Summer Tour #1 - Redstone Castle
2024-07-01 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Denver)
TOUR UPDATE: THIS TOUR IS NOW FULL AND SIGN UP SHEETS ARE INACTIVE. THIS INCLUDES THE WAITLIST AS WELL.
Check in at 6:00 p.m and tours begin at 6:30pm
First Congregational Church at 101 Pawnee Avenue, Manitou Springs (just up the hill from the former Stagecoach Inn at the traffic light.) Please wear closed-toe shoes.
This spectacular home was built by William A. Davis on the slope of Iron Mountain in Manitou Springs. He and his brother planned Manitou Terrace, a large housing development that never materialized, of which the castle was to be the model home. The castle itself was built from 1890-1892, of Manitou red sandstone in a graceful design with a tower on the northeast and a swell front on the north.
John Chapman did the stone work, and Sam Yarnell did the wood work. Both men invested in the surrounding land of the proposed elite development. The house was completed at a cost of approximately $10,000 ($316,000 today). The original tract of land contained about 80 acres and included the summit of Iron Mountain. The house was built to attract attention to the Davis brothers’ subdivision, but no lots were sold. W. A. Davis lived in the castle a while, but there were long periods of time when the castle stood vacant. It was believed by many to have been haunted from the beginning.
The castle was leased in 1908 by Alice Crawford Snow, who was an actress, spiritualist, and medium. Seances were held in the castle a couple of times a week, and reportedly they would have tables and chairs moving all over the place, and all sorts of sounds could be heard coming from different places. The haunts add to the glamour and curiosity of the stone castle and Red Mountain, and there are spectacular views of all of Manitou Springs, the Garden of the Gods, bright sunlight, and gorgeous sunrises.
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HPA Coordinator: Cathy Mundy
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Redstone Castle Tour Guide: Dan Stuart, Castle Owner
Dan has owned the Redstone Castle for approximately 12 years, and he has lived in Manitou Springs since 1979. He is a former mayor of Manitou Springs and is the current president of the AdAmAn Club. We will tour the castle in groups of 15-20.
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Directions: Take Manitou Avenue west to the stoplight at Pawnee Avenue. Turn left, then make another turn left just before the First Congregational Church at 103 Pawnee Ave. Turn right into the church parking lot. We will check in and carpool from the parking lot up to the castle.
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Disabled Access: yes, 1st floor only
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Bathrooms: yes; not handicapped accessible
RESERVE HERE – IMPORTANT: ONE NAME ONLY PER RESERVATION ENTRY. TO ADD ANOTHER PERSON (e.g. a spouse or friend), CLICK +ADD GUEST AND AN ADDITIONAL RESERVATION BOX WILL APPEAR.

Summer Tours Series - #3 Middle Shooks Run
2024-07-10 18:30 - 19:30
Please note, only one guest per ticket request submission.
Middle Shooks Run: Walking Tour of the North Junior High School and Its Immediate Neighborhood
Directions/ Parking: On-street parking is available on both sides of East Yampa between Corona Street and El Paso Street
This will be a walk through early city history as we venture around the neighborhood that predated the 1923 North Junior High School, one of three built with proceeds of a School District 11 bond issue. A variety of housing combined with a local market displays the history of an early residential suburb of Colorado Springs. The route will include several points of historical significance.
Tour Guide: Tim Scanlon, local historian
HPA Coordinator: Al Rohr
Registration begins: 6:00pm
Disabled Access: Walk will be mostly level, no steps
Restrooms: None available

Summer Tours Series - #4 Old Colorado City; Saints and Sinners
2024-08-02 18:30 - 19:30
THIS TOUR IS AT CAPACITY. WE ARE ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS FOR A WAIT LIST.
Directions/ Parking: Old Colorado City Historical Society, 1 South 24th Street, parking available by the building, in free public parking lots or on-street.
Colorado City has always been a city of diversity. Partial annexation into Colorado Springs left a mix of annexed and non-annexed parts to Old Colorado City. Colorado Avenue had upstanding businesses on the north side and saloons on the south side. Washington Avenue, which became Cucharras Avenue, had the most diverse people you will find anywhere – saints and sinners alike. This walking tour will take you through both sides of the story of Washington (the red-light district), and Cucharras (a religious school). You will learn the history of the seedier side to the pious side of one street that held two names and two diverse personalities. We will look at photographs of how it was and tell humorous stories from the ladies of the evening to the students of a strict religious school. We will talk about the buildings that remain and their purposes throughout the life of Old Colorado City and the west side. Bring your walking shoes and a water bottle. Expect to walk about an hour. The museum will be open before/ after tours.
Please note, one guest per sign up is requested in order to assure proper number of attendees.
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Tour Guides: Susie Schorsch, Leo Knudson, Roberta Hardy, members of the Old Colorado City Historical Society
HPA Coordinator: Ann Brock
Registration begins: 6:00pm
Disabled Access: Yes
Restrooms: In Old Colorado City Historical Society Building or in Bancroft Park

REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED! Summer Tours Series - #7 Pikeview Quarry
2024-08-05 18:30 - 19:30
Please note, only one guest per ticket request submission.
The Pikeview Quarry opened in 1905 and has provided limestone for numerous downtown buildings, the Air Force Academy and I-25 along with providing gravel and concrete for local construction. We will learn about its history and its important role as a fire break during the Waldo Canyon fire in 2012. Reclamation plans are underway to develop it into a world class bike park and to turn over to the city.
Directions/ Parking: Northwest Colorado Springs, Rockrimmon area. Go north on Centennial Boulevard past Vindicator Drive to the 4-way stop at Allegheny Drive and turn left. Follow Allegheny until you come to Pikeview Quarry Road. Bear to your left and proceed onto quarry land. Parking assistance will be provided from there.
BBQ dinner at 5:30 PM (pre-register for both @ www.hpasprings.org/events). Please bring your own lawn chair. No charge for the dinner, which is optional. The quarry needs an accurate number for ordering food. Register online separately for the tour. Check-in begins at 6:00 for a maximum of 60 on the tour.
Our attire for the evening should be long pants, long sleeves, and sturdy closed-toe shoes or hiking boots. Hiking poles are also suggested. Bring water and expect wind and dust.
For those who are interested, there will be ATVs to take people on a 30-minute loop ride through the quarry. The views of the city are beautiful from any vantage point. We may get lucky and see some of the herd of 65 bighorn sheep who live up at the top of the quarry.
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Tour Guides: Jerry Schnabel (there may be a few others, TBD)
HPA Coordinator: Carol Beans
Registration begins at: 6:00pm
Disabled Access: All areas may not be accessible Restrooms: Available at the Scale House
