The Family that Theme Parks Together Reunites Together

Family at Glenwood Caverns
Family at Glenwood Caverns

With families spread out across the country like never before, the logistics of organizing a family reunion can become especially challenging. When the group is too big for a backyard picnic, families look to larger venues to handle issues such as lodging, food and activities that can interest multiple generations.

“For larger reunions, you may want to consider a park, campground, a nice resort, or maybe even a theme park,” advises the popular site Family-reunion.com.  In reunionsmag.com, Jacky Runice points out that theme parks like Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park even provide a metaphor for families: “Since we all know family life is like a roller coaster ride with its ups, downs, sudden turns and heads bumping together, why not go with the flow and consider a family reunion around a theme park vacation?”

Once you’ve decided on a theme park location, someone in the family should take the lead as organizer for the group and liaison with the venue. That means communicating with everyone to choose the best date (with plenty of time in advance to arrange work schedules), purchase the tickets (which may involve tailoring tickets to individuals’ preferences), book the lodging and meals (after reaching general agreement on budget), and coordinating transportation (individuals and families can make their own plans, but the leaders should know the itineraries).

At Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, groups of 25 or more can get catered meals and special rates for admission. There’s a wide variety of shows, entertainment, rides and attractions for all ages, plenty of lodging nearby, and you can even add an excursion for a relaxing, healthy soak at Iron Mountain Hot Springs. Contact us for more information. We promise a mountaintop experience that your family will remember for generations to come!

A Faster Ride to the Top: New Tram Coming to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

When you can’t wait for the fun to start, you want to get to where you’re going—fast.  With guest satisfaction in mind, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park will soon install a speedy new tram that transports visitors to America’s only mountaintop theme park faster than ever before.

It won’t be long before Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park welcomes guests aboard a state-of-the-art new tramway slated for installation later this year. The new tram will double the speed and triple the capacity of the current Iron Mountain Tramway, the main transport system that takes visitors via gondola cars from the floor of the Roaring Fork Valley to the top of Iron Mountain, an elevation gain of 1,300 feet.

The new tramway will be comprised of 44 detachable, six-passenger cabins with a capacity to convey up to 1,000 people per hour. For comparison, the current tram, with 18 cabins, transports 300 visitors per hour. The new tram will cut the travel time in half, from 12-15 minutes to approximately seven minutes, effectively eliminating customer wait times. In addition to its speed, the new tram will be more reliable. The detachable tram is designed to equally distribute the weight of the cabins across all the towers, which will allow it to sustain higher winds without impacting operations. “This system will help us enhance our guests’ experience by reducing wait times and reducing the frequency of weather-related tram closures,” Nancy Heard, general manager of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, explained. “It will be more stable in high-wind conditions and will eliminate 80 percent of the shutdowns caused by wind and lightning.”

The reason the new tram will be less susceptible to weather-related closures is twofold. First, operators will have the ability to clear people off the tram in seven minutes rather than 15. Second, the new tram will have lightning arrestors that will dissipate the electricity and minimize the potential damage to the tram. This will allow operators to wait to see if a storm develops before deciding to shut down the tram. Currently, the tram closes as a precaution even though in some cases storms may not materialize. The more resilient new tram will reduce the need to run busses and Adventure Vehicles up and down the mountain during inclement weather.

For guests attending Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park events such as Music on the Mountain, Friday Afternoon Club, Octoberfest or Winter on the Mountain, the high capacity and more dependable tram will be an asset to event attendees who want to depart at the end of a show, a time when there is a high demand to return to the base.

As for the timeline, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park will be open as usual during the peak season from spring through Oct. 28, 2018. During the construction of the new tramway, from mid-November through mid-March, 2019, the park will be temporarily closed.

After the new tram is installed, it’s full-speed ahead for fun at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park!

Glenwood Caverns to Host National Caves Association Convention

Take a cave tour at Glenwood Caverns for National Caves and Karst Day!

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is preparing for the 2018 National Caves Association Convention, September 24 – 28.  The event will give America’s only mountaintop theme park an opportunity to welcome members and show off its own spectacular show cave and park.

