What's New in the Pikes Peak Region for 2008
What’s New and Exciting in the Pikes Peak Region for 2008!
If you have visited us before, get ready to be wowed by some new and exciting changes!
If this is your first time visiting us, you’ve certainly picked a wonderful year to come visit our region,
for we have more now than ever to offer!Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Opens Rocky Mountain Wild
As springtime graces the sides of Cheyenne Mountain this year, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will open
a new state-of-the-art exhibit complex, Rocky Mountain Wild (RMW), to the public.
The ambitious endeavor connects Zoo visitors with the wild heritage of Colorado - the Rocky
Mountains and its wildlife. With state-of-the-art exhibit space for animals such as moose, mountain
lions, North American river otters, lynx, bald eagles and grizzly bears, this signature complex is
accessible to all who visit. As you approach your journey through Rocky Mountain Wild, the Lodge
at Moose Lake welcomes you as the gateway to the animals and the stories of the North American
Rockies. This multi-purpose facility has the ability to host functions from 30 to 300 people with its
4,200 square foot main hall. The second story of the building features The Loft, a room full of fun,
intrigue and education concerning the people and creatures of the Rocky Mountains.
Your journey into the new exhibit complex begins with an unforgettable encounter with the largest
and perhaps most unusual looking species of wildlife in Colorado, the moose. Moose Lake, a
mountainside wetland area at the base of Rocky Mountain Wild, will enable you to nearly get
nose-to-nose with this enormous animal as you stand on the elevated walkway at water’s edge.
The exhibit also has a large wooded dry land area with a special holding building to shelter moose
from extreme weather. Although a strong barrier is required for the exhibit, the design of the fencing
around Moose Lake and the piney woods does not hinder visitors’ sight lines. Adding to the premiere
excitement of Rocky Mountain Wild is the Memorial Day weekend opening of the Sky Ride at
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. This chairlift-style open-air ride will transport you high over Zoo.
For more information, please visit www.cmzoo.org
Pikes Peak Heritage Center at Cripple Creek – Opening Summer, 2008
Cripple Creek, CO ---In the late 1800s, thousands of fortune-seekers made their way to Pikes Peak.
Gold had been discovered, and that discovery started the country’s last great gold rush. Now, more
than a century later, visitors to the region can make their own discoveries the Pikes Peak Heritage
Center at Cripple Creek. This new state-of-the-art interpretive center overlooks the town of Cripple
Creek. Visitors to the Pikes Peak Heritage Center can learn about gold mining yesterday and today,
geologic and human history, view displays that showcase the unique mountain environment, and
learn about regional recreational activities and attractions. This 11,600-square-foot facility is built
in a style that is reminiscent of historic Cripple Creek and features interactive displays that allow
visitors to immerse themselves in the past glory days of this world-famous gold mining camp, when
it was a rambunctious community of miners, ministers and madams. Other displays will showcase
captivating historic photography, flora and fauna, the area’s world-class dinosaur discoveries and
Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain. For more information, visit www.cripplecreekgov.com
or call (719) 689-2502.
United States Air Force Academy
It is known to many that the United Air Force Academy lives in Colorado Springs,
Colorado, but many may not be aware of the unique opportunities the Academy
offers visitors to the region. With spectacular Pikes Peak in the near distance, visit
the beautiful USAFA Cadet Chapel. You may be able to walk on the Terrazzo and
check out the cadet dorms, with an active service member. It’s an a-frame metal
church with gorgeous stained glass and a magnificent pipe organ. A must experience
if you’re in the Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak Region are. Tour guides are full
of informative details. The USAFA is one of the most beautiful university campuses
of the service academies. For more information, visit www.usafa.af.milGarden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center
Get an up-close look at how those red rocks got there in their exclusive new
HD Theatre show, an exciting, entertaining and educational 12-minute multimedia
adventure. This stunning movie brings the Park and its history to life using aerial
footage, time-lapse photography and stellar panoramic scenes projected onto four
screens, including one giant 20x30-foot screen complete with laser lights. The movie
runs every 20 minutes in the summer and every 30 minutes in the winter. It's an HD
experience unlike anything in the entire country ($5 for adults and $2 for children.)
For more information, visit www.gardenofgods.com or call 719.634.6666Bijou Bridge Update
The Bijou Bridge is NOW OPEN and BETTER THAN EVER! A new, wider, prettier Bijou
Street bridge is now reopened for commuter traffic, allowing easy and convenient
travel for vehicles, including oversized vehicles and RVs. The long-awaited reopening
comes nine months after the old bridge was closed and demolished as part of the
Interstate 25 COSMIX road renovation project. For more information, please visit
www.cosmixproject.com
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