Mountain Almanac for the Week of June 15

Tuesday, June 15

The Green Mountain Falls Town Hall has opened to the public for the first time since the pandemic. Town hall will be open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 719-684-9414 or visit the town’s website.

Chamber Business After Hours is Teller County’s largest networking event. All Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce members are encouraged to attend. Take advantage of this opportunity to network and catch up with your friends, clients and customers plus meet new members in an informal setting. Business After Hours is a great way to share information about your business and learn about other members. Fun, food, drinks and door prizes. Don’t forget your business cards! The June 15 Business After Hours is hosted by Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, located at 4729 Twin Rocks Road in Divide from 5:30 to 7 p.m. For more information, call 719-687-9885.

 

Wednesday, June 16

 

 

Wellness Walk. Scheduled for June 16 at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center at 9 a.m. Meet at the lower level and choose a one, two or three-mile hike. Maps are available. Healthy living tips and mindfulness exercises to enhance your walk. Dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water. Free admission.

 

Dick Bratton Celebration of Life. A long-awaited celebration of life is scheduled for Dick Bratton, a long-time Green Mountain Falls resident, civic leader, trails’ committee founder, mayor, trustee and planning commissioner, who passed away last winter. It will occur on Wednesday, June 16 at 1 p.m. at GMF’s Church In The Wildwood. A reception will then take place at the Pantry Garden. For those interested, a full obit is available at: https://www.cappadonafh.com/obituary/RichardDick-Bratton

For those who can’t attend in person the celebration, you my stream the ceremony at:

https://www.wildwooducc.org/copy-of-archives.

 

 

Kingdom Business Summit. The event, scheduled from June 16-18, is open to everyone, from small business owners, entrepreneurs, seasoned professionals, to anyone dreaming of starting a business. With a combination of main sessions and workshop opportunities, attendees will have dynamic networking opportunities with some of the most innovative thought leaders in our nation and our region. It will occur at the Charis Bible College, 800 Gospel Truth Way, Woodland Park. For more information, call Eileen Quinn
Eileen Quinn at (719) 635-1111)

 

 

New Gift Shop Hours. The Ute Pass Historical Society has new hours! The gift shop will be open Wednesdays 10-noon; and Thursdays through Saturdays 11-4. Stop by and check out our great selection of historical books, cards, art and jewelry. While here, ask about taking a free guided tour of the five historic buildings in History Park. The gift shop is located at 231 E. Henrietta Avenue, next to the Woodland Park Library. Call 719-686-7512 Watch the trailer for the Teller County dude ranch Video coming out later this year.

 

The Cripple Creek City Council will meet on June 16 at the Cripple Creek Council Chambers, starting at 5:30 p.m. In-person attendance is permitted on a limited basis. If you wish to attend, please call 719-689-2502 no later than noon on June 16. The meeting is also available for viewing online by visiting the city’s website.

 

 

Thursday, June 17

The Teller County Commissioners will meet in the Centennial Building in Cripple Creek on June 17 at 9:15 a.m. The meeting does permit limited in-person attendance. It also is available online by accessing the county’s government website.

 

Gallop in the Garden, Scheduled for June 17 3:30 p.m. This is a 5K Fun Run/Jog/Walk in Garden of the Gods. Meet at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center. There is free admission, but facial coverings required. .

 

Chuckwagon Chat. Scheduled for June 17 at the Garden of the Gods’ Jaycee Chuckwagon Plaza at 1:30 p.m. Join Bowen Gillings as he presents information about the park, shares his favorite stories and places and the Leave No Trace program. Free.

 

The Woodland Park City Council will meet in the Woodland Park Council Chambers on June 17 starting at 7 p.m. In-person attendance is permitted, and the meetings are available online. For more information, call 719-687-9246.

 

 

Friday, June 18

Tee-off Time. The Shining Mountain Golf Course is open for daily play for the 2021 season. In addition, the clubhouse bar is open, along with the driving range and chipping area. In addition, the restaurant is now open from Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Driving carts are now available, with cart-path only rules in effect due to the drought restrictions. Call 719-687-7587 for more information.

 

 

Furbaby Friday. Scheduled for June 18 at 9 a.m. at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center. Bring your furry friend, check in at the visitor center and get a free map of pet friendly areas in the park and register for the giveaway.

