the Springs’ north and northeast sides, while dozens of complexes on the south and southeast sides serve Fort Carson soldiers. Apartments have become much tougher to find over the past few years. The area’s apartment vacancy rate fell to 4.6 percent in the second quarter of 2015. By comparison, the vacancy rate regularly topped 10 percent between 2006 and 2008. As apartments have filled up, monthly rents have risen — climbing to a record $899.22 in the second quarter of this year.

T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

HOUSING

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

A home under construction in June at Promontory Point just north of Baptist Road. Dozens of homebuilders serve the Pikes Peak region.

HOUSING BY THE NUMBERS In El Paso and Teller counties

$243,000: Median single-family home price in July, up 5.7 percent from a year earlier. $275,417: Average single-family home price in July, up 3.1 percent from a year earlier. 1,367: Number of single-family home sales in July, up 14 percent from a year earlier. 3,409: Supply of single-family homes for sale in July, down 19.3 percent from a year earlier. 279: Number of single-family home50 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

building permits issued in July, up 55.9 percent from a year earlier. 1,637: Number of single-family home building permits issued through July, up 8.9 percent from a year earlier. 4.6 percent: Apartment vacancy rate in second quarter 2015, down from 5.5 percent a year earlier. $899.22: Average monthly apartment rent in Colorado Springs during second quarter, up 4.4 percent from $861.04 a year earlier.

SOURCES: PIKES PEAK ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS; PIKES PEAK REGIONAL BUILDING DEPARTMENT; COLORADO DIVISION OF HOUSING RICH LADEN, THE GAZETTE, 636-0228, RICH.LADEN@GAZETTE.COM

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MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE FILE

The tourism industry is a major contributor to the Colorado Springs economy. Hotel occupancy is near record territory this year.

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he Colorado Springs economy is dominated by one major employer — Uncle Sam. More than 60,000 civilians and military personnel work for the Department of Defense at the Air Force Academy, Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, Schriever Air Force Base and Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station. Thousands more collect retirement checks from the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy and Coast Guard. Defense-related business and payrolls account for more than one-fourth of economic activity in the Springs area. Technology manufacturing, once a major driver of economic growth, employs fewer than half the people it did 15 years ago. Customer service and call centers have been among the area’s fastest-growing industries, employing more than 14,000 in about 40 such centers, many of which have opened since 2000. The Great Recession of 2008 to 2010 claimed more than 16,000 local jobs in construction, financial services, information technology and manufacturing, and it sent the local housing market into its

worst downturn in nearly 20 years. The local economy has largely recovered from the downturn. The city’s sales-tax collections have increased on a year-over-year basis every month but one in the past 3½ years and have topped prerecession levels. Home sales have increased every month in the past 12 months, and home construction has risen for six consecutive months. The tourism industry, a major contributor to the local economy, was hit hard by the recession in late 2008 through late 2009 but staged a modest recovery that began in early 2010 and gained strength in 2011. The industry was hit hard by the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires, with hotel occupancy declining in 2012 and 2013, but bounced back and is near record territory this year. Airport passenger traffic declined during the recession, compounded by carriers reducing service, and fell to a 23-year low in 2014 in the wake of Frontier Airlines’ departure from the Springs in April 2013. During the first half of the year, traffic numbers are down 5.2 percent from 2014.

ECONOMY

DALTON WALKER, THE GAZETTE

Traffic numbers at the Colorado Springs Airport were down during the first half of 2015 from the same period a year before. The tourism industry, though, has bounced back from the recession and the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires.

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ECONOMY

JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE

Employees at a new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Fountain stretch two days before the store opening in July. A Sam’s Club opened next door to the Supercenter.

RETAIL Starbucks. Best Buy. Target. Wal-Mart. Opportunities to “consume” greet you at just about every turn, even in new neighborhoods or communities. As they say, retail follows rooftops, with major shopping centers, strip centers and specialty shopping areas springing up as companies have fanned across the region. Here’s a look at major shopping centers and shopping districts in the region: North and northeast: The 33-year-old Chapel Hills Mall at Academy and Briargate boulevards is a major retail force in northern Colorado Springs. It’s anchored by Burlington Coat Factory, Dillard’s, Sears, the area’s lone Macy’s store and a 13-screen Carmike Cinemas complex that opened in late 2013. A Gordmans discount store is expected to fill the vacancy created by the 2014 departure of J.C. Penney. By far, the biggest additions for consumers 54 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

have taken place on Colorado Springs’ north and northeast areas. Briargate, Wolf Ranch, Nor’wood, Stetson Hills and Springs Ranch are among the sprawling subdivisions where tens of thousands of homeowners and renters now live, which has prompted development of several new retail projects. Powers Boulevard, running north-south through eastern Colorado Springs, has become arguably the area’s most popular retail corridor. The First & Main Town Center, with about 1.6 million square feet of big-box stores, smaller shops, fast-food and sit-down restaurants and entertainment venues, dominates the corridor. Newer retail centers that have been developed or are planned on the Springs’ north side include InterQuest Marketplace, where a Hollywood Theaters movie complex that opened six years ago has been joined by a Brunswick Zone XL fun center and Colorado Mountain Brewery;

the Promenade Shops at Briargate, a “lifestyle center” with the area’s lone Apple store, Williams-Sonoma and others; and Copper Ridge at Northgate, where Bass Pro Shops opened its first Springs-area store in 2013. South, southwest and southeast: The Broadmoor Towne Center, anchored by Home Depot, Sports Authority and PetsMart, and with several smaller stores and restaurants, is popular with residents of southwest neighborhoods. The Targetanchored Cheyenne Mountain Center near The Broadmoor World Arena is a major shopping area on the city’s south side, while Hancock Plaza, anchored by a King Soopers grocer, serves the southeast side. A new shopping center planned for construction just outside the Springs’ city limits in Fountain, near South Academy Boulevard and Interstate 25, is anchored by a Wal-Mart Supercenter and a Sam’s Club.

ECONOMY

CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE

Mark Rantal of Colorado Springs gives a high-five to De’Yonna Polk-Ryer after picking up his order at the downtown Colorado Springs Chipotle in July. Central, northwest and west side: The 42-year-old Citadel mall at Platte Avenue and Academy Boulevard continues to be a mainstay for shoppers in the central portion of Colorado Springs. The mall is anchored by J.C. Penney, Burlington Coat Factory and a Dillard’s clearance outlet. Across from the mall, Citadel Crossing added a new anchor when a Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse opened in early 2012. On the northwest side, University Village Colorado is anchored by a Costco Wholesale Club, Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, a Kohl’s department store and the area’s only Trader Joe’s store. Colorado Springs’ west side is served by two longtime retail centers: the King Soopers-anchored Uintah Gardens and

the Safeway-anchored Red Rock Canyon Center. Old Colorado City, in the heart of Colorado Springs’ west side and just west of downtown, has a popular mix of small stores, restaurants and art galleries, among other retailers. The town of Manitou Springs, immediately west of the Springs, has a similar mix of eclectic stores and restaurants. Downtown Colorado Springs: Even as downtown has lost retailers over the years to suburban shopping centers, the area’s lineup includes popular restaurants Phantom Canyon Brewing Co., Jose Muldoon’s, the Ritz Grill and Old Chicago, along with local retailers such as Mountain Chalet outdoor equipment store, Poor Richard’s Bookstore, Rutledge’s clothing store, Spar-

row Hawk Gourmet Cookware and Terra Verde, purveyor of clothing, accessories, jewelry and books. Monument, Palmer Lake and Woodmoor: The area is served by Monument Marketplace, a regional shopping center anchored by a Wal-Mart Supercenter, Kohl’s, Home Depot, Staples and PetsMart, along with the King Soopers-anchored Jackson Creek Crossing. Fountain: Retail offerings in Fountain, south of Colorado Springs, have grown over the years as the community’s population has grown by thousands of residents. The Markets at Mesa Ridge, a regional shopping center, is anchored by Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, Safeway and Walgreens and has several smaller shops and restaurants. T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

ECONOMY

GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO

Employment has been on the upswing in most industries in the Pikes Peak region in 2015.

Falcon: The Safeway-anchored Falcon Town Center serves unincorporated Falcon, northeast of Colorado Springs. In recent years, it has been joined by the Falcon Highlands Marketplace, anchored by a Wal-Mart Supercenter. Woodland Park: The Ute Pass community of Woodland Park, west of Colorado Springs, has several centers anchored by City Market, Safeway and Wal-Mart along with many smaller shops and restaurants.

EMPLOYMENT

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All the things that make Colorado Springs a great place to live also make it a great place to work. Highly educated and outdoors oriented, the local workforce works hard and plays hard. The military is a huge employer, and the needs of the area’s five military bases support thousands of additional jobs. Originally built upon largescale semiconductor manufacturing in the early 1970s, Colorado Springs’ tech jobs today are more about software code. Tourism is the reason Colorado Springs was founded, and it remains a primary employer. Still, the region’s employment conditions track closely with those of the state and nation at large. The unemployment rate in the Colorado Springs area bounced between 5.1 percent and 5.3 percent between October and June, down from a peak of 9.6 percent in 2010. Employment has increased during the past year in most industries, including retail, health care, tourism and government, while jobs have declined in manufacturing and professional and business services. Local payrolls set a record in April and in the first half of the year are up 1.8 percent from the same period a year ago. WAYNE HEILMAN, THE GAZETTE, 636-0234, WAYNEH@GAZETTE.COM

DINING

CAROL LAWRENCE, THE GAZETTE FILE

The Penrose Room at The Broadmoor is the only five-diamond and five-star restaurant in Colorado or the neighboring states.

e know you like to eat, especially when someone else is doing the cooking. The Gazette’s annual Dining Guide, published every summer in The Gazette, has got you covered with information on more than 350 restaurants — from French to Hawaiian, Ethiopian to Italian — in the Pikes Peak region. You can find the comprehensive coverage online: gazette.com/dining-guide. Here’s a look at some favorite restaurants in the region, as selected by our Dining Guide team.

FINE DINING

BONEFISH GRILL: 5102 N. Nevada Ave., 598-0826, bonefishgrill.com This eatery specializes in market-fresh fish and other wood-grilled items. The recipes are innovative, with some contemporary renditions of the classics.

BRIARHURST MANOR ESTATE: 404 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, 685-1864, briarhurst.com This cozy Victorian mansion turned gourmet dining experience is a favorite wedding venue. THE BROADMOOR RESTAURANTS: 1 Lake Ave., 577-5733, broadmoor.com • La Taverne The stunning garden room is where a French-style steakhouse menu is offered. The kitchen does a solid job with meat and seafood. • Lake Terrace Perennial favorite for the huge buffet on Sundays that includes multiple carving and action stations. • Penrose Room It’s the only five-diamond and five-star restaurant in Colorado or the neighboring states. You can expect perfection in food and service. T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

DINING • Restaurant 1858 Located at Seven Falls (shuttle transportation from The Broadmoor’s East Lot just off Lake Avenue on 1st Street, next to the Christmas House) is a fine dining eatery featuring Colorado-style dishes like trout and bison. • Ristorante del Lago Here is where you’ll find the resort’s authentic regional Italian cuisine. • Summit A casual yet elegant contemporary bistro, serving excellently prepared food at good prices. COWBOY STAR RESTAURANT AND BUTCHER SHOP: 5198 N. Nevada Ave., 631-6050, thecowboystar.com Enjoy mountain views while dining on food prepared in a contemporary American style with a Western flair. CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN RESORT: 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road, 538-4000, cheyennemountain.com The king of buffets, especially on Sundays. The resort serves great cold salads, breakfast items and dinner entrees. COURTESY OF COWBOY STAR RESTAURANT AND BUTCHER SHOP

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DINING THE FAMOUS STEAK HOUSE: 31 N. Tejon St., 227-7333, thefamoussteakhouse.net The prime steaks put the “famous” in the name, and the cow is always prepared to perfection. THE MARGARITA AT PINE CREEK: 7350 Pine Creek Road, 598-8667, margaritaatpinecreek. com This local favorite for more than 40 years serves seasonal, locally sourced foods. It’s especially known for the all-you-can-eat soup and salad, al fresco dining and summer movie nights. TUCANOS BRAZILIAN GRILL: 3294 Cinema Point, 597-3800, tucanos.com This is the hot spot for churrasco dining: Fresh meats and vegetables are grilled and brought directly to your table on swords by servers.

CASUAL DINING

BACK EAST BAR & GRILL: multiple locations, backeastbarandgrill.com This is a friendly and welcoming eatery, whether you’re the first person through the door for lunch or you bring your family for dinner on trivia night. BIRD DOG BBQ: multiple locations, birddogbbq.com The Oklahoma-style barbecue served at this restaurant has quite a following, perhaps because of the oak-smoked meats with sauce on the side, counter service and generous servings. BUFFALO WILD WINGS: 2905 Geyser Drive, 219-1500; 7425 N. Academy Blvd., 594-9464, buffalowildwings.com Whether you like traditional or boneless wings, this spot has you covered with 16 signature sauces, four dry rub seasonings and always fresh, never frozen wings. COLORADO MOUNTAIN BREWERY: multiple locations, cmbrew.com This local brewery-restaurant has two striking locations, but they aren’t just pretty: They offer warm, friendly service and mostly outstanding food. CRAVE REAL BURGERS: multiple locations, craverealburgers.com Crave can hook you up with flavors never intended to be consumed together, including the Fatty Melt (bacon, cheese and pickles between two grilled cheese sandwiches) and the Nutty Professor (peanut butter, bacon, jalapeños and onions). DALE STREET BISTRO CAFE: 115 E. Dale St., 578-9898, mydalestreetcafe.com A sweet spot for a lazy afternoon. The menu includes pizza and a variety of salads and entrees. DION’S: 6385 Source Center Point, 265-4645, dions.com This Albuquerque-based chain made a name on its sandwiches, pizzas and salads. The service is friendly, even when the crowds are hectic, and the food is simple, fast, fresh and delicious.

