Holy Cross Abbey (Cañon City, Colorado) facts for kids
Rear view of the former abbey
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Abbey of the Holy Cross |
| Other names | Priory of St. Mary (former name) |
| Order | Benedictine |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1886 |
| Disestablished | 2005 |
| Dedicated to | Exaltation of the Holy Cross |
| Diocese | Pueblo |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Defunct |
| Heritage designation | National Register of Historic Places |
| Designated date | August 18, 1986 |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1924 |
| Completion date | 1925 |
| Closed | 2006 |
| Site | |
| Coordinates | 38°26′56″N 105°12′03″W / 38.4489°N 105.2008°W |
The Abbey of the Holy Cross was a special place in Cañon City, Colorado. It was a former monastery, which is a home for monks (religious men). This abbey was part of the Order of St. Benedict in the United States. It was around for almost 120 years! During that time, it ran different things like a boarding school for boys and even a winery. Today, it's listed on the National Register of Historical Places, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
History of the Abbey
Starting the Abbey
In 1886, two monks from St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, traveled to Breckenridge, Colorado. They wanted to start a religious community in what was then a new, wild area. They came because Joseph Projectus Machebeuf, a church leader for Colorado and Utah, invited them.
Their first home was called the Priory of St. Mary in Boulder. A priory is a smaller type of monastery. More monks joined them over the next few years.
Moving and Growing
The community grew bigger, so in 1924, they moved to Cañon City, Colorado. There, they built a much larger monastery. This new building was designed in the Gothic Revival style, which looks like old European castles and churches.
At this time, their home became an abbey, which is a larger, more important monastery. They also changed its name to the Abbey of the Holy Cross. A boarding school for boys was opened at the abbey. The monks also tried to start a winery, but they didn't continue with it at that time.
Changes Over Time
Like many religious groups in the United States, the abbey had many monks in the 1950s and 1960s. But after that, the number of monks started to go down. The abbey school closed its doors in 1985.
By the early 2000s, there were only about 20 monks left, and most of them were older. To help support themselves, the monks decided in 2000 to try planting a vineyard again. They hired a professional viticulturist (someone who grows grapes for wine) to help. The winery started making wine the very next year.
The Abbey Closes
By 2005, the monks decided that their community was too small to continue. In a final meeting, they voted to close the abbey. The monks found new homes in other monasteries. The Abbey of the Holy Cross officially closed in September 2006.
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey
Even though the monastery closed, the winery continued! The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey and its tasting room opened to the public in 2002. It welcomes visitors to its beautiful vineyard, surrounded by the peaceful Rocky Mountains.
At the winery, visitors can try different award-winning wines in the tasting room. During the summer, they offer special VIP wine and cheese tastings. The tasting room also sells unique items made locally and from around the world.
In the spring and summer, you can sit outside in a lovely garden. You can see the thriving vineyards with the Rocky Mountains in the background. In the winter, you can enjoy tasting wine by a warm fireplace.
Annual Events
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey hosts and takes part in several fun events each year. Some of these include:
- Harvest Festival
- Winemakers Dinner
- Farm to Table Fun Run and Dinner
- Palette to Palate
- Spring Wine Extravaganza
Wines Produced
The winery makes many different kinds of wines. Here are some of them:
- Monterey Chardonnay
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2015 Wild Cañon Harvest
- Sauvignon Blanc Reserve
- Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
- Apple Blossom
- Syrah
- Revelation
- American Riesling
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
- Merlot Divinity
- Merlot Reserve
- Sangre de Cristo Nouveau
- Vineyard Sunset
