If you own a television or have ever driven through Denver, you should be well aware that one of Colorado's most iconic amusement parks is that of Elitch Gardens, which is located in LoDo just off I-25... But did you know that this hasn't always been the location of this childhood favorite?
Opened in 1890, Elitch's Zoological Gardens was the first zoo opened in Denver (not to mention the first zoo opened west of Chicago) and quickly grew in popularity among locals. Not long after the Zoological Gardens were opened, so was the famed Elitch Theater, which showed both films and live stage productions alike. In 1916, the site was sold to the Mulvihill family, who did away with the original zoo concept and added more rides and gardens to the newly renamed Elitch Gardens. The amusement park continued to grow and expand at its well-known 38th and Tennyson Street location until 1994, when the park moved to its current (and larger) location just off the Platte River valley near Downtown.
To get a better idea of what the original Elitch Gardens looked like during one of its peak times (or to take a walk down memory lane), check out this rare footage from YouTube user ultimessence:
I love hot springs! I grew up in New York, so I didn’t visit a single hot spring until well into adulthood. But, after I soaked at my very first one while traveling out west in my late twenties, I found that I couldn’t get enough of them. Since then, I have visited dozens of hot springs all over the United States and the world, and I feel so fortunate to live in Colorado where there are so many from which to choose.
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I’ve been to almost all of the commercial hot springs in our great state at this point and I’ve been to most of them more than once, too. Most are quite a drive from Denver, but I’m willing to go anywhere to sit in warm, mineral-rich waters. I make a big effort to get myself into hot water - literally - at least once every other month, no matter what time of the year it may be.
Photo by Christy Articola
When someone told me about Durango Hot Springs recently, I was surprised that I’d never heard of it. Sure, Durango is quite far from Denver and I don’t get all the way out there very often, but I consider myself to be pretty in-the-know when it comes to the topic of hot springs. How hadn’t I heard of Durango Hot Springs before?
I visited the Durango Hot Springs website and it looked absolutely beautiful online. I soon made plans to go there and took the long drive across the state to check it out on a warm day in September. My companion and I had long standing plans to visit Utah anyway that weekend, and it was kind of on the way.
Photo by Christy Articola
Due to the length of the drive from Denver, we didn’t reach Durango Hot Springs until late afternoon, but we knew we’d have plenty of time to enjoy them anyway as the springs are open until 10 p.m. each day. We entered, checked in, changed into our swimsuits, and got ready to soak.
As soon as we stepped out into the large, open, springs area of Durango Hot Springs, I was impressed by the beauty of the space. Advance research had told me that Durango Hot Springs features over 40 soaking pools with water temperatures between 99 and 112 degrees, each with a distinctive blend of 32 minerals including lithium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, chloride, fluoride, sulfate, silicon, iron, manganese, and many others.
Photo by Christy Articola
Many people visit hot springs primarily just to relax in naturally occurring, heated water - and that alone is a true pleasure. But, when you also consider the mineral content of the water in hot springs, the health benefits are vast. Each of the minerals listed above offers proven health benefits that range from muscle and nerve strength to decreased inflammation to bone health to immune system support and more. The health benefits of hot springs are massive, and anyone who can soak in a hot spring on a regular basis absolutely should take advantage of that opportunity for countless reasons.
Photo by Christy Articola
All hot spring waters are infused with minerals as the hot water passes through the earth on its way to the surface. However, most hot springs that you’ll visit offer far fewer minerals than this one. If you’re looking to maximize your exposure to healthy minerals while soaking, then Durango Hot Springs is an excellent choice.
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Photo by Christy Articola
After doing a walk through the entire property before stepping in the water, I learned that the reason I hadn’t heard of Durango Hot Springs before was that it was purchased by new owners in 2019 and was renamed. This hot spring wasn’t “new” - but rather was recently renovated and rebranded. Previously, these springs were called Trimble Hot Springs, and that name did sound familiar to me.
In the over a century since these springs first opened, they have been visited and enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people including celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and others. The property had its ups and downs; it was closed at times for periods of several years, and on three different occasions, hotels associated with the springs burned to the ground. But, the springs continue to bubble to the surface no matter what happens in the world of humans, and humans keep coming back for more.
