CAÑON CITY’S WESTERN APPEAL
From the dramatic geology of the Royal Gorge to the historic locomotive that runs along the canyon floor to a town built in homage of the Wild West, Cañon City holds a tight rein on Old West appeal.
Buckskin Joe Frontier Town and Railway
For anyone who wanted to envision themselves walking the same dusty roads as rough-and-tumble cowboys or sauntering down Main Street as gentlemen tip their hats, Buckskin Joe Frontier Town is your destination. A cowboy town, inspired by Hollywood Westerns, sits on the edge of a 1,250-foot chasm near Cañon City. Wood-planked, raised walkways connect Old West storefronts and costumed gunslingers roam the streets waiting for a high-noon quick draw. Staged gunfights, comedic performances and dramatic acting are all provided to the entertainment of patrons. If you’re visiting during the month of October, and enjoy a good scare, visit the Buckskin Joe’s annual Town of Terror – a haunt scary enough that children younger than 12 are recommended to sit it out. For information on Buckskin Joe Frontier Town and Railway, visit Buckskinjoe.com or call 719-275-5149.
Royal Gorge Route Railroad
First putting steel wheels to track in 1879, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad ferried precious ore for 24 miles along a valley floor lined by the 1,250-foot-high rock walls of the Royal Gorge. Today, the train powers passengers along historic track and through the same scenery. This rail line provides a variety of unique opportunities, including dinner trains, photography tours and murder-mystery shows. During your ride, be sure to look skyward to the rim of the canyon, where the highest suspension bridge in the world — the Royal Gorge Bridge — connects the two sides of the expansive crevasse. Open-air and glass-dome cars allow for unimpeded viewing of the grandiose heights and the Rio Grande River that flows through the canyon along the train’s route. For reservations and additional information, call 888-RAILS-4U, or visit Royalgorgeroute.com.
< Back to Articles
   |