JEFF KEARNEY, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

At the Famous Steak House, the prime steaks put the “famous” in the name, and the meat is always prepared to perfection. T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

DINING

JEFF KEARNEY, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

Fujiyama offers an extensive selection of Japanese cuisine from specialty rolls to noodle bowls and grilled items. DRIFTER’S HAMBURGERS: 4455 Mark Dabling Blvd., 548-8163; 1485 Jamboree Drive, 264-1512, driftershamburgers.com Good burgers and fries. A bonus: The beef is humanely raised without added hormones or antibiotics. ENGLISH DOCKSIDE WEST: 1201 W. Colorado Ave., 227-7732, englishdockside.com English is the owner’s last name, not his style, so you can expect po’ boys big enough to extend over the sides of the plate, catfish fried right and blue crab in several delicious incarnations. FUJIYAMA: 22 S. Tejon St., 630-1167, fujiyamasushi. com Faux bamboo wall coverings accented with strings of red lights set the scene for an extensive selection of Japanese cuisine from specialty rolls to noodle bowls and grilled items. Daily discounts. GOLDEN BEE: The Broadmoor, 1 Lake Ave., 577-5733, broadmoor.com A traditional 19th-century English pub experience with live piano music and singalongs. 60 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

THE HUNGRY BEAR: 111 E. Midland Ave., Woodland Park, 687-5912, hungrybearcolorado.com The Hungry Bear Restaurant specializes in breakfast food, especially pancakes. Just scrolling down the homestyle menu will make you hungry. JACK QUINN IRISH ALEHOUSE AND PUB: 21 S. Tejon St., 385-0766, jackquinnspub.com You don’t need to be Irish to enjoy the dark, intimate atmosphere of this downtown fixture. The food is good, too, and includes themed items like Celtic wings and Guinness Beef Boxty. JOANIE’S MOUNTAIN GOURMET DELI: 110 E. U.S. 24, Woodland Park, 686-9091, joaniesdeli.com This gorgeous deli, which serves breakfast and lunch, is bright and airy. The food is well-prepared: just the thing for a trip to the lovely mountain town. JOHNNY’S NAVAJO HOGAN: 2817 N. Nevada Ave., 344-9593, johnnyshogan.com The Hogan has had many lives since it was built as a roadhouse in 1935. It can be rowdy in the evenings (the cool, peaked log ceiling doesn’t do much for acoustics), but if that’s not your thing, check it out for lunch. The menus are the same.

JUNIPER VALLEY RANCH: 16350 S. Colorado 115, 576-0741, junipervalleyranch.com Open since 1951, this popular restaurant hasn’t changed its menu. Think homemade fried chicken and baked ham with sides served family style. Open seasonally. THE KEG LOUNGE: 730 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, 685-9531, facebook.com/TheKegLounge The kind of place where locals congregate for a good lunch or a drink after work (and they do). KING’S CHEF DINER: multiple locations, cosdiner. com King’s Chef has character to spare, but it isn’t just a pretty face. The food is hearty (and served in generous portions), the service friendly and the green chili hot. Really hot. MARGO’S VIENNA STATION: 3442 W. Colorado Ave., 630-7453 When you want a hot dog, a place that mostly serves burgers won’t do. This faux train depot does it right — and what a view.

DINING

Jason Yester is the owner and brewmaster at Trinity Brewing Co. in Colorado Springs. MCCABE’S TAVERN: 520 S. Tejon St., 633-3300, mccabestavern.com There’s a casual air about McCabe’s that makes you feel like sitting and relaxing for a while. The menu offers a number of creative vegetarian options. MONTAGUE’S: 1019 S. Tejon St., 520-0672, facebook.com/MontaguesParlour You might not guess that a cozy little tearoom complete with wing chairs and comfortable couches is on Tejon Street near the interstate. The coffee and tea are very good, and Montague’s offers a solid breakfast and lunch menu that leans toward healthy. NATURAL EPICUREAN: The Broadmoor, 1 Lake Drive, 577-5733, broadmoor.com/natural-epicurean The restaurant was conceived on four words: health, wholesome, organic and natural. You’ll find a selection of vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian items, along with sustainably raised fish and meat dishes.

OSCAR’S TEJON STREET BAR: 333 S. Tejon St., 471-8070, facebook.com/OscarsTejonStreet This cool little spot near downtown is easy to miss, but slow down a bit and look. It’s worth it. It’s known for its Cajun dishes, but the oysters are to die for. The covered patio’s a nice spot to watch the game. PHANTOM CANYON BREWING CO.: 2 E. Pikes Peak Ave., 635-2800, phantomcanyon.com A casual atmosphere and a little-of-everything menu makes it a great stop for lunch, dinner and late night. PLAY: The Broadmoor, 1 Lake Drive, 577-5733, broadmoor.com/play This late-night destination offers wine, beer and the like as well as a six-lane bowling alley and game room. POOR RICHARD’S/RICO’S CAFE AND WINE BAR: 320-3241/2 N. Tejon St., 630-7723, poorrichards downtown.com Poor Richard’s offers straightforward ambiance and food, including pizza by the slice, sandwiches

CAROL LAWRENCE, THE GAZETTE FILE

and salads. Rico’s Cafe and Wine Bar kicks it up a notch with an interesting wine list, beers, organic coffee and tapas. RITZ GRILL: 15 S. Tejon St., 635-8484, ritzgrill.com A downtown fixture with a bistro-style menu that hits all the high points, including steaks, sandwiches and pizzas. SMASHBURGER: multiple locations, smashburger. com This Denver chain makes a mean burger, first smashing hand-formed beef on a scalding grill, then piling the patty with fresh toppings. TRINITY BREWING CO.: 1466 Garden of the Gods Road, 634-0029, trinitybrew.com This restaurant-brewery makes some interesting and delicious choices in the creation of new beers. Pair that with tantalizing entrees and appetizers and you’ve got a winner. TERESA FARNEY, THE GAZETTE, 636-0271, TERESA.FARNEY@GAZETTE.COM

T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

SCHOOLS

Miles, the Broncos’ mascot, is greeted by students in January 2014 at Frontier Elementary School.

ptions, options and more options can be found throughout the Pikes Peak region’s 17 public school districts, from traditional education to a mixture of online learning and classroom teaching to alternative schools and free college courses for high school students. Districts encompass the smallest, Edison School District 54-JT in the eastern plains community of Yoder, with just more than 200 students, to the largest, Colorado Springs School District 11 in central Colorado Springs, which has more than 28,000 students. There are programs to suit all kinds of students: slow learners, advanced learners, special-needs learners and English-language learners. Some programs are particularly intense, such as the International Baccalaureate program offered in several districts. 62 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE FILE

Charter schools have flourished with focuses on math and science, the environment, foreign languages, classical studies, gifted and talented tracks and more. To weed through the options, the Colorado Department of Education’s website, cde.state.co.us, has a section for parents and students that explains regulations, district achievement and growth results. It also offers statistical information on all the state’s schools.

Education’s curriculum, which is offered nationwide. Students also can go to the “blended-learning center” at 3475 Hampton Park Drive for tutoring and peer interaction during science experiments and art lessons. Also new, all D-20 high school students can take online or hybrid courses, and ninth-graders can participate in a blended program that combines at-home work with on-campus activities in two modular classrooms at Pine Creek High.

ACADEMY SCHOOL DISTRICT 20

• Academy Calvert K-8 Online: 3475 Hampton Park Drive, 234-5630 • Academy Endeavour Elementary: 3475 Hampton Park Drive, 234-5600 • Academy International Elementary: 8550 Charity Drive, 234-4000 • Antelope Trails Elementary: 15280 Jessie Drive, 234-4100 • Chinook Trail Elementary: 11795 Grand Lawn Circle, 234-5700

234-1200, asd20.org With the addition of a virtual charter school, D-20, the area’s second-largest district with nearly 25,000 students, now has online learning for every grade. Academy Calvert K-8 Online School is for kindergarten through eighth grade. Students have individualized learning plans using Calvert

SCHOOLS

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Haley Cooper, center, and other members of the Rampart High School winter guard toss flags in the air March 26 during practice. • Discovery Canyon Campus: 1810 Northgate Blvd., 234-1800 • Douglass Valley Elementary: 4610 Douglass Drive, USAFA, 234-4200 • Edith Wolford Elementary: 13710 Black Forest Road, 234-4300 • Explorer Elementary: 4190 Bardot Drive, 234-4400 • Foothills Elementary: 825 Allegheny Drive, 234-4500 • Frontier Elementary: 3755 Meadowridge Drive, 234-4600 • High Plains Elementary: 2248 Vintage Drive, 234-4700 • Home School Academy: 1110 Chapel Hills Drive, 234-1473 • Mountain View Elementary: 10095 Lexington Drive, 234-4800 • Pioneer Elementary: 3663 Woodland Hills Drive, 234-5000 • Prairie Hills Elementary: 8025 Tele-

graph Drive, 234-5100 • Ranch Creek Elementary: 9155 Tutt Blvd., 234-5500 • Rockrimmon Elementary: 194 Mikado Drive W., 234-5200 • School in the Woods: 12002 Vollmer Road, 495-1865 • The da Vinci Academy: 1335 Bridle Oaks Lane, 234-5400 • Woodmen-Roberts Elementary: 8365 Orchard Path Road, 234-5300 • District 20 Preschool: 1110 Chapel Hills Drive, 234-1750 • Summer School and Enrichment: 1110 Chapel Hills Drive, 234-1374 • The Classical Academy: 975 Stout Road, 484-0091 • Aspen Valley Middle School: 1470 Chapel Hills Drive, 234-6100 • Challenger Middle School: 10215 Lexington Drive, 234-3000

• Discovery Canyon Campus: 1810 Northgate Blvd., 234-1800 • Eagleview Middle School: 1325 Vindicator Drive, 234-3400 • Mountain Ridge Middle School: 9150 Lexington Drive, 234-3200 • Timberview Middle School: 8680 Scarborough Drive, 234-3600 • Academy Online High School: 1110 Chapel Hills Drive, 234-1670 • Air Academy High School: 6910 Carlton Drive, USAFA, 234-2400 • Aspen Valley High School: 1450 Chapel Hills Drive, 234-6000 • Liberty High School: 8720 Scarborough Drive, 234-2200 • Pine Creek High School: 10750 Thunder Mountain Ave., 234-2600 • Rampart High School: 8250 Lexington Drive, 234-2000 T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

SCHOOLS CALHAN SCHOOL DISTRICT RJ1

347-2541, calhanschool.org A third Building Excellent Schools Today grant from the state is paying to replace the roof on the school building that houses preschool through 12th-graders. Advanced Placement English, math, science and social studies classes are new, and the iPad initiative with Apple is expanding so every middle and high school student will be issued a personal electronic device. Also growing is the Parenting Matters program, which teaches elementary school parents about literacy. This year, secondary school parents will learn about Internet safety, social media and other topics pertaining to teens. • Calhan elementary, middle school and high school are at 800 Bulldog Drive, Calhan, 347-2766

CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT 12

475-6100, cmsd.k12.co.us The district’s $42.5 million voter-approved expansion of the high school campus is underway and will be finished late next year. The project will unite several disjoined buildings, reconfigure the main entrance, update classrooms, renovate the parking lot and add a baseball field. The elementary and junior high schools are getting new lighting, electrical and security systems, boiler replacements and playground upgrades. A new elementary school literacy program also is under consideration. • Broadmoor Elementary: 440 W. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., 475-6130 • Cheyenne Mountain Elementary: 5250 Farthing Drive, 576-3080 • Gold Camp Elementary: 1805 Preserve Drive, 327-2820 • Piñon Valley Elementary: 6205 Farthing Drive, 527-0300 • Skyway Elementary: 1100 Mercury Drive, 475-6150 Cheyenne Mountain Early Childhood Preschool Program: 1201 W. Cheyenne Road, 475-6140 • The Vanguard School (K-4): 1832 S. Wahsatch Ave., 471-1999 • Cheyenne Mountain Junior High: 1200 W. Cheyenne Road, 475-6120 • Cheyenne Mountain High: 1200 Cresta Road, 475-6110 • The Vanguard School (5-12): 1605 S. Corona Ave., 471-1999

64 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE

Students from Skyway Elementary School work with the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife to take a fish census.