For five days in September, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park will host the 53rd annual National Caves Association (NCA) Convention. The NCA represents 80 show caves from across the US, Bermuda and Barbados—including Glenwood Caverns. It was founded in 1965 by a small group of private show cave owners with the goal of encouraging the public to discover America’s underground wonders.

The NCA website highlights some of America’s most enchanting subterranean landscapes. In addition to Glenwood Caverns, a sampling of other show caves from across the country includes Natural Bridge Caverns and Caverns of Sonora, both in Texas; Moaning Cavern in California; Lost Sea Caverns in Tennessee and Luray Caverns in Virginia.

The NCA is also dedicated to educating about cave science. They provide material resources; give talks and tours about everything from cave critters and how to protect the fragile cave environment to the mesmerizing cave formations that delight visitors.  At Glenwood Caverns guests learn about stalactites, stalagmites, cave bacon, popcorn, flowstone and soda straws on the King’s Row and Fairy Caves tours.

NCA visitors are encouraged to explore Glenwood Springs while they are in town for the convention.

During the convention, the NCA group will gather for a welcome reception at Iron Mountain Hot Springs, attend a series of discussions and a vendor showcase at the Hotel Colorado, and have an opportunity to participate in both planned and free-time activities. Conference breakout sessions will include topics such as cave lighting, social media savvy, ride safety, and how to create a successful destination business presented by Jon Schallert. The keynote speaker, to be announced, will likely be a representative from a Colorado company within the tourism industry.

While in town, convention attendees will also have the chance to experience classic Colorado and Glenwood Springs activities. High Canyon Adventures at Bair Ranch will lead jeeping and horseback riding excursions into the high country above Glenwood Canyon. Guests can also take advantage of the beautiful fall weather and all that Glenwood Springs has to offer with self-planned outings like cycling in Glenwood Canyon, fly fishing, tandem paragliding adventures, golfing at the area’s championship links and of course soaking in the geothermal waters.

Visiting cave aficionados will also get the opportunity to take a turn on all the rides and attractions at Glenwood Cavern Adventure. Glenwood Caverns is excited and proud to host the 2018 NCA Convention. We look forward to meeting our colleagues from across the country, learning from one another and sharing our passion for both caving and business at this year’s event.

Iron Mountain Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs

Spend some time relaxing at Iron Mountain Hot Springs during the NCA convention.

Steve Beckley Shares Business Insights and Advice at GlenX Space

Steve and Jeanne Beckley

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and Iron Mountain Hot Springs owner, Steve Beckley (pictured here with his wife and business partner Jeanne) spoke to an audience of entrepreneurs at GlenX Space in Carbondale, sharing his thoughts about company culture with business owners of all ages.

As one of the most innovative entrepreneurs in the Roaring Fork Valley, Steve Beckley was invited to share his approach to business at GlenX Space in Carbondale, a co-working space, educational center and business incubator that encourages collaboration and seeks to connect entrepreneurs with mentors and potential investors.

AnnMarie Deter, CMC Radio Sales and Marketing Manager and event moderator opened the evening by sharing Beckley’s background and the impact his businesses have had on the Roaring Fork Valley. Both Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and Iron Mountain Hot Springs have become destination attractions that benefit Glenwood Springs in a myriad of ways from generating revenue for the city and jobs for hundreds of individuals to creating one-of-a-kind amenities that are enjoyed by visitors and locals alike. “As you grow, strive to make your business an asset to the community; one that both you and the community can be proud of. Grow smartly and add assets that are positive,” Beckley said.

Much of the evening focused on developing a healthy company culture—intangibles that define a company’s personality. In the case of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park those include the company’s mission: to make people smile, its long term vision: to be the destination and employer of choice, and its core values: safety, teamwork, efficiency, presentation, guest service and communication. The company’s seven guiding principles—patience, kindness, trust, unselfishness, truthfulness, forgiveness, and dedication—follow those outlined in the  book Love Works by Joel Manby, a faith-based, servant-leadership management model. “Most people want to be part of something that’s bigger than themselves. People will do so much for you when they feel special.”