 

 

Gem and Mineral Show. The annual Gem & Mineral Show sponsored by the Southern Teller County Focus Group (STCFG) will be held in downtown historic Victor and is open and free to the public. It will occur from June 18 to June 20.The show will include vendors from across the state selling Colorado dug minerals. Items for sale will include polished gems, hand-crafted jewelry, rough slabs, specimens, cabochons, geode breaking, gold ore specimens, Cripple Creek turquoise, and more. There will also be gold and gem panning at the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum. Show hours are from 9 to 5 each day. For more information on the STCFG or this event, email stcfg@victorcolorado.com, or call 719-689-2675.

 

 

 

Farmers Market. Scheduled every Friday until from now through September at N. Center Street near Memorial Park in Woodland Park from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Our Vendors come from all over Colorado and provide a variety of products to choose from. Including, Colorado fruits and vegetables, fresh baked bread, honey, coffee, food trucks, and more. We have space for 100 vendors, providing a large variety of products. For more information, call Lara Maas (Shadwick) at 719-400-9986.

 

 

 

Night Sky Program. Scheduled for Friday, June 18 from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Join park staff and members of the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society to gaze at the dark skies above Florissant Fossil Beds in search of planets, galaxies, nebulas, and more. Start on the front patio of the Visitor Center where you will show and/or get your park pass and you will get orientation information. There are no additional fees for any park programs beyond the daily entrance fee of $10.00 per adult (15 and younger are free). Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument offers 15 miles of beautiful, yet lesser known, hiking trails to explore, a free Junior Ranger Program, three short self-guided trails, a park video (online) and a bookstore (open on weekends only). For additional information, please call (719) 748-3253 or visit our website: www.nps.gov/flfo or on Facebook or Twitter at /FlorissantNPS

Parent’s Night Out Enjoy a night out while your kids have a blast at the pool at the Woodland Aquatic Center. Your kids will swim, play games and eat pizza. Suitable for ages 6-17. Scheduled for June 18 from 3:30 to 7 p.m. For more information, call 719-687-5225.

 

Saturday, June 19

Gold Camp Trolley Tours. The Gold Camp Victorian Society will present again the Original Historical Gold Camp Trolley Tours. The tours, which began on Saturday May 29, continue every Saturday through Labor Day weekend. Each tour starts at 1 p.m. from the District Museum in Cripple Creek. These 90-minute tours are led by our Victorian hostesses and feature many of the characters from Cripple Creek’s storied history, as depicted by members of the Gold Camp Victorian Society. Please join us for the only historical trolley tour in Cripple Creek. A donation of $10 is requested. These tours are fun for the whole family. Space is limited, so arrive early to reserve your seat.

 

 

Mueller Hikes and Activities. Kick off summer at Mueller State Park, one of the secret gems of the state’s park system. While most state parks are overloaded with visitors due to the pandemic. Mueller provides ideal trails without massive crowds. Typical weather this spring at Mueller can provide some great outings. A full schedule of naturalist programs can help you to look, learn and enjoy the surroundings. Enjoy guided hikes and special programs. For more information, call 719-687-2366.

 

Buffalo Stampede. Scheduled for June 19 and featuring a bicycle ride and live music with Sofa Killers, Mary and Pharoah and Spur. This is an all-day event at Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, 2 El Paso Blvd. Colorado Springs, behind Garden of the Gods RV Resort. Celebrate five years of business for the popular bicycle resort.

 

 

 

Sunday, June 20

Sun-Day in the Park. Scheduled for June 20 at 9 a.m. in the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center. Stop by the center for a telescope view of the Chromosphere layer of the sun and other surprise viewings, learn how a telescope works and enjoy a variety of solar-related activities. The event is free.

 

 

Upcoming

 

 

Green Box Arts Festival. Registration has begun for a variety of classes, performances and events for the annual several-week festival that extends from June 21 to July 11. The festival, which mostly occurs in Green Mountain Falls, is capped by ballet, theater and musical performances, art displays, two block parties, guided hikes and a variety of workshops. A dedication also will occur for the new James Turrell Skyspace installation. To register and receive more information, visit greenboxarts.org.

Gold Camp Adventures. Tours of the Cripple Creek & Victor Mining District will be offered this summer from the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum. The new tours will highlight gold rush history and gold mining. The tours will be conducted using transportation and drivers from Parks & Recreation and an experienced tour guide from the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum. All of the tour proceeds from the new tours will benefit Parks & Recreation and the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, furthering the missions of both community-minded organizations as a win-win fundraising option for both. The tours will provide the chance to learn about the district’s unique gold rush history – including gold mining old and new, pioneers, and ghost towns. Tours can be packaged with a walking tour of the Sunnyside Cemetery near Victor on select Saturdays this summer as well as with museum admission and gold panning. For more information, call Ruth Zalewski at 719-689-5509.