COLORADO SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT 11

520-2000, d11.org Officials in D-11 shortened walking distances from home to school and back by one-half a mile, which qualified an additional 1,900 students to ride the bus. The district added 32 routes across elementary, middle and high schools and extended some existing routes. A new direction in professional development will have teachers sharing what they’ve learned and providing feedback to one another. A literacy program, “Wonders,” is rolling

out in all elementary schools to get all students on the same page when it comes to reading and writing. Schools that have had declining enrollment or are struggling academically are under intensive plans to turn them around, with marketing plans, curb appeal enhancements systems’ improvements or other changes. • Audubon Elementary: 2400 E. Van Buren St., 328-2600 • Bristol Elementary: 890 N. Walnut St., 328-4000 • Buena Vista Elementary, A Public Montessori School: 924 W. Pikes Peak Ave., 328-4100

SCHOOLS • Carver Elementary: 4740 Artistic Circle, 328-7100 • Chipeta Elementary: 2340 Ramsgate Terrace, 328-5500 • Columbia Elementary: 835 E. Vrain St., 328-2700 • Edison Elementary: 3125 N. Hancock Ave., 328-2800 • Freedom Elementary: 5280 Butterfield Drive, 228-0800 • Fremont Elementary: 5110 El Camino Drive, 328-5600 • Grant Elementary: 3215 Westwood Blvd., 328-5700 • Patrick Henry Elementary: 1310 Lehmberg Blvd., 328-7200 • Howbert Elementary: 1023 N. 31st St., 328-4200 • Hunt Elementary: 917 E. Moreno Ave., 328-2900 • Andrew Jackson Elementary: 4340 Edwinstowe Ave., 328-5800 • Keller Elementary: 3730 Montebello Drive W., 328-5900 • King Elementary: 6110 Sapporo Drive, 328-6000 • Madison Elementary: 4120 Constitution Ave., 328-7300 • Martinez Elementary: 6460 Vickers Drive, 328-6100 • Christa McAuliffe Elementary: 830 Hathaway Drive, 228-0900 • Midland International Elementary: 2110 W. Broadway St., 328-4500 • Monroe Elementary: 15 S. Chelton Road, 328-7400 • Penrose Elementary: 4285 S. Nonchalant Circle, 328-7500 • Queen Palmer Elementary: 1921 E. Yampa St., 328-3200 • Rogers Elementary: 110 S. Circle Drive, 328-3300 • Rudy Elementary: 5370 Cracker Barrel Circle, 328-7600 • Scott Elementary: 6175 Whetstone Drive, 328-6200 • Steele Elementary: 1720 N. Weber St., 328-4700 • Stratton Elementary: 2460 Paseo Road, 328-3400 • Taylor Elementary: 900 E. Buena Ventura St., 328-3500 • Trailblazer Elementary: 2015 Wickes Road, 328-6300 • Twain Elementary: 3402 E. San Miguel St., 328-7700 • West Elementary: 25 N. 20th St., 328-4900 • Wilson Elementary: 1409 De Reamer Circle, 328-7800 • Galileo School of Math and Science: 1600 N. Union Blvd, 328-2200 • Holmes Middle: 2455 Mesa Road, 328-3800 • Jenkins Middle: 6410 Austin Bluffs Parkway, 328-5300

Lewis-Palmer

School District #38

♦ Consistently Among the

Top Districts in Colorado

♦ In Colorado’s Top 10% for College Entrance and State Exams

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Jenkins Middle School student Sun Lee examines a tiny plant in a science class in March.

• Mann Middle: 1001 E. Van Buren St., 328-2300 • North Middle: 612 E. Yampa St., 328-2400 • Russell Middle: 3825 E. Montebello Drive, 328-5200 • Sabin Middle: 3605 N. Carefree Circle, 328-7000 • Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy: 4220 E. Pikes Peak Ave., 328-6900 • West Middle: 1920 W. Pikes Peak Ave., 328-3900 • Coronado High: 1590 W. Fillmore St., 328-3600 • Doherty High: 4515 Barnes Road, 328-6400 • Mitchell High: 1205 Potter Drive, 328-6600 • Palmer High: 301 N. Nevada Ave., 328-5000 • Roy J. Wasson Academic Campus: 2115 Afton Way, 328-2000 — Achieve Online, 328-3012 — Adult and Family Education, 328-3001 — Career Pathways, 328-2030 — Early College High, 328-2030 — Springs Community Night School, 328-2160 — Tesla Educational Opportunity School, 328-2100 — The Bijou School, 328-2060 — The Digital High School, 328-3012 • AACL (Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning): 2510 N. Chestnut St., 434-6566

♦ Acclaimed Music, Art, Sports, Drama

♦ Outstanding Teachers and Staff

♦ Gifted & Talented Programs on Every Campus

♦ K-6 on-Campus Child Care Outside School Hours

♦ Homeschool Academy Weekly Enrichment

Accepting Enrollment Requests for all grades Lewis-Palmer School District 146 Jefferson Street, Monument, CO 80132 (719) 488-4700 info@lewispalmer.org www.lewispalmer.org T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

SCHOOLS Odyssey Elementary School students cross the street on their way to class in October 2013. The school, at 6275 Bridle Spur Ave., is in Falcon District 49.

• CIVA Charter School: 4635 Northpark Drive, 633-1306 • Community Prep. Charter School: 332 E. Willamette Ave., 227-8836 • GLOBE Charter School: 3302 Alpine Place, 630-0577 • Life Skills Center: 1810 Eastlake Blvd., 471-0684 • Roosevelt-Edison Charter School: 205 S. Byron Drive, 637-0311

CRIPPLE CREEK-VICTOR SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-1 689-2685, ccvschools.org An alternative education program for students who have dropped out of school is returning. Also making a comeback are Advanced Placement classes in English, math, science and social studies. New vocational courses for middle and high school students in design manufacturing and consumer and family studies have been added. And the district has lowered graduation requirements to be more in line with state norms, with 22 semester credits needed to graduate instead of 30. A proposal to expand the school-based health center for students to a community health center is being considered. • Early Childhood Education and Head Start, 412 N. C St., Cripple Creek, 689-3420 • Cresson Elementary: 412 N. C St., Cripple Creek, 689-9230 • Cripple Creek-Victor Junior/Senior High: 410 N. B St., Cripple Creek, 689-2661

EDISON SCHOOL DISTRICT 54JT 478-2125, edison54jt.schoolfusion.us A 33,000-square-foot voter-approved expansion of the middle school and high school is moving forward. The project will add classrooms, a science lab, an autism room, a special education room, shop space, a gymnasium and a preschool to the building that opened in 1922. The district also will work on maintaining its academic achievement. Last year, 54-JT earned the state’s highest ranking for performance and growth, which has helped boost enrollment. • Edison Elementary, Junior and Senior High and Edison Academy: 14550 Edison Road, Yoder.

ELLICOTT SCHOOL DISTRICT 22

683-2700, ellicottschools.org Curriculum improvements abound. Vocational education is growing, with wood66 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE FILE

working and business courses that also earn students college credit. Advanced Placement classes in language arts, math, science and social studies are now available for high school students, and each ninth- through 12th-grader will receive a laptop for schoolwork. Additional staff for early interventions will help identify kindergarten through sixth-grade students who need extra help with math and reading, more staff members have been hired for the gifted and talented program, and the areawide severe-needs classroom has been expanded. • Ellicott Preschool: 350 S. Ellicott Highway, 683-2700, ext. 2250 • Ellicott Elementary: 399 S. Ellicott Highway, 683-2700, ext. 1 • Ellicott Middle: 350 S. Ellicott Highway, 683-2700, ext. 2 • Ellicott High: 375 S. Ellicott Highway, 683-2700, ext. 3

FALCON SCHOOL DISTRICT 49

495-1100, d49.org Enrollment in the region’s third-largest district has increased by more than onethird since 2010 and is expected to near 21,000 students this year. A mill levy override voters approved in November is paying for a districtwide patrol officer, salary boosts and more technology, including Kindle e-readers at Falcon High. The Peak Partners Initiative has launched to develop relationships with community leaders who don’t have a connection to the district. Employee training to improve systems and procedures has begun. District leaders also are preparing for a new charter school scheduled to open next fall, a technical and trades academy that’s part of the James Irwin Charter Schools group. • Banning Lewis Ranch Academy: 7094 Cottonwood Tree Drive, 570-0075

• Evans International Elementary: 1675 Winnebago Road, 495-5299 • Falcon Elementary School of Technology: 12050 Falcon Highway, 495-5272 • Meridian Ranch Elementary: 10480 Rainbow Bridge Drive, Peyton, 494-2909 • Odyssey Elementary: 6275 Bridle Spur Ave., 494-8622 • Remington Elementary: 2825 Pony Tracks Drive, 495-5266 • Ridgeview Elementary: 6573 Shimmering Creek Drive, 494-8700 • Springs Ranch Elementary: 4350 Centerville Drive, 494-8600 • Stetson Elementary: 4910 Jedediah Smith Road, 495-5252 • Woodmen Hills Elementary: 8308 Del Rio Road, Peyton, 495-5500 • Falcon Middle School: 9755 Towner Ave., Peyton, 495-5232 • Horizon Middle School: 1750 Piros Drive, 495-5210 • Imagine Indigo Ranch: 6464 Peterson Road, 495-7360 • Skyview Middle School: 6350 Windom Peak Blvd., 495-5566 • Falcon Virtual Academy: 6113 Constitution Ave., 494-8940 • GOAL Academy Alternative School: 107 W. 11th St, Pueblo., 1-877-776-4625 • Patriot Learning Center: 11990 Swingline Road NE, Peyton, 495-5505 • Pikes Peak School of Expeditionary Learning: 11925 Antlers Ridge Drive, Peyton, 522-2580 • Rocky Mountain Classical Academy: 4620 Antelope Ridge Drive, 622-8000 • Falcon High: 10255 Lambert Road, Peyton, 495-5522 • Sand Creek High: 7005 N. Carefree Circle, 495-1160 • Vista Ridge High: 6888 Black Forest Road, 494-8800 • Springs Studio for Academic Excellence: 6113 Constitution Ave., 494-8940

SCHOOLS

So Much

More than the

Common Core

So Much

JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE

Hanover School Board member Cathie Salmon-Wolff, right, shows some Prairie Heights Elementary School students a decoration in her home in December 2014.

FOUNTAIN-FORT CARSON SCHOOL DISTRICT 8

382-1300, ffc8.org A new superintendent is at the helm of this district, in which 75 percent of students have a military connection and half of its schools are on the base. Although Fort Carson is expected to lose about 365 soldiers from nationwide cuts, district officials project enrollment to grow to 8,278 students. A new $7.5 million preschool is opening next to the administration building to serve about 250 low-income and at-risk youngsters ages 3-5. Three classrooms will be for Head Start participants, a federal program that works to help break the cycle of poverty with various support for families. • Abrams Elementary: 600 Chiles Ave., Fort Carson, 382-1490 • Aragon Elementary: 211 S. Main St., Fountain, 382-1340 • Eagleside Elementary: 9750 Sentry Drive, Fountain, 382-1520 • Jordahl Elementary: 800 Progress Drive, Fountain, 382-1400 • Mesa Elementary: 400 Camino Del Rey, Fountain, 382-1370 • Mountainside Elementary: 5506 Harr Ave., Fort Carson, 382-1430 • Patriot Elementary: 7010 Harr Ave., Fort Carson, 382-1460 • Weikel Elementary: 6565 Lindstrom St.,

Fort Carson, 358-4320 • Conrad Early Learning Center: 10605 Jimmy Camp Road, Fountain, 304-3500 • Carson Middle: 6200 Prussman Blvd., Fort Carson, 382-1610 • Fountain Middle: 515 N. Santa Fe Ave., Fountain, 382-1580 • Fountain-Fort Carson High: 900 Jimmy Camp Road, Fountain, 382-1640 • Welte Education Center, 330 Lyckman Drive, Fountain, 382-1550

than the

Common Core Learn more at css.org An ACIS accredited school for PreK - 12th grade

HANOVER SCHOOL DISTRICT 28

683-2247, hanoverhornets.org The new superintendent, who is continuing in his role as principal of the elementary school, is working on creating a districtwide strategic plan and facilities plan, with community and staff input, and developing standard operating procedures. Over the summer, the district completed building improvements and added a keyless entry system at both schools. Two new school buses are being purchased. Enrollment is expected to remain around 260 students. • Prairie Heights Elementary School: 7930 Indian Village Heights, Fountain, 382-1260 • Hanover Junior-Senior High School: 17050 S. Peyton Highway, Peyton, 683-2247, ext. 2

Learn more at css.org An ACIS accredited school for PreK - 12th grade

An ACIS accredited school for PreK - 12th grade

T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

SCHOOLS

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Turman Elementary School kindergarten teacher Crystal Mariconda lines up her students as they wait to be picked up at the end of their first day of school July 8. Turman was one of two Harrison School District 2 schools that started classes that day.

HARRISON SCHOOL DISTRICT 2

579-2000, hsd2.org Creek Elementary and Carmel Middle schools have started the International Baccalaureate candidate program, which lasts up to two years. If approved, the schools will be the first in the district to adopt the IB format, which looks at education from a global standpoint. Two elementary schools are trying a year-round calendar, and Advanced Placement courses for high school students have increased from five to 19. That has more than quadrupled the number of students taking the classes at the district’s two traditional high schools. Enrollment in the region’s fourth-largest district with a large population of impoverished students is expected to hold steady at 11,500 students. • Atlas Preparatory School: 1602 S. Mur68 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

ray Blvd., 358-7196 • Bricker Elementary: 4880 Dover Drive, 579-2150 • Centennial Elementary: 1860 S. Chelton Road, 579-2155 • Giberson Elementary: 2880 Ferber Drive, 579-2165 • James Irwin Charter elementary, middle and high: 5525 Astrozon Blvd., 302-9000 • Monterey Elementary: 2311 Monterey Road, 579-2170 • Mountain Vista Community: 2550 Dorset Drive, 527-3400 • Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy: 2400 Slater Ave., 579-2160 • Oak Creek Elementary: 3333 Oak Creek Drive W., 579-2175 • Otero Elementary: 1650 Charmwood Drive, 579-2110 • Pikes Peak Elementary: 1520 Verde Drive, 579-2180 • Sand Creek Elementary: 550 Sand

Creek Drive, 579-3760 • Soaring Eagles Elementary: 4710 Harrier Ridge Drive, 540-4000 • Stratmoor Hills Elementary: 200 Loomis Ave., 579-2185 • Stratton Meadows Elementary: 610 Brookshire Ave., 579-2190 • Turman Elementary: 3245 Springnite Drive, 579-2195 • Wildflower Elementary: 1160 Keith Drive, 579-2115 • Carmel Middle: 1740 Pepperwood Drive, 579-3210 • Fox Meadow Middle: 1450 Cheyenne Meadows Road, 527-7100 • Panorama Middle: 2145 S. Chelton Road, 579-3220 • The High School Preparatory Academy: 2250 Jet Wing Drive, 579-2580 • Harrison High: 2755 Janitell Road, 579-2080 • Sierra High: 2250 Jet Wing Drive, 579-2090

SCHOOLS Manitou Springs Elementary School students walk down Duclo Avenue after their bus dropped them off about a quarter-mile away from the school as snow continues to fall Feb. 26.