Alpine Coaster is a favorite ride at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Making people smile is what it’s all about at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

When audience members wanted to know how to find people who are a perfect fit for a company’s particular culture, he went on to describe Glenwood Caverns’ unique hiring methods. “Our interview process is based on our core values; it’s almost theatrical, we use role playing, games and encourage people to be silly and be themselves. It’s been an effective process to find people who match our core values.” While the Caverns’ interview techniques might not work for all businesses, Beckley reminded attendees that hiring the right people was critical, “You can’t teach core values, you can teach skills.”

Beckley also stressed the importance of listening to ideas from everyone on staff—management to front-line personnel—and cited an example to illustrate that employees have great ideas if only you’ll listen. “I have always dreamed of doing a drop ride. The problem is we have limited space; I couldn’t figure out where to put it because we have caves everywhere. One of our employees suggested a building location that I never would have thought about.

Construction projects are some of the most challenging times at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, requiring employees to rally together and problem solve.

When asked how he gets through business rough spots, Beckley said the hardest times are when the Park is in the midst of a building project—a time when employees and management staff need to rally. “We are fortunate to have a very low turnover rate. Many of our managers have been with us for nine to 13 years! Good thing, the expansions have been prolific in recent years, with more to come. Iron Mountain Hot Springs opened in 2015,  and a new tram will replace the old one with construction starting in the fall.

At the end of the evening, speaking from experience Beckley encouraged fledgling entrepreneurs  to “Know your core values, have high integrity, be honest, listen to others, do what you say you are going to do, help others achieve their goals and have a mindset that says ‘let’s build something great together.’”

The Journey and the Destination

View of Glenwood Springs

Ride the Iron Mountain Tramway for the best views in Glenwood Springs.

For a scenic and relaxing getaway to the top of Iron Mountain and a casual meal at The Lookout Grille, half the fun is getting there.

Your ride in a safe, comfortable, fully-enclosed gondola on the Iron Mountain Tramway begins at 6,000 feet and gently lifts you to 7,100 feet on the trip that is 4,300 feet long. The tram is a modern European pulse design by Leitner-Poma of America, with slowdowns on the way as other visitors enter and exit at the ends.

High above the trees, you’ll get a bird’s eye view of Storm King Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Mount Sopris and the Elk Range in the distance, Red Mountain, the Flattops Wilderness, the Colorado River, an active limestone quarry and Glenwood Springs.

Adding to the ambiance, from November through February, during Winter on the Mountain, the Park is adorned with over a half million lights. Rides and attractions, outdoor fire pits, a warming tent decorated as the North Pole and events like FAC with live music and food and drink specials offer visitors lots of options for things to do at the mountaintop theme park.

No matter when you visit, you can take in the spectacular views and recharge your batteries with a meal at the family-friendly Lookout Grille restaurant, with burgers, sandwiches, wraps, vegetarian options, a kids’ menu and beverage choices including beer and wine.

You’ll descend via the tram with another pleasant ride and go home with treasured memories to recall for years from the excursion of just a few hours.

Join in the Holiday Cheer with Extended Holiday Hours

Are you having family and friends in town for the holidays? Show them a good time with great views at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park where Winter on the Mountain is in full swing, every week there’s Friday Afternoon Club, and with our Funday Pass they’ll have unlimited access to rides and attractions!

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Holiday Hours

  • Fridays & Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Sundays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Christmas Day: Closed
  • Christmas Break (Dec. 26 – Jan 6): 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • New Year’s Day: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Monday, Jan. 14: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Winter on the Mountain

Winter is magical at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. From mid-November through late February, we light the Park with a half million lights — that’s 35 miles of light strands on the buildings and attractions! The plaza is a focal point, with fire pits for roasting s’mores, a giant Christmas tree with a light show, a warming tent decorated as the North Pole, and during the holidays Santa and carolers add to the holiday spirit. The Alpine Coaster is lighted for nighttime rides, and the 4D Motion Theater and laser tag arena are open as well.

