Ruxton Park facts for kids
Ruxton Park is a beautiful park located in Manitou Springs, Colorado. It sits high up in the mountains at about 9,078 feet (2,767 meters) above sea level. The famous Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway starts in Manitou Springs and climbs through Englemann Canyon along Ruxton Creek. It passes by Ruxton Park on its way to the top of Pikes Peak.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Ruxton Park was a small town. It was built along Ruxton Creek, close to what is now Manitou Springs. Since 1925, the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado has used Ruxton Park for a special hydroelectric plant. This plant makes electricity from water. There is also a weather station there. For many years, a caretaker lived at the plant. But since 2008, the plant works all by itself, so no one lives there full-time anymore.
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History of Ruxton Park
Early Days and the Halfway Hotel
In 1884, a man named Thomas Palsgrove and his family lived in a small cabin. Their cabin was on a trail that led to the top of Pikes Peak. They offered coffee and doughnuts to hikers who were making the long climb.
Over time, Thomas began to make his cabin bigger. It grew into a hotel called the Halfway Hotel. By 1903, the hotel had 22 rooms and was run by John Palsgrove.
Building a Mountain Town
Thomas Palsgrove and his brothers had a vision for the area. In 1890, they planned out streets for a new town. They called it Ruxton Park. It was located just below the timber line, where Ruxton Creek and Sheep Creek meet. Many cabins were built on the lots they sold.
The Cog Railway Arrives
The Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway was built in 1890. This special train, also known as a cog railway, started bringing tourists to the top of Pikes Peak on June 30, 1891. The first part of the train ride goes right alongside Ruxton Creek. The train used to stop at Ruxton Park. Here, tourists could enjoy a meal at the "pleasant" Halfway Hotel.
The Halfway House was described as a "rustic mountain hotel." It was surrounded by tall pine trees. Above it were the towering rocks of Hell's Gate, which the train would pass through.
Ruxton Park was known for its beautiful nature. It had aspen trees, pine trees, and many colorful flowers. It was surrounded by famous mountains like Pikes Peak, Mt. Rosa, and Cameron's Cone. Wealthy families from western states built houses in Ruxton Park. They came to escape the summer heat and enjoy the cool mountain air. The town also had a "fancy tourist hotel," a water tower, and even a post office.
The Hydroelectric Plant Today
In 1925, the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado built a power plant in Ruxton Park. This stone building is a hydroelectric plant. It uses the flowing water from Ruxton Creek to create electricity for Manitou Springs.
A house for a caretaker was built in 1930. From then until 2008, nine different employees from Colorado Springs Utilities lived there for six months each year. They ran the Ruxton Hydroelectric Plant. They also took important weather measurements for the National Weather Service.
In 2008, the plant became fully automated. This means it can run itself without someone living there all the time. The city bought some of the town's old lots. They still have some houses, a garage, and storage buildings in Ruxton Park. The old cabins are now mostly "rusted weather-beaten ruins."
Even though the power plant still works, no caretaker lives in Ruxton Park permanently. Sometimes, caretakers for the nearby reservoir might stay in the house. You can reach Ruxton Park by hiking or by driving about 72 miles (116 km) on rough back roads.
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