Four Glenwood Springs Landmarks Celebrate Milestone Birthdays This Summer

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. May 15, 2013

Glenwood Springs, CO - May 15, 2013 - The original cornerstones of Glenwood Springs tourism are still going strong after more than a century of welcoming guests: the Hotel Colorado, the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, the Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves, and Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and Historic Fairy Caves. Each of these venerated attractions is observing a milestone birthday in 2013 and the party plans include a variety of special events to celebrate the occasion.

“With four Glenwood Springs landmarks each heralding a major milestone, this summer is shaping up to be one of the most memorable and certainly one for the history books,” said Lisa Langer, vice president of tourism marketing for the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association. “For our visitors it means there's more to do in Glenwood Springs this summer than ever before.”

Three of the four historic properties are located in close proximity to one another; in fact, at one time they operated as part of a single entity featuring the hot springs amenities of the pool and the vapor caves, accompanied by world-class lodging. Under the direction of entrepreneur Walter Devereux, the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool was the first to be completed and opened to the public in 1888, but it wasn't until the Hotel Colorado opened five years later that Devereux felt his mineral hot springs resort was complete and ready to present to an international audience. Eventually the properties were sold off individually, but well over a century later they continue to work together offering many of the same amenities they did at the turn of the 20th century: world-famous hot springs, rare underground steam baths and remarkable accommodations.

As the most senior attraction, Glenwood Hot Springs is the belle of the ball and will be playing host to two special events. The first is intertwined with Strawberry Days, the town's annual celebration June 21 - 23. In honor of the landmark resort's quasquicentennial, the theme for this year's festival and parade is “125 Years of Glenwood Hot Springs.” The parade will include decorative floats, especially the Glenwood Hot Springs' entry designed to reflect the resort's storied past. Dating back 116 years is the tradition of selecting a Strawberry Days queen. The custom continues, only this year the fanfare surrounding the crowning of Miss Strawberry Days will take place at Glenwood Hot Springs, June 20 from 5 - 8 p.m. This event returns to Glenwood Hot Springs, its original venue, after more than a 20 year absence. Taking the party to the Main Stage on Saturday, June 22 at Sayre Park, the central location for Strawberry Days, Glenwood Hot Springs will be sponsoring Woodie and the Longboards, a Beach Boys tribute band.

The second special event takes place on Glenwood Hot Springs' actual birthday, the Fourth of July. It was on July 4, 1888 that the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool first welcomed visitors to swim and soak, relax and rejuvenate in the mineral hot springs water. To celebrate this auspicious day, the resort will be serving cake and ice cream, orchestrating a Happy Birthday sing-along and photo shoot, and giving away beach balls and other prizes throughout the day.

Also on the party circuit is the historic Hotel Colorado. This grand dame of Glenwood Springs accommodations was once known as the Little White House of the West. President Theodore Roosevelt was an avid outdoorsman who liked to hunt in the surrounding mountains; while he was in residence, the hotel became the unofficial seat of government. Another famous guest was Margaret Brown, known more famously as “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.” The suite in which she stayed is dedicated to her memory and filled with memorabilia from the RMS Titanic and personal photos donated by her family. The Hotel Colorado will be celebrating its big birthday in June with an outdoor barbeque in the Courtyard Cafe every Friday from noon to 9 p.m. Look for live music by a variety of local bands and chef-prepared specialties. The courtyard is among Glenwood's most pleasant gathering places for outdoor dining. Lush landscaping, a fountain filled with goldfish and fine food amid a timeless setting provide all the fixings for a memorable night out.

For party favors that refresh and rejuvenate, head to one of Glenwood Springs' most distinctive attractions. The Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves is one of the few natural steam caves in North America. The Ute Indians were well-acquainted with the healing power of the vapor-filled caves long before Captain Richard Sopris 'discovered' the area in the mid-1800s. The original Ute cave was located on the south side of the river and was used until 1887, when it was sealed over by the railroad. Vapor Cave No.3, as it was known, was developed along with the Glenwood Hot Springs and the Hotel Colorado in the late 1880s. At that time men and women bathers had separate bathing times and, for modesty's sake, wore heavy linen bags with a drawstring at the neck. In addition to steaming in the caves, visitors today can enjoy spa treatments that include massage, body scrubs and wraps, mineral baths and facials as well as hair and nail salon services. In honor of its 120th year, the Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves will be celebrating with massage giveaways, salon specials and a historic photo exhibit.

Rebranded as Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park a decade ago, the Western-themed park is home to thrill rides including the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster, the Giant Canyon Swing and Colorado's longest Alpine Coaster, among others. Dining, kid-friendly attractions and old-time photos round out the exciting offerings. But as long ago as 1895, visitors were making the trek up Iron Mountain to explore the underground world of the Fairy Caves. This season the park is celebrating the grand opening of the newly expanded Historic Fairy Caves Tour, which includes sections of the cave that have never been open to the public. The new 50-minute guided walking tour is twice the length of the original cave tour and includes a stop at Exclamation Point overlooking the Roaring Fork Valley. The rich colors in the ceiling of the Register Room and the pendants, boxwork formations and stalactites covered in cave popcorn are visible only on this tour. Reflecting pools provide a unique perspective of the formations. The 10th anniversary celebration is scheduled to kick off on Memorial Weekend with the season's first Music on the Mountain concert on Friday, May 24. Guests can ride the tram and listen to live music by Doctor Robert, a Beatles tribute band, with the donation of a can of food for the LIFT-UP Food Pantry.

Join these Glenwood Springs landmarks for the parties of the century. For more information and reservations, please visit the Glenwood Springs website.

About Glenwood Springs
Glenwood Springs is located between Aspen and Vail, 165 miles west of Denver and 90 miles east of Grand Junction on I-70 off Exit 116. Glenwood Springs is home to many attractions and amenities including Hanging Lake, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Glenwood Hot Springs, Yampah Vapor Caves and Sunlight Mountain Resort. For more information about Glenwood Springs, Colorado, call 970-945-6589 or go to http://www.visitglenwood.com/. A complete press kit, press releases and downloadable photos are available at http://www.visitglenwood.com/media.