 FAC

Every Friday through Feb. 16, the Lookout Grille hosts Friday Afternoon Club (FAC) from 5 – 8:30 weekly, with live music, food and drink specials, and free tram rides after 4 p.m. with a coupon clipped or downloaded from that Friday’s Glenwood Post Independent. A single coupon is valid for up to four people.

Winter Funday Pass

Want to ride one of the top theme park rides in the country? The Alpine Coaster, 4D Motion Theater and laser tag. To enjoy them all over and over, choose the Winter Funday Pass for the best value. It includes the tram, unlimited turns on the rides and attractions, including two guided cave tours for just $42 per adult and $37 per child, ages 3 to 12. A round-trip ride on the Iron Mountain Tramway is $16 per adult and $11 per child. You can purchase tickets online, at the tram base, or you can upgrade your tram pass to a Funday Pass at the General Store at the top.

Let your holiday spirit soar at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, America’s only mountaintop theme park!

Alpine Coaster in winter at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Food for Play

From snacks to healthy food options, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park serves up delicious treats and meals that satisfy.

For many visitors to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, the theme park experience isn’t complete without the smell, stickiness and flavor of cotton candy and funnel cakes. For many other visitors, healthy food is essential for a happy visit.

Bob Stepniewski, the Park’s food and beverage manager, caters to both tastes. “It’s a fine balance,” Bob says. “People don’t come up here specifically to dine. They eat because it’s a convenience and they need to have some lunch.”

Three years ago, customer demand drove him to buy a Tiffany-style popcorn wagon and offer popcorn, cotton candy, and funnel cakes. “That’s what people want,” he says. “It’s the smell you think of when you come to the amusement park. I’m open to other options.”

The latest menu change added “grab and go” items, such as chicken salad wraps and a hummus-and-pretzel kit that make a quick snack without a long wait. “We’re offering something that’s healthier,” Bob says. “We do specials on a daily basis over and above our regular menu.”

The menu includes yogurt parfaits with fresh fruit and granola; seasonal salad options such as fresh berries, dried cranberries, feta cheese, walnuts and mandarin oranges; and gluten-free buns and brownies.

“When we make homemade soups here, we’re very in tune with being gluten free so people can be confident that they can have that,” Bob says. Several years ago, he created a book of ingredients for each dish so diners can check for themselves.

Bob, who started out in the hospitality industry as a teenager growing up in Wisconsin and worked in a hotel when he moved to Colorado at age 25, sold ski vacations for 15 years until he returned to the kitchen seven years ago at Glenwood Caverns. His right hand in the kitchen at the Lookout Grille, Mark Lambert, recently graduated from the Escoffier Online International Culinary Academy.

“I have been in the hospitality industry nearly all my life,” Bob says. “Ten or 15 years ago, people weren’t as health conscious as they are now. We are sensitive and empathetic to our guests. It’s a fun environment. Every day, I’m just thrilled to be a part of it.”

FAC at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Take the party to new heights at Friday Afternoon Club every week now through Feb. 23 at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.  

Celebrate the end of the work week or the beginning of a weekend getaway to Glenwood Springs with an altitude adjustment – Glenwood Caverns style. On Friday nights though late-February, ride the Iron Mountain Tramway to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, where all winter long we’ll kick-start the weekend with an evening of socializing, merry-making, drink specials, live music, free tram rides, dancing, lots of twinkly lights and delicious food specials.

FAC takes place from 5 – 8:30 p.m. With a quick ride aboard one of our signature orange gondolas, we’ll elevate your weekend plans in a matter of minutes. Guests can ride the tram free after 4 p.m. with a coupon that appears in the Glenwood Springs Post Independent on Fridays. The coupon is valid for free tram rides for up to four people.

At the top, wander around, take in the views and snuggle by the fire pits, or upgrade your free tram ride at the General Store to a Funday pass for just $26 to include 2 cave tours, the lighted Alpine Coaster, 4D Theater, and Laser Tag.