MICHAEL CIAGLO, THE GAZETTE

LEWIS-PALMER SCHOOL DISTRICT 38

488-4700, lewispalmer.org The old Palmer Lake Elementary School Library is undergoing a $56,000 renovation. Flexible, kid-friendly spaces that adjust to accommodate adult learners with shelving on rolling casters, new technology and energy-efficient windows are part of the plan. A second-level biomedical sciences course — human body systems — is being offered at Lewis-Palmer High as part of a Project Lead the Way program. Wellness teams are being introduced at every school, as part of the Colorado Action for Healthy Kids initiative, technology upgrades have been made, and the district’s Business Advisory Council will host a first Career Awareness Fair in the fall for middle and high school students. Enrollment is projected at 6,230 students. • Bear Creek Elementary: 1330 Creekside Drive, Monument, 488-4770 • Lewis-Palmer Elementary: 1315 Lake Woodmoor Drive, Monument, 488-4750 • Palmer Lake Elementary: 115 Upper Glenway, Palmer Lake, 488-4760 • Prairie Winds Elementary: 790 King’s Deer Point E., Monument, 559-0800 • Ray E. Kilmer Elementary: 4285 Walker Road, 488-4740 • Lewis-Palmer Middle: 1776 Woodmoor Drive, Monument, 488-4776 • Lewis-Palmer High: 1300 Higby Road, Monument, 488-4720 • Palmer Ridge High: 19255 Monument Hill Road, Monument, 867-8600 • Monument Academy Charter: 1150 Village Ridge Point, Monument, 481-1950

MANITOU SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT 14

685-2024, mssd14.org A new district think tank called ManX is intended to inspire new programs that will enhance the schools’ environment, academics and growth mindset. The group of 20 staff members aims to answer: “What if we could do anything we wanted to help children learn and be ready for the 21st century? What would those things be?” Existing innovative programs include on-campus ballet classes, robotics and aerospace engineering, inexpensive music lessons and an outdoor, experiential math and science track for sixth-graders. Enrollment is expected to top 1,500 students, with 42 percent coming from outside district boundaries. • Manitou Springs Elementary: 110 Pawnee Ave., Manitou Springs, 685-2195 • Ute Pass Elementary: 9230 Chipita Park Road, Chipita Park, 685-2227 • Manitou Springs Middle: 415 El Monte Place, Manitou Springs, 685-2127 • Manitou Springs High: 401 El Monte Place, Manitou Springs, 685-2074

MIAMI-YODER SCHOOL DISTRICT JT-60

478-2186, miamiyoder.org Building relationships in the district and the community is one of the goal’s of the new superintendent, who also is serving as the district’s secondary school principal. A new reading program for elementary school students, “Core Knowledge Lan-

guage Arts,” aims to better align instruction with Common Core State Standards. The district, which has about 300 students, also is refinancing two bonds to save money and replacing two school buses. • Miami Yoder JT-60: K-12, 420 S. Rush Road, Rush

PEYTON SCHOOL DISTRICT 23-JT

749-2330, peyton.k12.co.us The old Peyton Middle School is being transformed into a woodworking, construction and automotive trades center. The district is opening the Peyton Woods Manufacturing Program, which offers entry-level through advanced cabinet manufacturing for high school students. The district also has brought its first charter school on board, the Career Building Academy, which has construction and automotive industry training. Voters in November agreed to a second de-TABORing in 23-JT for seven years, meaning the district will seek grants and corporate donations. A nonprofit foundation is being set up to handle contributions. Enrollment will be about 550 students and potentially grow to 650 with the new charter school. • Peyton Elementary: 13550 Bradshaw Road, Peyton, 749-0170 • Peyton Junior and Senior High: 13885 Bradshaw Road, Peyton, 749-0417 • The Career Building Academy: 18320 Main St., Peyton, 749-2091 T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

SCHOOLS WIDEFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT 3

391-3000, wsd3.org The district, with about 9,300 students, is fully rolling out a STEM program for sixth- through 12th-graders. A $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity will help to implement Project Lead the Way, a national science, technology, engineering and math program. D-3 is known for its pride, tradition and innovation, with Project Lead the Way being an innovation development that will get students out of the box in science and math. District leaders also are gearing up for a first-time Spring Showcase in April to highlight achievements including the music program, Navy Junior ROTC cadets, Project Lead the Way robots and other achievements. • Widefield Community Center, 705 Aspen Drive, 391-3515 • WSD3 Preschool: 209 Leta Drive, 391-3375 • French Elementary: 5225 Alturas Drive, 391-3495 • King Elementary: 6910 Defoe Ave., 391-3455 • Pinello Elementary: 2515 Cody Drive, 391-3395 • Sunrise Elementary: 7070 Grand Valley Drive, 391-3415 • Talbott Elementary: Dean and Fordham streets, 391-3475 • Venetucci Elementary: 405 Willis Drive, 391-3355 • Webster Elementary: 445 Jersey Lane, 391-3435 • Widefield Elementary: 509 Widefield Drive, 391-3335 • Janitell Junior High: 7635 Fountain Mesa Road, Fountain, 391-3295 • Sproul Junior High: 235 Sumac Drive, 391-3218 • Watson Junior High: 136 Fontaine Blvd., 391-3255 • Discovery High: 701 Widefield Drive, 391-3121 • Mesa Ridge High: 6070 Mesa Ridge Parkway, 391-3600 • Widefield High: 615 Widefield Drive, 391-3200 • James Madison Charter Academy: 660 Syracuse St., 391-3977 • D3 My Way: 930 Leta Drive, 391-3080

WOODLAND PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-2 686-2000, wpsdk12.org The town mayor will be in the dugout, elementary school students will dig in the 70 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

Chef James W. Davis Jr. shows the difference between corn-fed beef, left, and grassfed beef to a Woodland Park High School home economics class in April 2014.

MICHAEL CIAGLO, THE GAZETTE FILE

dirt and home-school kids will have more chances to be in class in RE-2, which has about 2,400 students. The mayor has been hired as the high school baseball head coach. An environmental education program for all elementary school students that kicked off last school year is continuing with outdoor lessons at a nearby ranch. Middle school students who are homeschooled now have the opportunity to take classes at Summit Elementary School, and classroom experiences for elementary level home-schoolers also are expanding. • Columbine Elementary: 175 E. Kelley Road, Woodland Park, 686-2300 • Gateway Elementary: 100 Panther Way, Woodland Park, 686-2051 • Summit Elementary: 490 Meadow Park Drive, Divide, 686-2401 • Woodland Park Middle: 600 E. Kelley Road, Woodland Park, 686-2200 • Woodland Park High: 151 Panther Way, Woodland Park, 686-2067

RELIGIOUS/PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Some of the religious or private schools in the region: • Ave Maria Catholic School, 9056 E. Parker Road, Parker, 1-720-842-5400

• Colorado Springs Christian Schools, 4855 Mallow Road, 535-8968 • The Colorado Springs School: 21 Broadmoor Ave., 475-9747

• Corpus Christi Catholic School: 2410 N. Cascade Ave., 632-5092

• Divine Redeemer Catholic School, 901 N. Logan Ave., 471-7771 • Early Connections Home Network, 104 E. Rio Grande St., 632-1754 • Evangelical Christian Academy: 2511 N. Logan Ave., 634-7024

• Fountain Valley School of Colorado: 6155 Fountain Valley School Road, 390-7035 • HillSprings Academy: 2776 Janitell Road, 576-3840 • Holy Apostles Catholic Preschool, 4925 N. Carefree Circle, 591-1566 • Rocky Mountain Montessori Academy: 7675 Lexington Drive, 592-0900 • Ruth Washburn Cooperative Nursery School: 914 N. 19th St., 636-3084 • St. Paul Catholic School, 1601 Mesa Ave., 632-1846 • St. Peter Catholic School, 124 1st St., Monument, 481-1855 • St. Mary’s High School, 2501 E. Yampa St., 635-7540 • Salem Lutheran School: 4318 N. Chestnut St., 599-0200 • Sidewalks End Montessori: 3215 Woodland Hills Drive, 266-0026

STATE CHARTER SCHOOLS

• Colorado Charter School Institute: 1580 Logan St., Suite 210, Denver, 1-303-866-3299 • Colorado Springs Charter Academy: 2577 N. Chelton Road, 636-2722 • Colorado Springs Early Colleges: 4405 N. Chestnut Ave., Suite D, 955-4675 • Global Village Academy: 1702 N. Murray Blvd., 645-8063 • James Irwin Charter Academy: 5525 Astrozon Blvd., 302-9000 • Mountain Song Community School: 2904 W. Kiowa St., 344-5770 • Pikes Peak Prep: 525 E. Costilla St., 570-7575 • Thomas MacLaren School: 303 Austin Bluffs Parkway, 313-4488 DEBBIE KELLEY, THE GAZETTE, 650-7277, DEBBIE.KELLEY@GAZETTE.COM

SCHOOLS

COURTESY OF THE AIR FORCE

Freshman cadets take the Air Force Academy’s honor oath during a ceremony that marked the end of six weeks of basic training.

AIR FORCE ACADEMY

333-1110, usafa.af.mil The Air Force Academy is a military organization and a baccalaureate university, preparing cadets for careers as Air Force leaders.

COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

Southern Colorado Regional Center 1125 Kelly Johnson Blvd., Suite 105 867-5800, ccu.edu Colorado Christian University’s College of Adult and Graduate Studies Center in southern Colorado offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees and educator licensure programs. Many courses are available online.

COLORADO COLLEGE

14 E. Cache La Poudre St. 389-6000, coloradocollege.edu Colorado College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college with a range of majors and minors across departments, interdisciplinary studies and preprofessional programs. The college operates on a block plan. Students take four classes per semester, one course at a time in sequence, doing a semester’s amount of work in 3 1/2 weeks.

COLORADO INSTITUTE OF MASSAGE THERAPY 1490 W. Fillmore St. 634-7347, cimt.edu Certificate program.

COLORADO TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

4435 N. Chestnut St. 1-855-227-0555, coloradotech.edu The Colorado Springs campus offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in many professional fields. Doctorate programs in management and computer science also are available. The school says it is one of only a few schools in the nation to offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer security.

DEVRY UNIVERSITY

1175 Kelly Johnson Blvd. 632-3000, devry.edu Undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, health sciences, liberal arts, engineering and technology.

EVEREST COLLEGE

1815 Jet Wing Drive 638-6580, everest.edu Programs include accounting, business administration, computer information science, criminal justice, dental and medical assisting. Students may earn associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees completely online. T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

SCHOOLS

CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE FILE

Students walk on the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs campus in August 2014 during the first week of the semester.

NAZARENE BIBLE COLLEGE

1111 Academy Park Loop 884-5000, nbc.edu A private, four-year, co-educational Bible college offering Bachelor of Arts in ministry and Associate of Arts in lay ministries degrees. Majors include Bible and theology, Christian counseling and music and pastoral ministries.

PIKES PEAK COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Main Centennial Campus, 5675 S. Academy Blvd.; Downtown Studio Campus, 100 W. Pikes Peak Ave.; Rampart Range Campus, 11195 Colorado 83; Falcon Campus, 3850 Pony Tracks Drive; 502-2000, ppcc.edu Pikes Peak Community College is a two-year college offering associate degrees and various certifications in career and technical fields, with more than 125 programs of study. The school also offers two-year transfer educational programs to qualify students for admission to the junior year at other colleges and universities and a broad range of educational options for adults.

REGIS UNIVERSITY

7450 Campus Drive, Suite 100 1-800-568-8932, regis.edu

72 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

A Jesuit college offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The local campus serves the College for Professional Studies and offers majors and master’s degrees in business administration, computer information systems and management.

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT COLORADO SPRINGS

1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway 255-8227, uccs.edu The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs is part of the University of Colorado system, and the local campus offers 37 bachelor’s degrees, 19 master’s and five doctoral degrees, within six academic colleges. A branch of the CU School of Medicine also is available.

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX

2 N. Cascade Ave., Suite 100 527-9000, phoenix.edu Degree programs are available in arts and sciences, business management, criminal justice and security, education, human services, nursing and health care, psychology and technology.

SCHOOLS

Students attend class at the Institute of Business and Medical Careers in Colorado Springs.

WEBSTER UNIVERSITY

5475 Tech Center Drive, No. 110 590-7340, webster.edu/colorado springs Certificate, undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in space systems, business, information technology and procurement.

TECHNICAL COLLEGES

Assist To Succeed Colorado Springs 8610 Explorer Drive, Suite 315 599-0700, assisttosucceed.com Nationally recognized premier dental assisting program. Ten-week course held only on Saturdays. Dental assisting certificate. College America 2020 N. Academy Blvd. 227-0170, collegeamerica.edu/coloradosprings Undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing, health care, graphic arts and information technology. Collinson Massage School 2163 N. Academy Blvd. 310-9297, collinsonmassageschool.com Certificate program.

Critter Clips School of Dog Grooming 1865 Dublin Blvd., 593-5880, critter-clipsgrooming.com Certificate program. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 1675 Long St., Building 1117, Fort Carson 576-6858, erau.edu Certificates, undergraduate and graduate degrees. Globelink Foreign Language Center 802 S. Tejon St. 532-0300, globelinkflc.com Certificate programs. Translation, interpreting and language classes. Independent Electrical Contractors Southern Colorado Chapter 5975 Omaha Blvd. 596-3688, iecscc.org Training for apprentice programs. Institute of Business and Medical Careers Colorado Springs campus 6805 Corporate Drive 596-7400, ibmc.edu Certificate, diploma and degree programs in business, cosmetology, dental, health care, personal fitness training, paralegal and massage careers.

COURTESY PHOTO

Intellitec Colleges 2315 E. Pikes Peak Ave. 373-1690, intelliteccollege.com Associate degrees in automotive, drafting, computer, health and medical careers. International Salon and Spa Academy 5707 N. Academy Blvd. 597-1413, ISSACO.edu Cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, nail care and hair styling. Paul Mitchell School 118 W. Colorado Ave. 636-1426, coloradosprings.paulmitchell. edu Beauty, cosmetology and hair stylist training. Pima Medical Institute 3770 Citadel Drive N. 1-800-477-7462, pmi.edu Certificate, associate programs. Pharmacy, medical assistant, dental and veterinary technician. Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy 5125 N. Academy Blvd. 390-9898, coloradosprings.toniguy.edu Offering basic and advanced cosmetology training. DEBBIE KELLEY AND MARIA ST. LOUIS-SANCHEZ, THE GAZETTE T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

RELIGION HOUSES OF WORSHIP AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH • Payne Chapel AME Church: 3625 Marion Drive, 591-6271 ANGLICAN • Holy Trinity Anglican Church: 13990 Glen Eagle Drive, 505-8021 • International Anglican Church: 1305 N. Union Blvd., 264-7970 • St. George’s Anglican Church: 217 E. Pikes Peak Ave., 434-3364 • St. Luke’s Anglican Church: 2425 N. Chestnut St., 473-7950 ASSEMBLIES OF GOD • Austin Bluffs Community Church: 5090 Austin Bluffs Parkway, 598-0424 • Calvary United Methodist Church: 4210 Austin Bluffs Parkway, 599-7250 • Church at Briargate: 9550 Otero Ave., 528-6060 • Family Christian Center: 3018 Virginia Ave., 636-2191 • Friendship Assembly of God: 3685 New Center Point, 574-3155 • Harbor Lights Assembly of God: 2525 Canada Drive, 596-1199 • Restoration Church: 9355 Peaceful Valley Road, 382-8331 BAPTIST • Anchor Way Baptist Church: 3125 Virginia Ave., 633-3476 • Calvary Baptist Church: 1712 S. Corona Ave., 632-4442 • Chapel Hills Church: 2025 Parliament Drive, 598-5086 • Circle Drive Baptist Church: 801 N. Circle Drive, 596-4461 • Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church: 3615 Vickers Drive, 635-4865 • First Baptist Church: 317 E. Kiowa St., 632-6603 • First Baptist Church of Black Forest: 10915 Black Forest Road, 495-4185 • First Southern Baptist Church: 1409 Palmer Park Blvd., 633-4625 • Friendship Baptist Church: 633 E. Dale St., 473-8186 • Garden Ranch Baptist Church: 3830 Van Teylingen Drive, 591-1487 • Grace Baptist Church: 3500 N. Nevada Ave., 593-7887 • Heart of the Springs Church: 2726 N. Union Blvd., 632-1565 • Heritage Baptist: 4808 Palmer Park Blvd., 596-2176 • Highland Park Baptist Church: 2315 N. Circle Drive, 633-6479 • Hilltop Baptist Church: 6915 Palmer Park Blvd., 597-1880 • King Solomon Baptist Church: 910 Peterson Road, 637-3830 • Perfect Peace Baptist Church: 832 S. Nevada Ave., 635-5970 • Pikes Peak Park Baptist Church: 3725 El Morro Road, 597-9004 • Rustic Hills Baptist Church: 1927 N. Murray Blvd., 596-0051 74 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE FILE

A choir sings during the “Unity in the City” celebration in January 2014 at St. John’s Baptist Church in Colorado Springs. • St. John’s Baptist Church: 902 S. Prospect St., 634-5687 • Trinity Missionary Baptist Church: 617 E. Fountain Blvd., 635-8789

• Vista Grande Baptist Church: 5680 Stetson Hills Blvd., 598-2139

RELIGION

Parishioners at Divine Redeemer Catholic Church celebrate Ash Wednesday in February. CATHOLIC • Corpus Christi Catholic Church: 2318 N. Cascade Ave., 633-1457 • Divine Redeemer Catholic Church: 927 N. Logan Ave., 633-5559 • Holy Apostles Catholic Church: 4925 Carefree Circle North, 597-4249 • Holy Trinity Catholic Church: 3122 Poinsetta Drive, 633-2132 • Our Lady of Guadalupe Church: 2715 E. Pikes Peak Ave., 633-7204 • Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church: 11020 Teachout Road, 495-2351 • Our Lady of the Woods: 116 S. West St., Woodland Park, 687-9345 • St. Benedict’s Catholic Church: 12150 Falcon Way, Falcon, 495-1426 • St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church: 8755 Scarborough Drive, 528-8407 • St. Joseph Catholic Church, Southgate: 1830 S.

Corona Ave., 632-9903 • St. Mary’s Cathedral: 22 W. Kiowa St., 473-4633 • St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church: 6455 Brook Park Drive, 598-3595 • St. Paul Catholic Church: 9 El Pomar Road, 471-9700 • St. Peter Catholic Church: 55 Jefferson St., Monument, 481-3511 • Tri-Community Catholic Parish of Colorado Springs: Sacred Heart Church, 2030 W. Colorado Ave.; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 218 Ruxton Ave., Manitou Springs; Holy Rosary Chapel, 4435 Holiday Terrace, Cascade, 633-8711 CHRISTIAN • First Christian Church: 16 E. Platte Ave., 633-8888 • New Life Church: 11025 Voyager Parkway, 594-6602 • Solid Rock Christian Center: 4198 Center Park Drive, Suite A, 393-7625 • Sunnyside Christian Church: 2025 N. Murray Blvd.,

CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE

596-1659 • Village Christian Church: 3113 Primrose Drive, 634-6139 CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE • Front Range Alliance Church: 5210 Centennial Blvd., 260-0333 • North Springs Alliance Church: 1702 Chapel Hills Drive, 536-0706 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE • First Church of Christ Scientist: 325 N. Cascade Ave., 632-0051 CHURCH OF CHRIST • Eastside Church of Christ: 5905 Flintridge Drive, 598-0344 • Lakeside Church of Christ: 603 S. Hancock Ave., 630-0519 • Mountain View Church of Christ: 1080 E. La Salle St., 475-1411 • Pikes Peak Church of Christ: 1402 W. Pikes Peak Ave., 634-6138 T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

RELIGION “We are a caring church for thinking people, an inclusive community of faith, united in our common quest to know God, inspired by the spirit of Jesus, and committed to sharing that love in ways that make a difference in the world,” Vista Grande Community Church says. MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

CHURCH OF GOD •Philippian Church Of God in Christ: 2003 Lelaray St., 473-8733 • Vista Grande Church of God: 4870 Flintridge Drive, 598-5511 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • Colorado Springs 3rd Ward and Colorado Springs 6th Ward, 1705 N. Murray Blvd.; Colorado Springs 5th Ward, Colorado Springs 16th Ward and Colorado Springs 18th Ward, 1310 Aeroplaza Drive; Colorado Springs 8th Ward, 325 Putnam Drive; Colorado Springs 11th Ward and Colorado Springs 15th Ward, 4955 Meadowland Blvd.; Colorado Springs Colorado Stake, 150 Pine Ave.; Monument Ward, 950 W. Colorado 105, Monument; Woodland Park Ward, 785 Apache Trail, Woodland Park; 1-800-453-3860, maps.lds.org. COMMUNITY • Black Forest Community Church: 6845 Shoup Road, 495-2207 • Broadmoor Community Church: 315 Lake Ave., 473-1807 • Calvary Worship Center: 501 Castle Road, 632-3311. • Calvary Community: 2031 B St., 290-8529. • Chadbourn Community Church: 402 Conejos St., 473-5496 • Pikes Peak Metropolitan Community Church: 1102 S. 21st St., 634-3771 • Springs Community Church: 7290 Lexington Drive, 590-1705 • Vista Grande Community Church: 5460 N. Union Blvd., 599-3057 EPISCOPAL • Grace and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church: 601 N. Tejon St., 328-1125 • Saint Michael the Archangel Episcopal Church: 7400 Tudor Road, 598-3244 76 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

• Chapel of Our Saviour: 8 4th St., 633-2667 EVANGELICAL • Faith Evangelical Free Church: 6365 Oakwood Blvd., 531-6858 • First Evangelical Free Church: 820 N. 30th St., 634-3144 FULL GOSPEL • New Life Church: 11025 Voyager Parkway, 594-6602 INDEPENDENT • Fellowship of the Rockies: 1625 S. 8th St., 633-4659 • Community Bible Study: 90 Stout Road, 955-7777 INTERDENOMINATIONAL • Woodmen Valley Chapel, Rockrimmon: 290 E. Woodmen Road; Woodmen Heights, 8292 Woodmen Valley View, 388-5000 JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES • Hillside, 819 E. Vermijo Ave.; Mesa and Foothills, 2609 Bott Ave.; Cheyenne Hills and Lake Plaza, 1225 Lake Plaza Drive; Palmer Park, Vista Grande and Acacia, 1420 Acacia Drive; Rustic Hill, Pikes Peak Park and Cimarron Hills, 720 Crestline Drive; Central and Austin Bluffs, 4415 Buckingham Drive; Southborough and Widefield, 1150 Crandall Drive; Stetson Hills, 7580 Ponca Road; West-Woodland Park, 1035 Woodland Ave., Woodland Park; Monument Hill and Woodmoor, 300 Second St., Monument; tinyurl.com/pcd4cu4 LUTHERAN • Ascension Lutheran Church: 2505 N. Circle Drive, 634-1694 • Black Forest Lutheran Church: 12455 Black Forest Road, 495-2221 • Faith Lutheran Church: 315 Security Blvd., 392-5076 • Family of Christ Lutheran Church: 675 E. Baptist Road, 481-2255 • First Lutheran Church: 1515 N. Cascade Ave., 632-8836

• Holy Cross Lutheran Church: 4125 Constitution Ave., 596-0661 • Mount Calvary Lutheran Church: 1318 N. Circle Drive, 634-1053 • Redeemer Lutheran Church: 2226 N. Corona St., 633-7661 • Rock of Ages Lutheran Church: 120 N. 31st St., 632-9394 LUTHERAN ELCA • Christ the King: 950 Vindicator Drive, 260-1787 • Mountain Calvary Lutheran Church: 1318 N. Circle Drive, 634-1053 • Bethel Lutheran Church: 4925 Farmingdale Drive, 570-9800 MENNONITE • Beth-El Mennonite Church: 4625 Ranch Drive, 636-2716 METHODIST • Central United Methodist Church: 4373 Galley Road, 597-6642 • East United Methodist Church: 1505 E. Monument St., 634-2801 • First United Methodist Church: 420 N. Nevada Ave., 471-8522 • Korean Methodist Church: 3840 E. Pikes Peak Ave., 597-6622 • Pikes Peak United Methodist Church: 2927 W. Pikes Peak Ave., 634-3589 • St. Paul’s United Methodist Church: 2111 Carlton Ave., 634-7046 • Stratmoor Hills United Methodist Church: 1705 Cheyenne Meadows Road, 576-0005 • Sunrise Church: 2655 Briargate Blvd., 598-7013 • Trinity United Methodist Church: 701 N. 20th St., 633-9295 • Wilson United Methodist Church: 6460 Flying W Ranch Road, 598-0407

RELIGION Karilyn Coates joined others in a candlelight vigil in May 2014 at All Souls Unitarian Church in Colorado Springs. The vigil was held for nearly 300 girls kidnapped by the Islamic militant group Boko Haram in Nigeria.

