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Colorado Travel Planning Guides : Royal Gorge Country : Fun Facts


Royal Gorge Fun Facts, Canon City, Florence, Colorado



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Michael's On Main

605 Main Street

(719) 276-3354

A unique experience. Anything from Original artwork, soothing spa services, mouthwatering deli selections, gourmet coffee and tea, hand dipped chocolates and gelato.


Historic Royal Gorge Route Railroad

(888) RAILS-4U

(303) 569-1000

The best way to experience the Royal Gorge is from the train. Choose from coach, first-class, glass topped observation dome cars, lunch, dinner or murder mystery trains.


Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

P.O. Box 549

Cañon City

(888) 333-5597

(719) 275-7507

The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is an awe-inspiring spectacle of man and nature meeting halfway - and that's before we even talk about the rides, entertainment, and attractions.


Dinosaur Depot Museum

330 Royal Gorge Blvd.

Cañon City

(800) 987-6379

(719) 269-7150

The Garden Park Paleontology Society's Dinosaur Depot Museum is a must-see! Among the dinosaurs on display is the world's most complete Stegosaurus. Discovery Room, Preparation Laboratory and Museum Store.


The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey

3011 E. Hwy. 50

Cañon City

(719) 276-5191

(877) 422-9463

Award-winning Colorado wines. Groups, bachelorette parties, business retreats.


Fremont Center for the Arts

505 Macon Ave.

Cañon City

(719) 275-2790

Located in the historic Post Office. Rotating gallery exhibits. Classes for all ages. Gift shop featuring local artisans, Art library, and permanent collection. Open Tues-Sat, 10am-4pm. Where Art is the Heart of the community!


Museum of Colorado Prisons

201 North 1st St.

Cañon City

(719) 269-3015

Audio tour, gift shop with prison crafts, historic walking and ghost tours, historic re-enactments, senior and group discount. Hours vary.


The Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center

612 Royal Gorge Blvd.

Cañon City

(719) 269-9036

A full-stop shop for history buffs. Research library, museum and photo galleries, historic cabin and house. Programs for all ages. Hours vary.

Echo Canyon River Expeditions

(800) 575-3246

The most trusted name in rafting since 1978. Located near the Royal Gorge Bridge.


River Runners

(888) 350-7782

The Whitewater Professionals. Colorado's Best Rafting Trips.

Royal Gorge Rafting

(719) 275-RAFT

Royal Gorge Rafting and the White Water Bar & Grill are the perfect combination for any Colorado vacation! Free Gear!


Merlino's Belvedere

1330 Elm Avenue

Cañon City

(719) 275-5558

Homemade Italian food recipes for over 60 years. Aged beef, seafood and chicken items. Kids menu. Banquet facilities and catering available. Open 7 days a week for lunch & dinner.


Cañon City's Community Heritage Pass

Four Cañon City Attractions, One Price. Celebrating the artistic, educational and historic elements of our community.


Arkansas River Tours

(800) 321-4352

Since 1973, 38 years of laughs, smiles & thrills.


Colorado Vertical Helitours

(719) 276-9038

See spectacular views from a jet powered helicopter.


B Hotel

110 Latigo Lane

Cañon City

(719) 275-2400

B Relaxed at the B Hotel


Arkansas River Inn & Suites

1925 Fremont Dr.

Cañon City

(719) 275-3377

(800) 231-7317

There's so much to do in the Royal Gorge Region. Bring the whole family.


Quality Inn & Suites

E. Hwy. 50 at Dozier

Cañon City

(719) 275-8676

(800) 525-7727

Plan to make the Quality Inn & Suites your vacation headquarters. There are many sights to see and experiences to enjoy within a short drive from the Quality Inn & Suites.


American Adventure Expeditions

Buena Vista, Royal Gorge & Breckenridge

(800) 288-0675

Providing first-class whitewater adventures since 1987. Royal Gorge Country's only riverside outpost with private beach and lunch pavilion. Call for the ultimate Colorado experience!


Econo Lodge

311 Royal Gorge Blvd.

Cañon City

(719) 276-6900

Non-smoking rooms. Free high speed wireless internet & local calls. Indoor heated pool & spa. In-room coffee makers. Free deluxe continental breakfast. HBO. Guest laundry facilities. Suites available.