When you’re ready, settle in for the remainder of the evening at the Lookout Grille where we’ll be serving up specially priced food and drink specials that warm both the belly and the spirit. Drink specials change every half hour with the spin of a wheel.

The highlight of each Friday night is amazing music played by some of our favorite, hyper-talented local bands. Count on this lineup to have you toe-tapping, boot-scootin, and foot stompin’ the night away.

Glenwood Caverns Kicks Off the Holidays, Nov. 18

America’s only mountaintop theme park celebrates the start of the holiday season with its 4th Annual Turkey Tram-a-Ganza and Winter on the Mountain at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

The tradition continues! Count on Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, for holiday spirit and merriment – lend a helping hand to those in need, spend time with friends and family, and get into the holiday groove with music, lights, Santa and more.

It all begins on Saturday, Nov. 18.

  • Turkey Tram-a-Ganza. (Noon to 4 p.m.) Generosity and giving to those less fortunate are an integral part of the holidays; that’s why we kick off the season with our Turkey Tram-a-Ganza. Bring a frozen turkey to the Glenwood Caverns tram base and receive up to four free tram rides per donated turkey, or bring a can of food (or non-perishable) for a single tram pass. Community food pantry, LIFT-UP will distribute turkeys and other Thanksgiving fixings to area families in need. Turkey donors also get the chance to enter a drawing to win an Annual Thrill Pass or two day passes to Iron Mountain Hot Springs.

  • Winter on the Mountain Kick-off Party. (5 p.m. to closing) Stay for the festivities at this annual party that celebrates the start of the holidays with an abundance of good cheer. Kids can meet Santa in the North Pole and get bear hugs from the Coco-Cola polar bear. The Alpine Coaster will be open, as well as several other attractions. Warm up, roast s’mores and sip hot beverages around the fire pits in the plaza. Local trio, the Leonard Curry Band will be performing holiday favorites in the Lookout Grille. At 6 p.m., the lighting of a musical Christmas tree is one of the highlights of evening.

Bring a turkey to the base of the tram and get up to four free tram rides to the top!

Plan Ahead for Fun: Glenwood Caverns Annual Passes are on Sale Now

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park’s Annual Thrill Passes and Tram-only Passes are on sale now, buy yours before rates increase on Jan 2, 2018.

Winter is a long season in Colorado and the best way to enjoy it is make a plan to get outdoors. A tram ride to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park during snow season is the perfect way to get a healthy dose of fresh air and have a great time along the way – whether you ride the Alpine Coaster or other rides, come for dinner and events, or to enjoy the views and our season-spanning Winter on the Mountain, which kicks off on November 18.

Annual Thrill Passes include unlimited tram rides, cave tours and attractions all year long. Thrill Pass holders also receive a ten percent discount at the Lookout Grille, the Snack Shack and the General Store gift shop. Tram-only pass holders have unlimited access to the ride the tram whenever they please.

Current pass holders can also cash in on the savings before rates go up. Even if your pass isn’t expiring soon, you can upgrade it to take advantage of the discounted, lower rates and enjoy the Park this winter and every season.

After Jan. 1, Annual Thrill and Tram-only pass prices will increase, so get them now to save big!  Passes are currently on sale and can be purchased online or at the tram base all days except Monday when the Park is closed. To receive annual pass discounts online, click on the links below and select your annual pass option, then enter promo code THRILL2018  for annual Thrill Passes or TRAM2018 for Tram-only passes.

Now:  Adult Thrill Pass $79, Child $69       After Jan 1:  Adult Thrill Pass $119, Child $109

Now:  Adult or Child Tram Pass $28          After Jan 1:  Adult or Child Tram Pass $32

You can also order you annual passes by phoning  Glenwood Caverns at 970-945-4228. After ordering, your annual passes will be available for pickup at the tram base.

Glenwood Caverns’ annual passes also make great holiday gifts that can easily be slipped into a card or stocking. The best part is even after winter snows have receded, you can still catch a ride to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park for all your favorite rides, events and activities.