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE FILE

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY • Pikes Peak Metropolitan Community Church: 1102 S. 21st St., 634-3771 NAZARENE • Central Church of the Nazarene: 2550 E. San Miguel St., 632-6595 • Grace Church of the Nazarene: 1615 E. Cheyenne Road, 473-7725 • Security Church of the Nazarene: 800 Hackberry Drive, 392-7091 • Springs First Church: 4120 E. Fountain Blvd., 596-5119 • Trinity Church of the Nazarene: 5055 El Camino Drive, 599-7990 NONDENOMINATIONAL • Antioch Community Church: 5855 Boone Road, Yoder, 478-2210 • Black Forest Chapel: 14190 Black Forest Road, 495-2420 • Church for All Nations: 6540 Templeton Gap Road, 591-1800 • Church for All Nations: 2188 Executive Circle, 329-1820 • Crossroads Christian Center: 145 Fontaine Blvd., 328-1440 • Mountain Springs Church: 7345 Adventure Way, 495-6688 • Northeast Church of Christ: 6660 Galley Road, 597-6661 • Pulpit Rock Church: 301 Austin Bluffs Parkway, 598-6767 • Red Rock Church: 6805 Corporate Drive, Suite 140, 632-4884 • Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel: 4285 N. Academy Blvd., 597-1133 • Springs Reformed Church: 229 S. Weber St., 577-4157 • Vanguard Church: 3950 N. Academy Blvd., 591-8800 • Victory Outreach Church of Colorado Springs:

2818 N. Nevada Ave., 4730 Barnes Road, 477-0000 • Victory World Outreach: 3150 S. Academy Blvd., 392-1231 ORTHODOX • Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church: 2215 Paseo Road, 634-5678 • Saints Constantine and Helen Orthodox Church: 2770 N. Chestnut St., 473-9238 PENTECOSTAL • Austin Bluffs Community Church: 5090 Austin Bluffs Parkway, 598-0424 • Family Worship Center: 6575 Oakwood Blvd., 599-0509 • Radiant Church: Central Campus, 4020 Maizeland Road; North Campus, 8630 Scarborough Drive; Woodland Park Campus, 201 N. Boundary St., Woodland Park, 597-4402 • Springs of Life Church: 3704 E. Uintah St., 487-1850 PRESBYTERIAN • Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church: 4450 Westmeadow Drive, 635-9022 • Covenant Presbyterian Church: 2845 Parliament Drive, 598-0800 • Faith Presbyterian Church: 1529 N. Circle Drive, 596-4895 • First Presbyterian Church: 219 E. Bijou St., 884-6100 • Forestgate Presbyterian Church: 970 North Gate Blvd., 495-5672 • Gateway Presbyterian Church: 731 Castle Road, 473-3430 • Springs Reformed Church: 229 S. Weber St., 577-4157 • Village Seven Presbyterian Church: 4055 Nonchalant Circle South, 574-6700 SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST • Colorado Springs South Seventh-day Adventist Church: 2520 Arlington Drive, 471-1944

• Central Seventh-day Adventist Church: 1305 N. Union Blvd., 578-5616 • Palace of Peace Seventh-day Adventist Church: 1150 Aeroplaza Drive, 591-2094 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST • All Souls Church: 730 N. Tejon St., 633-7717 • High Plains Church: 1825 Dominion Way, 260-1080 United Church of Christ • Black Forest Community Church: 6845 Shoup Road, 495-2207 • Broadmoor Community Church: 315 Lake Ave., 473-1807 • Community Congregational Church of Manitou Springs: 103 Pawnee Ave., Manitou Springs, 685-5255 • Vista Grande Community Church: 5460 N. Union Blvd., 599-3057 UNITY • Unity Spiritual Center in the Rockies: 1945 Mesa Road, 471-4556 WESLEYAN • Awakening Church: 3445 Oro Blanco Drive, 550-0775 • The Springs Journey Church: 1250 Vondelpark Drive, 598-8501 • Westside First Wesleyan Church: 502 N. Walnut St., 473-7113 SYNAGOGUES • Beit Ad-Nai Yisrael, Messianic: 6350 Chippewa Road, 536-9331 • Sha’arey Tzion, Messianic: 4680 Edison Ave., Unit D, 573-0380 • Temple Beit Torah, Reform: 522 E. Madison St., 573-0841 • Temple Shalom, Reform-Conservative: 1523 E. Monument St., 634-5311 COMPILED BY CARLOTTA OLSON, THE GAZETTE, 636-0221, CARLOTTA.OLSON@GAZETTE.COM

T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

GETAWAYS A giraffe watches visitors in August 2014 at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The Colorado Springs zoo was recently ranked No. 6 in the United States by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website.

CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE

ColoradoShuttle.com

ALL DAY, EVERY DAY TO

DIA

719-687-3456 78 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO

It’s easy to see why the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was recently ranked No. 6 in the Top 25 Zoos in the United States by TripAdvisor — a lot of work has been put into the zoo on the side of a mountain. New in 2015 is the Australia Walkabout, which includes indoor and outdoor budgie viewing and feeding, newly renovated emu habitat, wallaby walkabout, indoor/outdoor alligator exhibit and even a tree kangaroo. In lieu of an expensive safari to Africa, check out the zoo’s 10-acre “Encounter Africa” exhibit with elephants, a lion pride, male eastern black rhinoceros and meerkats. It’s the biggest addition in the zoo’s history, ringing in at $13.5 million. From the skyway, visitors can watch the elephants play in the mud, shower under the 20-foot waterfall and swim in a pool deep enough for the zoo’s largest resident, 10,000-pound, 9-foot-5-inch Kimba, an elephant, to submerge. You can watch Jumbe, the rhino, in his training area or the four-member lion pride (including three cubs born June 25) in their own enclosure. Details: 633-9925, cmzoo.org

NATURE IN THE CITY, DENVER

Skyscrapers loom, cars zoom and pedestrians bustle, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a quiet spot of nature in the big city of Denver. Denver Botanic Gardens (1007 York St., 1-720-865-3501, botanicgardens.org) is home to an exhibit of cattle-scattered panorama paintings by Theodore Waddell through Nov. 8. Works by the Montana native abstract expressionist artist were influenced by time he spend in New York in the 1960s. From Nov. 22 to Feb. 14, there will be a juried botanical illustration exhibit highlighting species from Plant Select, a nonprofit cultivator, distributor and educator of plants designed to thrive in the high plains and intermountain region. The exhibit is free and open to the public but requires an RSVP to exhibits@botanicgardens.org. Even if you miss the exhibits, the gardens are a good place to breathe in some chlorophyll. Fear not, there are plenty of other nature activities to partake in, such as The Wildlife Experience, with its more than 100 wildlife paintings and sculptures by acclaimed nature artists shown together in a 7,000-square-foot exhibit space (10035 Peoria St., 1-720-488-3300, thewildlifeexperience.com), or The Butterfly Pavilion, where 1,600 butterflies fly free in a tropical rain forest environment. Toward the end of the year, the pavilion also does Living Lights, a holiday lighting event (6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster, 1-303-469-5441, butterflies.org). Details: 1-800-233-6837, visitdenver.com

GETAWAYS GLENWOOD SPRINGS

If you haven’t heard, this tiny town in the mountains was voted “Most Fun Town in America” by Rand McNally and USA Today’s 2011 Best of the Road Rally. Maybe it was the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, the world’s largest mineral hot springs. It opened in 1888, but the Ute Indians made annual pilgrimages to what they considered sacred waters for years before that. Nowadays, the pool is the length of a football field with two water slides and a kiddie pool. After you’ve splashed around there, check out the Yampah Vapor Caves, one of only a few known natural vapor caves in the country. You’ll descend into the caves and have your choice of three rooms lined with marble benches where you can relax and inhale the healing vapors. Temperatures range from 110 to 112 degrees. Details: 1-888-445-3696, visitglenwood.com

GRAND LAKE

Ever wonder what’s on the other side of Rocky Mountain National Park? The home of the 265-foot deep Grand Lake, the deepest natural lake in Colorado. Grand Lake was founded in 1881 and now has more than 60 shops, restaurants, galleries and bars on the boardwalk. Don’t miss Adams Falls, a waterfall on the lake’s east side, less than a mile from the middle of the village. There’s also the Kauffman House Museum, where you’ll see the only remaining log hotel built in Grand Lake. It functioned as a hotel from 1892 to 1973 and is open for tours on special occasions throughout the year. Details: 1-800-531-1019, grandlake chamber.com

BISHOP CASTLE, RYE

You’ve got to see it to believe it. Jim Bishop’s 160-foot-tall stone and iron castle, in the middle of the San Isabel National Forest in southern Colorado, is a labor of love. What he started building in 1969 has turned into three stories of rooms, including a grand ballroom, towers, bridges and its own fire-breathing dragon. Admission is free, but Bishop continues to add to his legacy based on the amount of money people gift him through donations. If you visit (42705 Colorado 165, Rye), you’ll often see him bustling around, driving equipment and chatting up visitors. Details: 1-719-564-4366, bishopcastle.org

LEADVILLE

It’s a town Men’s Journal named one of the nation’s “Best Adventure Meccas” in 2008. You’ll see why as soon as you visit the

THE GAZETTE

A hiker makes his way along one of the ridges as the sun sets over the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in 2006. frontier mining town, which is the highest elevation city in North America at 10,152 feet, with its 70 square blocks of Victorian architecture, 20 miles of mining district and more history than you’ll ever be able to remember. One must-see stop is the Tabor Opera House, built in 1879 by Horace A. W. Tabor, one of Colorado’s most well-known mining magnates. Entertainment includes musicians, bands, theater performances and stand-up comedians (308 Harrison Ave., coloradopreservation.org). If you’d rather get out and about, check out the Mineral Belt Trail, an 11.6-mile paved, ADA-accessible trail that offers views of the Sawatch and Mosquito mountain ranges. Wrap it up with a stroll as you wander through shops and galleries of local and

regional artists. Details: 1-855-488-1222, visitleadvilleco.com

GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE

Near Alamosa, there exists a sandbox so large, you could make sand castles for days. The entire dune field is 30 square miles, with the tallest dune towering 750 feet high. Not only can you literally surf the dunes, but there’s hiking and camping, a four-wheel drive on Medano Pass, horseback riding, ranger-led nature walks and some peaks to climb, including Crestone Needle, Crestone Peak, Cleveland Peak and Mount Herard. Details: nps.gov/grsa T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

GETAWAYS BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK

About four hours and 20 minutes from Colorado Springs is a canyon that drops 2,700 feet to the Gunnison River. Stand at the edge and stare, hike the nearby trails or strap on climbing gear and scale its walls — the natural playground has an experience for everybody. This is the home of the Painted Wall. At 2,250 feet, it’s the highest sheer cliff in Colorado and 1,000 feet taller than the Empire State Building. Details: nps.gov/blca

COLORADO WINE COUNTRY

Forget California, France and Italy. We’ve got our own wineries in Colorado. The Grand Valley (grandvalleywine.com) is home to dozens. Try Colorado Cellars, Colorado’s oldest winery, founded in 1978 (3553 E. Road, Palisade, 1-970-464-7921, coloradocellars.com), or Plum Creek Cellars, the state’s most award-winning winery (3708 G Road, Palisade, 1-970-4647586, plumcreekwinery.com). Meadery of the Rockies, Colorado’s first meadery, has made honey wine (mead), fruit-blended honey wine and dessert wines since 1995 (3701 G Road, Palisade, 1-970-464-7899, meaderyoftherockies.com). Details: visit grandjunction.com

PUEBLO

One of the warmest and sunniest locales in the state is about 40 minutes south of Colorado Springs. It’s the home of the Colorado State Fair & Rodeo, held August through early September (1001 Beulah Ave., 1-800-876-4567, coloradostatefair. com), and the annual Chile & Frijoles Festival, a celebration of the Pueblo area’s best-loved crops: green chilies‚ particularly Pueblo chili‚ and frijoles or pinto beans. It’s held in mid-September (1-719-542-1704, pueblochilefestivalinfo.com). You’ll also find the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo, a 32-acre urban waterfront open daily (101 S. Union, 1-719-595-0242, puebloriverwalk.org), the Union Avenue Historic District, the original city center with brick and sandstone buildings, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places, and boutiques, art galleries and sidewalk cafés. If you’re looking for culture, escape into the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center for art exhibits, performances and the award-winning children’s museum (210 N. Santa Fe. Ave., 1-719-295-7200, sdc-arts.org). Details: 1-719-553-2489, pueblo.us

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MICHAEL CIAGLO, THE GAZETTE

Macy Collins of Meeker kisses her sheep Kilowatt as she prepares the group for showing on the opening day of the Colorado State Fair in August 2014.

ESTES PARK

About 90 minutes northwest of Denver is the picturesque and popular village of Estes Park. It’s home to The Stanley Hotel, the looming inspiration for Stephen King’s 1977 horror novel “The Shining.” Take The Stanley Tour, a Night Ghost Tour or sign up for a paranormal investigation (333 Wonderview Ave., 1-800-577-4000, stanley hotel.com). If ghosts don’t float your boat, there’s always Rocky Mountain National Park, just outside of town. More than 350 miles of trails wait for you, with flat easy hikes around a mountain lake or challenging backpack trips and climbs (1000 U.S. 36, 1-970-586-1206, rocky mountainnationalpark.com). After your outdoor excursion, meander through downtown Estes Park and its dozens of shops, galleries and eateries. Details: 1-800-443-7837, visitestespark.com

SHAMBHALA MOUNTAIN CENTER, RED FEATHER LAKES

About two hours northwest of Denver is a 600-acre mountain valley retreat offering tranquility, sure, but beautiful views as well. The center hosts more than a hundred group retreats, weekend programs and private rentals throughout the year, but visitors can also go for just a few

hours or an overnight stay in one of the comfortable, clean dormitories and eat in the communal dining area on campus. The must-see excursion is a short walk to The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, which sits in a meadow at the upper end of the center’s main valley. It’s 108 feet tall and one of the most significant examples of sacred Buddhist architecture in the country. Details: shambhalamountain.org, 1-970-881-2184

DURANGO AND SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD & MUSEUM, DURANGO

If you’ve felt like you missed out on living in the Old West, where cowboys and settlers roamed free, take a ride on the train voted “One of the World’s Top Ten Most Exciting Train Rides” by the Society of American Travel Writers in 2009. The coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive train winds through the canyons in the wilderness of the San Juan National Forest, and a variety of themed rides are offered through the year, including Blues Train, Wine and Rails, Brew Train, Fall Photographers Trains and Cowboy Poet Train. Still operated out of the original 1882 depot at 479 Main Ave. Details: 1-877-872-4607, durangotrain.com

GETAWAYS OURAY

The scenery doesn’t get much more beautiful than this tiny mountain town that’s surrounded on three sides by 13,000-foot peaks in the San Juan Mountains. It might also have something to do with much of the original Victorian structures, which have been restored and are still occupied. During the winter months, the Ouray Ice Park (CR 361, 1-970-325-4288, ourayicepark.com) becomes the go-to spot for learning ice-climbing skills, with more than 200 ice and mixed climbs, most within a 15- to 30-minute walk from downtown. Afterward, you can warm your bones in several hot springs, including the Ouray Hot Springs pool, with its different soaking sections at temperatures ranging from 88 to 106 degrees. There’s a lap swimming section, diving area and large slide (1220 Main St., 1-970-325-7073, ouray hotsprings.com). Details: 1-800-228-1876, ouraycolorado.com

BLACK HAWK, CENTRAL CITY

If you’ve got money burning a hole in your pocket, head to these gambling-friendly towns. Black Hawk, about 40 miles from downtown Denver, is the

Swimmers soak in one of the pools at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool and Fitness Center in January 2005. The tiny mountain town is surrounded on three sides by 13,000-foot peaks in the San Juan Mountains. CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE

largest gambling town in the state and home to 18 casinos. But it’s not all just about the dollar bills: There’s plenty of gold mining history to be had. Less than a mile away is Central City, and shuttle buses can help out with the trip back and forth. Much of Central City is filled with historic buildings, making for an educational stroll between games of blackjack. The town is also home to Central City

un-retire at L I BE RT Y H E IGH TS

Opera, which produces one of the state’s critically acclaimed summer music festivals, including classic opera favorites, new and rarely performed pieces and American works (124 Eureka St., 1-303-292-6700, centralcityopera.org). Details: blackhawkcolorado.com, central citycolorado.us JEN MULSON, THE GAZETTE, 636-0270, JEN.MULSON@GAZETTE.COM

CALL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY!

888-612-2908 With countless resident programs, groups and friends, the hardest part of joining our community is deciding what you want to do when you get here. Your apartment is waiting. No guarantee you’ll spend much time there.

INDEPENDENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING SKILLED NURSING | REHAB | MEMORY CARE 12105 AMBASSADOR DRIVE COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80921 WWW.SENIORLIFESTYLE.COM

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TRANSPORTATION

MICHAEL CIAGLO, THE GAZETTE

Michael Timlin, the Colorado Department of Transportation’s bus operations manager, boards the Bustang as it makes its maiden voyage in Colorado Springs on June 4.

BUSTANG

The Colorado Department of Transportation’s new interregional express bus service connects commuters from Colorado Springs to Denver, Glenwood Springs and Fort Collins, via the Interstate 25 and Interstate 70 corridors, with seven round trips between the Springs and Denver each weekday and regular stops at the city’s downtown bus terminal, at Kiowa Street and Nevada Avenue. Vehicles have free wireless Internet and restrooms and seat up to 50 passengers. A one-way ticket on the South Line costs $12; lower fares are available to seniors, children and disabled passengers and through package deals. Info and tickets: ridebustang.com

COLORADO SPRINGS AIRPORT

This city-owned airport (7770 Milton E. Proby Parkway) is served by five airlines (mostly commuter affiliates of the nation’s largest carriers), flying nonstop to 10 destinations. • Alaska Airlines: Flies daily to Seattle-Tacoma International. • Allegiant Air: Flies Thursdays and 82 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

Sundays to McCarran International in Las Vegas and Mondays and Fridays to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway. The carrier specializes in travel packages that include hotel, rental car and entertainment. • American Airlines: Flies daily to Dallas-Fort Worth International. • Delta Air Lines: Flies daily to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and Salt Lake City International. • United Airlines: Flies daily to Chicago O’Hare International, Denver International, George Bush Intercontinental in Houston and Los Angeles International. Parking: Short-term parking costs $1 for each half-hour, with a daily maximum charge of $8. Long-term parking is $1 for each hour, with a daily maximum cost of $6. Free shuttle service is available from the long-term lot to the passenger terminal. Valet parking is $14 a day. Rental car providers include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National. Transportation to and from the airport is available by limousine, bus, shuttle and taxi. The terminal: Seven restaurants and three gift shops operate in the passenger terminal, where wireless Internet service is available at no cost. Opened in 1994

with 12 gates, the airport annually sees about 650,000 passengers depart on outgoing flights. Details: flycos.coloradosprings.gov.

METRO BUSES

The city’s bus system, operated by Mountain Metropolitan Transit, runs 22 routes, which can get you to most corners of the urban area — from Briargate to SecurityWidefield. Most routes converge on the downtown transit terminal, at Kiowa Street and Nevada Avenue, at nearly the same time, which allows passengers to transfer to another line. Other transfer hubs include The Citadel mall and Pikes Peak Community College. Routes operate from about 5:30 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. There’s no service on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The basic adult fare is $1.75, and there are a variety of discounted multiple-ride plans. Details: 385-RIDE (7433), transit. coloradosprings.gov STEPHANIE EARLS, THE GAZETTE, 636-0364, STEPHANIE.EARLS@GAZETTE.COM

SPORTS The Air Force football team celebrates its 30-21 victory over Navy in October at Falcon Stadium. For Falcons schedule and ticket information, go to goair forcefalcons. com.

MICHAEL CIAGLO, THE GAZETTE

PIKES PEAK OR BUST RODEO

olorado Springs is home to the U.S. Olympic Committee and Olympic Training Center, and its interest in sporting activities is major. The Gazette and gazette. com are a good source for information on this and other events. That said, here’s a look at some of the bigger sports events, in no particular order.

AIR FORCE FOOTBALL VS. ARMY OR NAVY

This high-level event takes place in July at Norris-Penrose Event Center not far from downtown. Details: pikespeakorbust.org

OTHER CONTENDERS

THE GAZETTE

One of the other service academies comes to Falcon Stadium every fall, and the competition and pageantry in a beautiful setting are well worth a trip. Details: goairforcefalcons.com for schedule and ticket information

Steve Goeglein nears the finish line of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in June.

The two annual, regular-season games in Colorado Springs between Front Range, league and national rivals Colorado College and the University of Denver are intense, as are the crowds. The Air Force hockey program has been giving those teams all they want in recent years and plays CC annually. There is little that can top the skill and ferocity the players bring to those charged atmospheres. Details: cctigers.com, goairforcefalcons. com

is another marquee event. You can watch the race at various designated spots along the fully paved road or at the start or the finish atop the peak. Details: ppihc.com

THE BROADMOOR PIKES PEAK HILL CLIMB COLORADO COLLEGE HOCKEY INTERNATIONAL The second-longest running motorsports race in the country (behind the Indy 500) VS. DU/AIR FORCE

PIKES PEAK ASCENT AND MARATHON

These rigorous runs up (and down, in the case of the Marathon) the mountain are a sight to behold — and respect — from whatever vantage point you choose — the start, finish or somewhere along Barr Trail. Details: pikespeakmarathon.org

• Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame’s fall induction ceremony: Always a classy and well-done event that presents a wide-ranging display of the top sports figures in the area. Details: colorado springssports.org • Major high school events: Including big rivalries such as Palmer vs. Doherty, Manitou Springs and St. Mary’s, Widefield and Mesa Ridge and area playoff events. Details: The Gazette and gazette. com/sports/preps • Colorado Springs Sky Sox: Triple-A baseball games at Security Service Field, 4385 Tutt Blvd. Details: milb.com. • Major Olympic events that come to the Olympic Training Center. Area golf events including some major championships and other major qualifiers. Presidents Day and other youth hockey tournaments. Pikes Peak Invitational, Pride of the Rockies and other youth soccer tournaments. Details: gazette.com and outtherecolorado.com JIM O’CONNELL, THE GAZETTE, 636-0263, JIM.OCONNELL@GAZETTE.COM

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OUTDOORS

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

As dark clouds gather, Amiee Fooshee and her children Casey, left, and Frank explore a rock formation near the Siamese Twins in the Garden of the Gods in January 2012.

hink Garden of the Gods is the place to be? It’s pretty great, we admit, but there’s so much more. Dozens of parks, endless trails and the expansive Pike National Forest are a few of the other reasons that outdoor adventurers flock to Colorado Springs. Feeling cooped up? Head to North Cheyenne Cañon Park, Bear Creek Regional Park or Palmer Park, and within minutes, you’ll feel miles from civilization. The region’s parks are hubs for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, orienteering, hammock hangouts, adventure racing, yoga, bird watching, Frisbee golf and aimless sauntering — and with few exceptions, everyone gets along on the same turf. Many parks connect with national forest land and serve as starting points for wilder adventures, such as a 13-mile hike to Pikes Peak’s 14,115-foot summit. Urban dwellers won’t be disappointed, either. In Acacia Park downtown, kids splash around in the Uncle Wilber Fountain and bands play in a historic band shell. Mon84 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

ument Valley and America the Beautiful parks mark serene waypoints along a 35-mile commuter corridor that carries you from Monument to Fountain. In Memorial Park, you’ll find farmers markets, cricket matches, a criterium for competitive cyclists, softball league play, community events, an annual fair with carnival rides and a lavish skate park built by industry experts. The park’s Prospect Lake has swimming and a paved trail that winds through playgrounds and sandy beaches. Looking for a park you can walk to? With 135 neighborhood parks totaling 903.9 acres, chances are good there’s one just around the corner. Parks are free, requiring fees only to reserve picnic facilities, swim and participate in organized sports.

TOP SIX MUST-SEE REGIONAL FEATURES

• Garden of the Gods Park: No stay in Colorado Springs would be complete without a visit to Garden of the Gods, known

worldwide for its sculpted red sandstone towers. The park is a tourist favorite and a local picnic and hiking spot. • Ute Valley Park: Nestled in Colorado Springs’ western foothills, Ute Valley offers miles of hiking and biking in a sandy valley boasting interesting rock formations and lush meadows. • Palmer Park: It’s hard to overestimate the bounty in Palmer Park, which packs 30 miles of trails into a densely wooded refuge smack in the city’s center. Hikers, bikers and equestrians coexist peacefully on a world-class trail network. • Helen Hunt Falls: In North Cheyenne Cañon Park, these accessible waterfalls have long been a cool getaway from city life. • Bear Creek Canyon: A high-country park with steep trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Changes are coming to the trail network, but portions are expected to remain open. • The Paint Mines: Like nothing else in the region, this colorful eroded landscape offers hiking mild enough for just about everyone.

OUTDOORS

CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE

Leslie McWilliams of Colorado Springs rides through the tall sunflowers July 29 in Red Rock Canyon Open Space. The 789-acre city park sports diverse riding and many trails that connect to other popular destinations.

BIKING

In the Pikes Peak region, bikes are a way of life — used for commuting, family outings, hard-charging mountain bike sorties and weekend road rides. From Palmer Park and Red Rock Canyon to Falcon Trail and Cheyenne Cañon, there are hundreds of miles of great trails. Variety rules the day: Some trails are great for beginners, and others will test experts. Road cyclists have plenty of opportunities for great rides. Within a few miles of downtown, you can hit mountain roads in North Cheyenne Cañon and Ute Pass or head east for a taste of country roads.

FIVE GREAT RIDES

• Palmer Park: Where professional mountain bikers go to hone their chops. Trails range from Templeton, with its double-black diamond thrills, to Grandview, a great place to learn the sport. Helmets are a must. • Cheyenne Cañon: Road cyclists, test your legs and lungs with a steep climb at elevation. Mountain bikers, seek out Cap’n Jacks, a miles-long descent that threads a ridge separating Cheyenne and Bear Creek canyons before plunging through the foothills over whoop-de-doos, rollers and hucks. • Palmer Trail loop/Section 16: Ride this gem clockwise for a demanding tour of three popular trails, including the

rock-studded Section 16, a gnarly descent ranking among the region’s most technical rides. • For the intrepid, the Pikes Peak Highway packs 7,000 feet of elevation gain across 18 miles. Mountain bikers who brave the climb — or hop on a shuttle — are advised to seek out Elk Park Trail near the summit, which boasts adrenaline and technical challenge in equal measure. • Red Rock Canyon Open Space: Where all mountain bikers eventually meet. This 789-acre city park sports diverse riding and many trails that connect to other popular destinations, such as Intemann Trail, the Bear Creek Regional Park system and Section 16. Whatever your riding style, this place is not to be missed. T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

OUTDOORS Tony Padilla wets a line in the South Platte River in Elevenmile Canyon on July 3. Other fishing spots within driving distance of Colorado Springs include Rampart Reservoir, Antero Reservoir, Skaguay Reservoir and South Catamount Reservoir.