Raft Masters

(800) 568-7238

More than 20 years' experience providing quality outings for all group sizes. Bases near Denver and Colorado Springs provide easy access for trips from either location. Free wetsuits!
Did You Know . . .


• Cañon City was the birthplace of the Colorado Film Commission, the first Film Commission in the world.

• Cañon City is where Trey Parker of South Park fame got his start by filming a student feature film, called "Alfred Packer the Musical," based on one of Cañon City's more notorious guests in Territorial "Old Max" Prison.

• Cañon City has an average of 325 days of sunshine every year, more than Palm Springs, CA and Miami, FL.

• Up until 1990, you could make a phone call in Cañon City by dialing the last five numbers.

• Chain Gangs from Territorial Prison built Skyline Drive, rising 800 feet over the city, in the early 1900s.

• The Florence oil fields are the second oldest continuously producing oil fields in the United States.

• In the 1890s there were eight reduction mills to process ore form the Gold Hills District, seven oil refineries producing 2,000 barrels a day, and five brick factories plus the huge coal fields were in operation.

• The famous Gold Belt Tour is based on the railroad route bringing the ore out of Cripple Creek and Victor down to Florence to be processed and shipped out.
Behind Bars
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Colorado's First Prison, 1871, Royal Gorge

• The "Alcatraz of the Rockies" - the highest security Federal prison complex - is located on mile south of Florence. It houses many notorious criminals such as the "uni-bomber," the "shoe bomber" and the World Trade Center bombers.

• Florence is home to four Federal prisons.

• There are approximately 8,000 inmates incarcerated in Cañon City.

• "Old Max" once housed Alferd Packer who was convicted of premeditated murder, robbery and cannibalism after being the only member of a hunting party to survive.

• Built in 1868 before Colorado was a state, Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility - known as "Old Max" - received its first prisoner in 1871.
Museum of Colorado Prisons
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 The Museum of Colorado Prisons, located at 201 N. First St., Cañon City adjacent to Colorado Territorial Prison (a.k.a. "Old Max"), opened in 1988 and is the only prison museum attached to a working facility in the United States.

The museum houses historic artifacts, including the hangman's noose used for the last execution by hanging in Colorado, a gas chamber, confiscated inmate weapons, rare photographs, disciplinary paraphernalia and a Federal Bureau of Prisons display.

Visitors can purchase inmate-made souvenirs such as ceramic pots, license plates, mailboxes, belt buckles, clothing and custom leather works.

Movies Filmed Around the Region
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1994 Lightning Jack - Cuba Gooding Jr./Paul Hogan
1991 Fast Getaway - Corey Haim
1981 Continental Divide - John Belushi
1978 Comes a Horseman - James Caan/Jane Fonda
1977 White Buffalo - Charles Bronson/Jack Warden
1976 The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox - Goldie Hawn/George Segal
1969 True Grit - John Wayne/Kim Darby
1903-1914 Cañon City was the locale for many silent features and shorts filmed by Selig Polyscope. Some starred Tom Mix, William Duncan, Grace McHugh, Myrtle Stedman.

Historic Cañon City Architecture
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Take a trip back in time and explore Cañon City's rich history on a self-guided walking tour.

Elk's Lodge, Historic Building, Canon City, Royal Gorge, Colorado


Elk's Lodge
404 Macon Ave.
This classical revival building was erected in 1911 as the meeting place of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Annex Building, Historic Building, Canon City, Royal Gorge, Colorado


Annex Building
505-507 Main St.
Reflecting the Beaux Arts style, this two-story brick structure was built between 1901 and 1908 and originally housed a clothing store in its lower level.



United Presbyterian Church, Historic Building, Canon City, Royal Gorge, Colorado
United Presbyterian Church
701 Macon Ave.
Built in 1902, the church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features a Queen Anne-style bell tower and Tiffany-style stained glass windows.


For the complete historic walking tour, pick up a brochure at the Chamber of Commerce, located at 403 Royal Gorge Blvd., Cañon City.


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