Discover the Rockies: Top 12 Entertaining and Surprising Facts About Colorado You Can't-Miss
1. Great Sand Dunes National Park: A Colossal Sandbox
If you think your life's a beach, imagine living in a colossal sandbox: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado boasts the tallest sand dunes in North America, reaching a staggering 750 feet (229 m) and covering around 30 sq mi (78 km2) with over 1.2 cubic miles (5 billion cubic meters) of sand — making it the ultimate destination for sandboarding and sandsledding enthusiasts.
Source => en.wikipedia.org
2. Colorado: The Ale-ivation State
In Colorado, they like to call a spade a shovel - they even decided to create their own "ale-ivation": Colorado has 440 craft breweries, making it 5th in the U.S. for brewery operations per year, and is the leading state for craft beer production with over 3.5 million barrels produced annually!
Source => brewersassociation.org
Did you know that New Mexico has a massive missile testing range where space cowboys ride rocket-horse hybrids? Discover more fascinating facts in our fun article!
=> Fun Facts about New-Mexico-For-Kids
3. Batty Pest Control: Colorado's Bat Study
Why did the bat apply for a job in pest control? Because it's batty good at it: Colorado is studying its 18 species of bats, who help the agricultural industry by eating metric tons of insects, as they're vulnerable to a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome, and using tiny radio transmitters to track them without harm.
Source => cpw.state.co.us
4. Colorado's "Switchback-tacular" Byways
If you're tired of the same old roads leading to yawn-inducing vistas, buckle up for a wild ride through Colorado's breathtaking "switchback-tacular" byways: The state boasts 26 Scenic and Historic Byways, 13 of which are also federally designated America's Byways, offering spectacular views of glacier-carved valleys, rocky peaks, and even mountain goats and bighorn sheep playing peek-a-boo! Fan-favorite Mount Evans Road, in particular, will leave you high and breathless, reaching a staggering 14,130 feet above sea level, but be wary of those guardrail-free switchbacks – trust us, they're not kidding around!
Source => colorado.com
5. Fairplay: The Real-Life South Park
In a small town where the air is thin and the gold was once thick, pack a burro and channel your inner Cartman: Fairplay, Colorado, founded in 1859 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, sits at an impressive elevation of 9,953 feet, hosts the annual Burro Days festival – a celebration of its mining past with a 29-mile burro race – and is the true-life inspiration behind the South Park animated series, albeit with fewer foul-mouthed fourth graders and slightly more rustic charm.
Source => en.wikipedia.org
6. Frozen Dead Guy Days: Coffin Races & Polar Plunges
In Colorado, folks race coffins and "chill" like no other: The state hosts the annual Frozen Dead Guy Days festival in Estes Park, where wacky events such as coffin races, a polar plunge, and a frostbite fashion show steal the show. This icy-cool celebration has been going strong for over two decades, welcoming thousands of brave souls to freeze their funny bones off each year.
Source => frozendeadguydays.com
7. Butterfly Pavilion: A Lepidoptera Lover's Paradise
Butterflies, bees, and tarantulas, oh my! Step right into the marvelous cornucopia of creepy crawlies and fluttery friends, for a Lepidoptera lover's paradise awaits: Colorado's Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster is the first-ever standalone nonprofit invertebrate zoo, proudly showcasing exhibits like the buzzworthy Pollinator Place and the tropical haven of Wings of the Tropics, complete with free-flying butterflies. And, with outdoor gardens catering to pollinators aplenty, this enthralling attraction is a must-see for anyone wishing to get up close and personal with the colorful cast of the invertebrate community.
Source => butterflies.org
8. Snowmastodon Site: Ice Age Discovery
Talk about stumbling upon some old bones: In 2010, Colorado construction workers were left "mammothly" surprised after uncovering nearly 5,000 Ice Age bones, including mastodons, bison, American camels, and even a giant ground sloth! The Snowmastodon Site is now considered one of the most significant discoveries of its kind, giving us a snapshot of a glacial lake and wetlands that existed 140,000 to 55,000 years ago on Snowmass Mountain.
Source => 5280.com
9. Colorado's Peak-curious Playground: The Fourteeners
If you're "peak-curious," Colorado is the ultimate playground: The state boasts 53 peaks towering over 14,000 feet, known as the Colorado Fourteeners and attracting hordes of hikers and climbers. With Mount Elbert as the tallest at 14,433 feet, and the Sawatch Range hosting the most peaks, reaching the summit has become quite the popular pastime - just remember to pack your weather smarts and proper gear for a safe, knee-slapping good time!
Source => peakbagger.com
10. North Dakota vs. California: Golf Course Championship
If the "hole in one" state had a championship, North Dakota would surely be the Tiger Woods of states, while California would be considered... well, truly below par: North Dakota boasts a staggering number of golf courses, having one golf course for every 5,468 people, while California sticks to its laid-back style with only one golf course for every 32,679 residents, according to data from the 2010 census and golflink.com.
Source => golfblogger.com
11. Colorado: Most Likely to Get High...in Elevation!
If Colorado were the popular kid in high school, it would have definitely won the yearbook award for "Most Likely to Get High...in Elevation!": Colorado flaunts the highest mean elevation among U.S. states at an impressive 6,800 feet (2,073 meters), along with being home to the lofty Mount Elbert of the Rocky Mountains, towering at 14,440 feet (4,401 meters). Sorry, Grand Canyon, we know you're deep, but you'll have to downsize your ambitions from your home in Arizona to compete with this mountainous marvel!
Source => worldatlas.com
12. Legal Rainwater Collection: Colorado's Water Saving Dance
Ever felt like doing the rain dance to fill your buckets of water savings? Well, Colorado's got your back: According to SB09-080 and a brochure from the Colorado Division of Water Resources, holders of a private exempt well permit in Colorado can legally collect rainwater as a substitute for water from their well, subject to the well permit's limitations. Break out them barrels and watch the drops drizzle in for your garden's delight!
Source => extension.colostate.edu
