Everything Idaho Springs is known for
Songs written about the waterways and highways that run near Idaho Springs.
The first major gold strike in Colorado, where John Gregory's 1859 discovery in Gregory Gulch launched the Pikes Peak Gold Rush and built a mining town that called itself the Richest Square Mile on Earth.
An engineering marvel of the 1880s, the Georgetown Loop climbed 638 feet in elevation over just two miles of track by looping over itself on a 300-foot-long, 95-foot-high steel bridge called the Devil's Gate High Bridge.
William F. 'Buffalo Bill' Cody, the most famous showman of the American frontier, is buried atop Lookout Mountain near Golden, Colorado, a site he chose himself for its commanding view of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains.
The world's only naturally occurring acoustically perfect amphitheatre, carved between two 300-foot sandstone monoliths near Morrison, Colorado, where every major artist from The Beatles to U2 has played.
24 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.
Imagine a river of gold flowing beneath your feet! That's essentially what the Argo Tunnel was designed to do, draining a fortune in gold from the surrounding mountains. Construction began in 1893 and continued until…
Imagine digging a 4-mile tunnel through the mountains to drain and access mines; the Argo Tunnel is an engineering marvel of the gold rush. The Argo Tunnel, originally called the Newhouse Tunnel, stretches over 4 miles…
Pull over for a drink, and maybe catch a glimpse of a ghost! The Teller House is more than just a historic hotel; it's a place steeped in legend. Built in 1872, the Teller House quickly became a lavish social hub in…
Hold on tight; you're about to drive through a place once called the Richest Square Mile on Earth! This is the Central City/Black Hawk Historic District, a preserved window into Colorado's gold rush days. Back in the…
Pull over for a second and imagine the echoes of arias and applause! This isn't just any building; it's the Central City Opera House, a place that once pulsed with the energy of Colorado's gold rush era. Built in 1878,…
The first major gold strike in Colorado, where John Gregory's 1859 discovery in Gregory Gulch launched the Pikes Peak Gold Rush and built a mining town that called itself the Richest Square Mile on Earth.
Imagine Colorado's second governor, John Evans, escaping the pressures of Denver for a mountain retreat right here. This is the former Evans–Elbert Ranch, a 300-acre spread he built with his son-in-law, Samuel Hitt…
Pull over near the Hotel de Paris in Georgetown and you'll find yourself staring at a meticulously preserved slice of the 19th century! This isn't just a building; it's a time capsule from the Colorado Silver Boom. In…
An engineering marvel of the 1880s, the Georgetown Loop climbed 638 feet in elevation over just two miles of track by looping over itself on a 300-foot-long, 95-foot-high steel bridge called the Devil's Gate High Bridge.
Imagine striking it rich beyond your wildest dreams – that's the story of Georgetown and Silver Plume. In the 1860s, silver was discovered in these mountains, sparking a boom. Miners and prospectors flooded the area,…
Hold on tight, because right here, you're about to witness a feat of 19th-century engineering that tamed the Rockies! The Georgetown Loop Railroad is more than just a scenic ride; it's a testament to the silver boom and…
Pull over here for a second! This tiny park packs a punch, offering a breathtaking view and a connection to a powerful Ute leader. Colorow Point Park is named for Chief Colorow, a prominent figure in the Ute Nation. He…
Welcome to Eldora, or as the locals still call it, Happy Valley! This mountain hamlet transformed from a bustling gold mining camp to a beloved ski destination. Gold was discovered here in 1875, and a town quickly…
William F. 'Buffalo Bill' Cody, the most famous showman of the American frontier, is buried atop Lookout Mountain near Golden, Colorado, a site he chose himself for its commanding view of the Great Plains and the Rocky…
Pull over here, you've got to see this! This isn't just any hotel; it's a direct link to the Colorado gold rush. Back in 1898, when Eldora was booming with miners hoping to strike it rich, this hotel was built. Imagine…
Step back in time in this historic district, once a bustling mining camp known as Eldorado Camp. In the late 1800s, gold fever struck, and Eldora, originally called 'Happy Valley,' boomed as miners flocked here hoping…
Step back in time at this 1867 stone hotel, a relic from Golden's early days as a bustling frontier town. The Astor House was built in 1867. It was known by several names, including Castle Rock House and Hotel Boston,…
Imagine a railroad clinging to the side of a mountain, braving blizzards and treacherous terrain. That was Rollins Pass. In the early 1900s, David Moffat decided to build a railroad directly west from Denver. The…
The world's only naturally occurring acoustically perfect amphitheatre, carved between two 300-foot sandstone monoliths near Morrison, Colorado, where every major artist from The Beatles to U2 has played.
Imagine soldiers training right here, preparing for duty. Camp George West, established for the Colorado National Guard, was a crucial training ground, especially for rifle practice. While artillery practice was…
This unassuming mound of earth and stone holds a secret: it's an ammunition bunker from World War II. Back in 1940, as the world braced for war, this igloo-shaped bunker was built at Camp George West. Its thick stone…
Pull over here for a minute; this unassuming spot holds clues to Colorado's earliest inhabitants. The LoDaisKa Site, tucked into that rockshelter, was excavated in the 1930s. Archaeologists found evidence of human…
Hungry for history? This isn't just a restaurant; it's a carefully crafted tribute to Colorado's past. The Fort, built by Sam Arnold starting in 1961, was inspired by Bent's Old Fort, a vital trading post on the Santa…
Imagine a train chugging along these very hills, connecting remote mining towns! That was the Switzerland Trail, originally a narrow-gauge railroad. Around the turn of the 1900s, the Greeley, Salt Lake and Pacific…