Photo by Christy Articola
Now, after all those years and many trials and tribulations, Durango Hot Springs is better than ever. The current owners did a complete renovation of the property and it’s absolutely beautiful. There are 26 mineral soaking pools on the property today, and three are specifically for families. There are eight small, private soaking tubs that can be rented by the hour; patrons can adjust the temperature to their liking while using them. There’s a 25-meter, salt-water resort-style pool for lap swimmers that’s full of 83,000 gallons of saltwater. There are two cold plunges for people who enjoy the art of contrast bathing. And, 12 of the property’s soaking pools are ADA-accessible!
Photo by Christy Articola
My companion and I were amazed by this place overall. We spent an hour in one of the private hot springs pools and watched the sun slowly dip lower in the sky. After that, we moved from pool to pool checking out the variety of options offered. The pools were all a little different from one another, and the landscaping around them was impressive; we were in awe of the vast number of native plants and the great care taken in their arrangements.
We bought some drinks from the concessions area and sipped them while relaxing by a fire pit. I was especially impressed by the fact that the entire property felt quiet and serene; despite the number of visitors onsite during our visit, there were so many spaces that felt private. We felt incredibly relaxed and were very pleased with our late afternoon getaway.
Photo by Christy Articola
There were two things we didn’t get to enjoy this time, but that we look forward to checking out on our next visit. First, Durango Hot Springs has installed an outdoor stage for live music. There were no performers when we were there, but I can imagine how fun it must be to enjoy performances from the comfort of the springs! Second, we checked out but did not take advantage of the spa. The spa menu is quite extensive and includes a number of massage and facial services that I can’t wait to try in the future.
Photo by Christy Articola
Currently, Durango Hot Springs does not have lodging on site, but it’s something they are planning for the future. After our hot springs adventure, we departed the property and stayed elsewhere in Durango, which gave us the opportunity to check out this really cool little town a bit more than I had been able to when passing through in the past. We both had so much fun at the hot springs and in Durango in general that we both agreed that we’d need to return soon to spend more time. Our entire visit exceeded our high expectations.
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Durango Hot Springs is a very special place. I’m so glad we made the trek to it from Denver and I can’t wait to return. I’ve visited dozens of hot springs in Colorado and beyond, and, without a doubt, Durango Hot Springs is one of my new favorites. I highly recommend it anyone who loves hot springs - or, if you haven’t been to one yet, this one is a great place to start. Plan a visit today! You’ll be glad that you did. This place is fantastic, and you’ll feel great after spending even a short time in these spectacular springs.
There are so many natural wonders in Colorado they could take years to explore. There's Garden of the Gods, Bridal Veil Falls, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and Maroon Bells, just to name a few. And then there are the man-made wonders in Colorado that are just as fascinating as the state's natural landmarks. For history buffs, a trip to Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site is always a great idea. Located in La Junta, a day trip to this man-made wonder can easily be taken from Pueblo, CO.
Located along the Arkansas River, once the border between U.S. and Mexico territories is Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site. Originally built by the Bent brothers in 1833, it was the site of a trading post along the Santa Fe Trail that had served as a peaceful trading spot between native tribes, traders, trappers, and travelers heading out west during the Westward Expansion. The U.S. Army would also procure supplies from the fort.
Trail leading to Bents Old Fort National Historic Site as a thunderstorm brews in the distance
It also served as a settlement as well as a staging area for the Army of the West during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). As the most important trading post of its time, Bent's Old Fort had a run of 16 year as it was eventually abandoned in 1849. This was truly an important fort in its hey day.
United States, Colorado
Today, you can visit Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site to explore a reconstructed version of the old adobe fort, an impressive man-made wonder of its time. Also of great interest on the property is a reconstructed version of the trading post as it had appeared in the 1840s. Inside, you'll get to take a step back in time as you view items similar to what was available for trade between the Bent brothers and the native tribes when it was in operation nearly 200 years ago.
As a visitor, you can enjoy living history demonstrations that give a sense of what life was like around the fort in the mid-1800s. Historic exhibits showcase the history and culture of the Native Americans in this area during the time of Westward Expansion.
Have you visited Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, one of the most fascinating man-made wonders in Colorado? What did you think when you were there? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
To learn more about Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, visit the National Park Service website. If you plan on an overnight getaway to La Junta, you can retire for the evening at the highly-rated La Junta Colorado Cabins.