MICHAEL CIAGLO, THE GAZETTE

HIKING There’s enough diversity in Colorado Springs to easily allow year-round excursions. Just remember to hit higher elevations before they’re buried in snow. Hikers and bikers will find everything from paved urban trails connecting neighborhoods to quiet, rarely visited game tracks that lead to the middle of nowhere. Here are some of the best tracks the region has to offer: • Pikes Peak Greenway and New Santa Fe Regional Trail: Hands down the most heavily traveled trail in the city, this favorite of commuters covers 35 miles from Palmer Lake to Fountain. Use it to link up with a city park or ride the entire trail and enjoy the city’s sweep. • Red Rock Canyon Open Space: Garden of the Gods without the cars or tourists — Miles of trails plus connections to other trail systems make this a perfect hiking spot. • Eagle Peak: Venture to the Air Force Academy for this demanding, 2.5-mile round trip to the top of Eagle Peak. The 1,900-foot climb is richly rewarded with 360-degree views of Pikes Peak and northern Colorado Springs. Eagle Peak is one of the few destinations that were accessible to the general public as of mid-August, the result of heightened security on base. • Seven Bridges: This 4.75-mile out-andback leads to Jones Park, home to idyllic aspen groves and crumbling cabin ruins 86 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

— glimpses into Colorado Springs’ rugged past. While not too far from Interstate 25, you’ll feel miles away from everything. Be sure to allow extra time for exploring should you choose to check out other trails along the way. • Barr Trail: A required item on local bucket lists. This historic trail leads to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak, but be ready to work for it: It climbs a whopping 7,500 feet in 12.6 miles.

FISHING

For a place as dry as Colorado Springs, there’s no shortage of fishing spots within driving distance. Here are some recommendations: • Rampart Reservoir, Teller County: A beautiful reservoir encircled by multiuse trails and equally popular with hikers and mountain bikers. • Antero Reservoir, Park County: Offers excellent fishing opportunities for anglers. There is also boating and camping. • Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area/ Arkansas River, around Salida: This is a strong fishery and also recognized as one of the nation’s most popular locations for whitewater rafting and kayaking. • Eleven Mile State Park: This park hosts fishing tournaments year-round. • Skaguay Reservoir, near Victor: Easy access. You can walk all the way around the reservoir. Trout and northern pike. • South Catamount Reservoir: Fishing on the North Slope of Pikes Peak. It has mostly rainbows and cutthroat trout and

is known for having large Mackinaw.

WINTER FUN

Getting in your downhill runs in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains will likely require a 2-3 hour drive, but that’s not to say you’re out of luck once snow hits Pikes Peak. When enough snow accumulates, local cross-country skiers enjoy rolling tours of Fox Run Regional Park in Black Forest and on The High Drive near Bear Creek Canyon. Blaze-your-own-path adventures are likewise waiting in many other neighborhood and regional parks. The Crags Trail on Pikes Peak’s western flank is sought out by snowshoe enthusiasts, as are the trails to Pancake Rocks and Raspberry Mountain, both in Teller county. Mueller State Park in Teller County has the full range of winter activities, including snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding and wildlife-watching. Find sledding hills in Colorado Springs at Cottonwood Creek Park, at Dublin Boulevard and Rangewood Drive; Bear Creek Regional Park, at 21st Street and Rio Grande; and Monument Valley Park, either where Fontanero Street ends or just west of the Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale St. Howbert Elementary School, 1023 N. 31st St., and the Manitou Springs Library, 701 Manitou Ave., are other good locations for sledding thrills. LANCE BENZEL, THE GAZETTE, 636-0366, LANCE.BENZEL@GAZETTE.COM

ATTRACTIONS

MICHAEL CIAGLO, THE GAZETTE

Riders plummet 200 feet into Williams Canyon at speeds of 100 mph on the Terror-dactyl at Cave of the Winds in July 2014. Air Force Academy Visitor Center: Exit 156-B off Interstate 25, North Gate, 333-2025, usafa.af.mil. Free. Exhibits, theater, gift shop and nature trail to the Cadet Chapel. American Numismatic Association Money Museum: 818 N. Cascade Ave., 632-2646, money.org. Free third Saturdays monthly. The history of money, educational exhibits. Arcade Amusements Inc.: 900 block of Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, 685-9815, manitousprings pennyarcade.com. One city block of video, pinball, classic antique games, Skee-Ball, horse derby, kiddie rides.

Bear Creek Nature Center: 245 Bear Creek Road, 520-6387, elpasocountynaturecenters.com. Free. Hikes, interactive exhibits, interpretive programs, guided and self-guided tours. Blue Moon Haunted History Tours: Reservations required, 291-2409, manitoulegends.com. Walking tours through Manitou Springs, Haunted History Walking Tours, Halloween Walking Tours. Cave of the Winds: 100 Cave of the Winds Road, Manitou Springs, off U.S. 24, 685-5444, caveofthe winds.com. Terror-dactyl aerial dive, zip line, cave tours, Wind Walker Challenge Course.

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ATTRACTIONS

CAROL LAWRENCE, THE GAZETTE FILE

A pair of Incline trekkers make their way. The Manitou Incline is an old railway bed that has become a well-known and challenging trail for hikers and runners. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: 4250 Cheyenne Moun-

tain Zoo Road, 633-9925, cmzoo.org. Encounter Africa, Rocky Mountain Wild, Mountaineer Sky Ride. Zoo admission includes a visit to Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun that day. Colorado Springs and Interurban Railway: 2333 Steel Drive, 475-9508, coloradosprings trolleys.com. Project of the Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway Foundation. Tours, trolley rides, museum tours, gift shop. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center: 30 W. Dale St., 634-5583, csfineartscenter.org. Gallery tours with docents, free tactile gallery, Bemis School of Art, Taste restaurant, Museum Shop, Deco Lounge. Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum: 215 S. Tejon St., 385-5990, cspm.org. Free. History of the Pikes Peak region and local history archives. Fountain Creek Nature Center: 320 Peppergrass Lane, Fountain, 520-6745, elpasocounty naturecenters.com. Free. Nature exhibits, interpretive programs, bird watching, guided and self-guided tours. Garden of the Gods Trading Post: 324 Beckers Lane, Manitou Springs, 685-9045, gardenof thegodstradingpost.com. Southwest art gallery, Navajo weavings, gift shop, Balanced Rock Cafe. 88 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center: 1805 N. 30th St., 634-6666, gardenof gods.com. Free. Nature walks, museum exhibits, Junior Ranger program for kids, gift shop, Geo-Trekker Theater covering millions of years of local geology, $4-$6, free ages 4 and younger. Ghost Town Museum: 400 S. 21st St., 634-0696, ghosttownmuseum.com. Pieces of the past preserved in an Old West setting as it might have been. Glen Eyrie: 3820 N. 30th St., 634-0808, gleneyrie.org. Free. A ministry of The Navigators. Tours, overnight rooms in the historic castle, Queenâ€™s Tea and Royal Tea, holiday madrigal dinners. Manitou Cliff Dwellings: 10 Cliff Road, Manitou Springs, 685-5242, cliffdwellingsmuseum.com. Open daily, weather permitting; relocated Anasazi cliff dwellings, museum. Manitou Incline: 515 Ruxton Ave., Manitou Springs, visitcos.com. Old railway bed became a challenging trail for hikers and runners. It climbs 2,000-plus vertical feet in about 1 mile. It is now legal to climb. Rated difficult. Free, but you must pay for nearby parking, walk from downtown or take a free shuttle from downtown Manitou Springs.

JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE

A young zoo visitor feeds an Australian parakeet during a July visit to the Australia Walkabout area at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

ATTRACTIONS

MICHAEL CIAGLO, THE GAZETTE

Third-grade students from the GLOBE Charter School listen to stories about flying bombers during World War II as they tour the National Museum of World War II Aviation in 2013. Manitou Springs Heritage Center: 517 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, 685-1454, manitouspringsheritagecenter.org. Free. Popular exhibits include the history of the Manitou Incline. May Natural History Museum: 710 Rock Creek Canyon Road, 576-0450, coloradospringsbugmuseum.com. More than 7,000 unusual, rare, exotic, tropical insects, butterflies and bugs. McAllister House Museum: 423 N. Cascade Ave., 635-7925, mcallisterhouse.org. English-style cottage built in 1873 as the home of the Henry McAllister family. Major McAllister was influential in the founding of Colorado Springs. Michael Garman Museum and Gallery: 2418 W. Colorado Ave., 471-9391, michaelgarman.com. Free. Sculptures include cowboys, firefighters, soldiers and aviators. Tours, reservations required. Miramont Castle Museum: 9 Capitol Hill Ave., Manitou Springs, 685-1011, miramontcastle.org. Built in 1895 as a private mansion, the museum offers a look at how life might have been in early Manitou Springs, including the volunteer fire department’s display, “Hose, Hook and Ladder Company,” a tea room and military exhibit. Tours and special events. National Fallen Firefighters Memorial: Memorial Park, 1605 E. Pikes Peak Ave. Walls with the names of union firefighters who died in the line of duty. The newest names are added each September. National Museum of World War II Aviation: 755 Aviation Way, 637-7559, worldwariiaviation.org. Working museum with multiple aircraft being restored. Tours by docents.

THE GAZETTE

Members of the IAFF Honor Guard hold flags for firefighters who were lost in the line of duty during the annual IAFF Fallen Firefighters Memorial ceremony at Memorial Park in September 2013. T H E G A Z E T T E / 2 015 D I S C O V E R

ATTRACTIONS

CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE

The Pikes Peak Cog Railway train leaves the summit as another storm approaches in May. The railway travels to the top of Pikes Peak multiple times daily, weather permitting. Old Colorado City Historical Society & History Center: 1 S. 24th St., 636-1225, occhs.org. Free. Walking tours by reservation, research library, bookstore, special events. Olympic Complex: One Olympic Plaza, 1750 E. Boulder St., 632-5551, teamusa.org. Free tours. Olympic Training Center, gift shop, Hall of Fame. Penrose Heritage Museum: 11 Lake Circle, The Broadmoor hotel, 577-7065, elpomar.org. Free. Horse-drawn and motorized carriages, The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race cars, presidential carriages, Native American artifacts, antique firearms and vintage riding equipment. Peterson Air & Space Museum: 150 E. Ent Ave., Peterson AFB, 556-4915, petemuseum.org. Free. The aviation and space history of this region. Aircraft, missiles, Cold War exhibits, satellites, World War II displays. Pikes Peak Cog Railway: 515 Ruxton Ave., Manitou Springs, 685-5401, cograilway.com. Multiple times daily, weather permitting. Reservations required. The railway trains travel to the summit of Pikes Peak, elevation 14,115 feet. Pikes Peak Highway: U.S. 24 west to Cascade, 385-7325, visitcos.com. A 19-mile paved toll road to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak. Open yearround, weather permitting.

90 2 0 1 5 D I S C O V E R / T H E G A Z E T T E

A rhythmic gymnast competes in an event at the Olympic Training Center in February 2014.

THE GAZETTE

ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy: 101 Pro Rodeo Drive, 528-4764, prorodeohalloffame.com. Multimedia presentations, historical cowboy gear and clothing, rodeo Hall of Champions, memorabilia, trophies, sculpture garden, Western art and retired rodeo animals. Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site: 3105 Gateway Road, 578-6777, rockledgeranch.com. Living history museum of the Pikes Peak region. Costumed interpreters tell the stories and demonstrate work, tools and abilities of people through four time periods.

ATTRACTIONS

JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE

Rylen Monahan looks up at the Tylosaurus proriger, a mosasaur, flying over his head at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park in August. He and his family were visiting from Iowa. Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center: 201 S. Fairview St., Woodland Park, 686-1820, rmdrc.com. Dinosaur and other prehistoric fossils, educational programs, tours. Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame: 5867 N. Nevada Ave., 487-8005, themotorcyclemuseum.com. Free. Collection of motorcycles dating from 1913. Motorcycle memorabilia. Serenity Springs Wildlife Center: 24615 Scott Road, Calhan, 347-9200, serenitysprings wildlife.org. Tours available most weekends; call for reservations. Big cats and exotic animals. Seven Falls: 2850 S. Cheyenne Canyon Road, 476-6708, sevenfalls.com. Seven cascading waterfalls dropping 181 feet into a canyon, Restaurant 1858, gift shops, walking and hiking trails, Broadmoor Soaring Adventure zip lines. Simpich Showcase: 2413 W. Colorado Ave., 465-2492, simpich.com. Free; tickets required for theater performance. Simpich character doll figures displayed in more than 50 diorama settings. Puppet theater productions. Space Foundation Discovery Center: 4425 Arrowswest Drive, 576-8000, spacefoundation. org. Educational center developing and promoting an understanding of space. Classes, special events, teacher training. Starsmore Discovery Center: 2120 S. Cheyenne Canyon Road, 385-6086, parks.colorado springs.gov/starsmore. Free. Self-guided hikes, children’s programs, nature programs. Venetucci Farm: 5210 S. U.S. 85, 391-8102, ppcf.org. Free. Historic family farm now maintained by Pikes Peak Community Foundation. Farmers market, urban homesteading, classes, community supported agriculture, pumpkin patch tradition. Western Museum of Mining & Industry: 225 North Gate Blvd., 488-0880, wmmi.org. The history of Western mining, mining equipment and demonstrations, guided tours, special events. World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame: 20 First St., 635-5200, www.worldskating museum.org. Honoring the greatest in figure skating. “Ice Follies” and “Olympic Gold” exhibits. COMPILED BY JENNIFER MULSON, THE GAZETTE, 636-0270, JEN.MULSON@GAZETTE.COM

JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE

Seven Falls features seven cascading waterfalls dropping 181 feet into a canyon.

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