Long before the discovery of gold led to the Rush to the Rockies, a spring on a high point on the plains was an oasis for animals, Indigenous individuals and other travelers; it later served as a watering hole for cattle drives and a stage stop. Charles Gregory camped here in the 1870s, and fifty years later returned to the spot when he wanted to create a roadside attraction for all the new-fangled automobiles driven by tourists venturing West. To accommodate them, he built a rambling rock complex complete with a cafe, a stage and a gas station; he soon added a few overnight rooms and a magnificent tower that offered stunning views all the way to Pikes Peak. From here, Ripley's Believe it or Not reported in 1933, you could see six states.
A hundred years after Gregory built the World's Wonder View Tower, we envision a 21st-century update of its role as a way-station, a must-stop for travelers who want to recharge not just their vehicles and their phones, but themselves. Here, at the highest point between the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies and the Eastern Seaboard, they'll be able to enjoy a meal, browse through art and other products created by local crafters and businesses, and take in the expansive views that suggest all the marvels that Colorado has to offer. They can also use this spot as a taking-off point to explore the property and follows trails and railroad tracks into nearby Genoa, or longer excursions around Lincoln County.
As a true Colorado landmark, the World's Wonder View Tower will not only celebrate the past, but show a way forward for the future of the Eastern Plains.