![]() ![]() During the initial 10 years, we developed a track record of participating in and supporting community projects and events, such as restoration of the Eastern Gateway Arch, rehabilitation of Mansions Park, installation of over 30 Historic Interpretive Plaques throughout town, and placement of the memorial in Crystal Valley Cemetery for Emma Crawford. Before opening the Center Historic Manitou was operated by a board of three persons–Jean Garrity, Deborah Harrison, and Michelle Anthony. The intent of the organization is to educate citizens and visitors in order to increase appreciation and understanding of this unique community. Our mission is to collect, preserve, research, and interpret the history and culture of Manitou Springs and the Pikes Peak Region. The new Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center is also set to open in June.Historic Manitou Springs, Inc., is an educational non-profit based in Manitou Springs, Colorado, at the foot of Pikes Peak which operates the Manitou Springs Heritage Center and was formed in 1997 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. People can purchase tickets to ride the railway train starting May 20. "Hopefully long after I'm gone, people will still be taking their kids up Pikes Peak and saying this is a great place to be." "The railroad has been part of Manitou for about 130 years, and now with the improvements they've put in, it should be good for another 100 years," Graham said. The city has also set up shuttles to transport people from parking lots east of downtown Manitou Springs to the railway station.ĭespite potential traffic issues, Graham said the train's legacy in Manitou Springs is something worth celebrating. Now, buses can fully turn around instead of having to do a four-point turn, said Johnston. To prepare, the station's parking lot has been expanded. The railway station is up a narrow two-lane corridor, said Graham, next to the Manitou Springs Incline, the city's other major tourist attraction. Spacing and parking are at the forefront of Graham's mind. "I kind of feel sometimes that we're in danger of being loved to death." ![]() "The last several months, the weekends have been extraordinarily busy," Graham said. Manitou Springs Mayor John Graham said while the railway is one of the region's biggest draws, the city is concerned with traffic and mobility, especially given the uptick in visitors the city's seen recently. The cog railway is requiring visitors to wear a mask on the train, and the city of Manitou Springs has also kept its mask mandate in place. "Predicting demand, you obviously do it for business planning purposes, but to say that anybody can predict demand is just foolish." "If we had been trying to reopen last year, we would have been in a world of hurt," Johnston said. He said the railway had up to 300,000 visitors back in 2017, but it's hard to predict what will happen this year as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease around the state. ![]() "People waving to all of us on the platform as the train departed, it was really just like, we've done it," Johnston said. Johnston said the railway had a test run this past weekend with Broadmoor employees ahead of the opening. "Seeing people come through the doors, and have for most people a once-in-a-lifetime experience of taking the cog railway to Pikes Peak." "It's just exciting to move out of a project phase and into an operations phase," Johnston said. He said he's hoping with the demand for travel destinations, the railway will see large numbers of visitors over the next few months. The railway invested $100 million in new tracks and cars, shipped in from Switzerland, to carry folks up to the summit of Pikes Peak.Īssistant general manager Ted Johnston said it's one of only a few cog railways in the United States. The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway has finally opened to the public after closing in 2017 for improvements. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |