Special Events Hit New Heights At Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Event planners, for high-flying fun that’s easy to arrange, take your group to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

As well as fixtures and fittings arrangements such as Marquee hire, professional party planners know that choosing the right venue is essential for hosting a successful special event. Whether you’re planning a reunion, school outing, company picnic, a retirement party or even a wedding, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is a setting guaranteed to elevate your next big event from ordinary to extraordinary. Finding the right venue for your wedding can be as tricky as finding the right bridal gown. A venue like Glenwood Caverns would seem like a godsend to anyone struggling to find the perfect place to celebrate their love. Similarly, there are many places to find the classic wedding gowns for you and your bridal party. Luckily there are places similar to Winnie Couture Wedding Dresses in Frisco TX that might be helpful to make your wedding special. There are many reasons why Glenwood Caverns would be a perfect place for an event. Here’s why.

Picture perfect. No other Colorado event venue is quite like Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. From the moment your guests step inside the gondola at the Iron Mountain Tramway, they’ll literally be transported to new heights. As the tram ascends, spectacular views unfold including panoramas of the Roaring Fork Valley, Mt. Sopris and the Elk Range to the south. At the summit and Park entrance, staff members welcome guests and direct them to their group meeting place on the Patio, in the Winter Garden or indoors at the Lookout Grille. This summer, The Fort, a much anticipated new outdoor group space will also be added.

Take a peek. See for yourself what makes Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park a top spot for your group event. Check out our latest event video featuring a wedding, a retirement party and a family reunion.

Simple to plan. Parties, including the planning, should be fun – not stressful, even looking for place to find Personalized Helium Balloons for your event can make planning a party stressful. Our event booking process is streamlined and efficient with a one person contact to address all your group planning needs. During the busy summer season, events take place in the evenings from 4 to 9 p.m. when temps are cooler, and lines are shorter.To get the party started, we’ll need to know a few specifics like how many people will be attending – there’s a minimum of 25 for events like reunions and group picnics. Next, pick a date and check with us to see if it’s available. Finally, decide whether or not you want to offer food and if so select your menu. Our most popular packages are our Group Picnics. Choose deli sack lunches, a cowboy cookout, the ultimate BBQ or a fajita bar.

Make memories. Shared experiences create bonds that last a lifetime. Whether your group consists of little kids or corporate colleagues, making connections is easier when you have something engaging and exciting to do. Glenwood Caverns’ group packages are designed with just that in mind. They include a gondola ride to the top of Iron Mountain and two cave tours; plus access to high-flying attractions like the Alpine Coaster, Giant Canyon Swing, Cliffhanger Roller Coaster, Soaring Eagle Zip Ride and the Glenwood Canyon Flyer. There’s also a climbing wall, laser tag, a 4D Motion Theater and more. Make the memories last by scheduling a Group Photo to take home. Additional fees will apply.

Always professional. The team at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is dedicated to the success of your event. Our special event coordinator is your personal point of contact; the individual you know by name and can count on even when something unexpected arises. Our food and beverage staff regularly receives rave reviews from guests. And, our professional photography staff can capture all the special moments of your special event, including that terrified face you made during your turn on the Giant Canyon Swing!

To take your group event to new heights at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, visit us at glenwoodcavdev.wpengine.com.

Turkey Tram-a-Ganza and Winter on the Mountain

Looking for something fun to do next weekend? Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park has you covered! We’ve got a lot coming up with both the third annual Turkey Tram-a-Ganza and the kickoff of Winter on the Mountain happening on Saturday, Nov. 19. Join us in Glenwood Springs, Colorado for all the festivities!

The Turkey Tram-a-Ganza event, a benefit for LIFT-UP’s local food pantries, collects Thanksgiving food items for area families in need. Drop off a turkey at the tram base and receive up to four free tram passes! By donating a turkey, you’ll also be entered into a drawing for an Annual Thrill Pass or two day passes to the Iron Mountain Hot Springs (four winners will be selected). Guests can also donate cans of food or other non-perishable items and receive one free tram pass per person.

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

Alpine Coaster at Winter on the Mountain #getuphere

The Alpine Coaster is lit up at night during Winter on the Mountain!

KSNO’s Jim Williams will broadcast live from the Iron Mountain Tramway during the Turkey Tram-a-Ganza, which runs from noon until 4 p.m.

The free tram rides are valid for Saturday Nov. 19 only, and can be used to attend the kick-off party for Winter on the Mountain, which starts at 5 p.m. It will be a festive event to start the winter season! With the park covered in twinkling lights (including lighted rides and caves), a giant musical Christmas tree lighting at 7 p.m., live music and a visit from Santa Claus, Winter on the Mountain is dazzling fun for the whole family.

By donating a turkey, you’ll be eligible to receive a discounted Winter Funday Pass. For just $25, you can enjoy both walking cave tours and unlimited access to the Alpine Coaster, Soaring Eagle Zip Ride, laser tag arena and 4D Motion Theater.

For more information, visit our Park Info page. We hope to see you at the Park on Saturday, Nov. 19!

Two More Weeks of Mountain Fall Festival!

Have you made it up to the Mountain Fall Festival? If not, no worries! There’s plenty of time to head up Iron Mountain to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where autumn fun awaits!
The park is still alive with fall colors, and there are lots of great photo opportunities all over the park. It’s a beautiful place to enjoy your fall day.

Every day of the week, we have autumn decorations, a pumpkin patch, and Oktoberfest food and drink specials, including brats & kraut, seasonal beer and a Bloody Mary bar. We’ve also got spiked cider, hot chocolate and other cozy fall drinks. On Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., we ramp up the festivities with hayrides, kids games (with prizes!), face painting and pumpkin decorating. Kids can also participate in a sticker scavenger hunt! Watch our Fall Festival video to see what the festival is all about.

As always, you can enjoy our thrill rides and attractions. Get a spectacular view of the valley on the Soaring Eagle Zip Line and the Glenwood Canyon Flyer, or watch your little one’s face light up on the Wild West Express kid’s coaster. Zoom down through beautiful fall foliage on the Alpine Coaster, and then experience the magic and wonder waiting underground on one of our Cave Tours. Buy a Funday Pass for a whole day of fun at a great value.

Saturday, October 22 brings the band Alpine Echo up to the mountaintop, where they will play Octoberfest tunes all day long. Founding member Gerhard Rill is originally from Bavaria, Germany. He came to Colorado and started making music, and soon partnered with Bill Rill (also from Bavaria) and John Pataky (from Hungary). Together, the trio formed Alpine Echo. Joe Pologar of Leadville, Colorado later came on board to round out the band’s sound. The foursome performs festive, lively tunes that are a treat for the ears!

To celebrate the band, we’re bringing back Can-for-a-Tram: On October 22, bring at least one can of food to donate for a free tram ride to the top. Can-for-a-Tram benefits Lift-Up, a non-proft organization that provides humanitarian aid to struggling families and individuals in our community.

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Mardi Gras at Glenwood Caverns is a family friendly event

For more information, visit the Fall Festival page. The festival runs until October 30, and there are still two Saturdays left. We hope to see you soon!

Race for the kids!

Looking for something fun to do on the weekend, that also happens to be for a great cause? Look no further! Youth Zone Ascent and Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park are partnering to host the First Annual 5K Race on Saturday, October 8. Participants are invited to run, hike, bike or segway from Two Rivers Park up to Glenwood Caverns, where they can enjoy a full day of fun. Of course, other modes of transport are also welcome. For example, if any children have one of the best selling stunt scooters, they are more than welcome to participate in this race too. As this race is in support of Youth Zone Ascent, everyone is welcome to join in, no matter how they want to take part. Participators are welcome to come and have fun for a great deal with a 50% off Funday Pass!

If you are biking or riding a Segway, meet at Two Rivers at 9:00 am. If you are hiking or running, the start time is 9:30 am. You can also take the Scenic Tram if you feel like a more relaxed ride up; it’s all just about having fun! The entry fee is $25 if you register online before the race or $30 on race day. All proceeds go to supporting Youth Zone Ascent. You’ll get a t-shirt and a breakfast burrito to start your day off right as part of your entry fee.

YouthZone Ascent has been around since the 1970s and is an important organization in our community. They are focused on providing services to youths ages 6 to 18 years, and provide services to more than 1,000 young people a year. Originally founded by a group of parents concerned about drug use among youths, YouthZone Ascent provides recreational activities as well as information and education about the dangers of drug use, as well as teaching them about drug testing, different test types such as a urine test and more. They focus on three areas of assistance: prevention, intervention, and volunteerism. YouthZone Ascent is committed to the health and well-being of our young people, and the 5K race is a great way to support them while also getting some exercise and getting some thrills at the park!

For more information or to register, visit Youth Zone Ascent. For information on all cave tours, rides and attractions available with the Funday Pass, head to our homepage. We hope to see you on Saturday for 5K and a day worth of good times for a good cause!

Lift-Up: “A beaming light in a trying time of darkness”

As most people familiar with Music on the Mountain know, we partner with the non-profit organization Lift-Up for Can for a Tram, a program that collects cans of food at the tram base at every concert. We also collect turkeys in November for Lift-Up’s Thanksgiving meals during our Turkey-Tram-a-Ganza event. We thought we would shine a spotlight on this important organization that’s helped thousands of people all over the region!

Lift-Up began during the oil shale boom in Rifle, when workers flooded into the area, looking for jobs but living in cars and under bridges. In the ensuing oil shale bust in the 1980s, Lift-Up was invaluable when Exxon closed overnight and 2,000 people were suddenly unemployed. Ever since, they’ve been a facilitator for the community to respond to people in need.

While food collection and donation is a big part of their program, they do much more. “Lift-Up’s mission is to provide essential humanitarian assistance in the communities we serve,” says Kim Loving, Lift-Up’s director. “We serve the unemployed, underemployed and homeless in our communities.”

To show the impact they have, let’s look at the year 2015: in that year alone, Lift-Up gave out over 35,000 bags of groceries! They assisted 42,872  people in 2015 with everything from groceries, prescriptions, thrift store vouchers, bus passes, emergency help, and soup kitchen meals. Last year, Lift-Up assembled and distributed 1,738 food baskets during the holidays. “To me, our numbers served show the impact we have on the community,” Loving points out.

There are also the personal stories that put a face to the individuals that Lift-Up helps. Take the case of Lisa (name changed for privacy), a struggling mother who was at her wit’s end:
“This past winter, we found ourselves in need of help. We had mounting medical bills due to a sick child, and I was sick myself. This resulted in numerous ER visits and surgeries. We didn’t have medical insurance at the time so the bills added up quickly. We paid $800 a month in medical bills on top of a mortgage and other various bills. Soon, we were struggling to keep food in the pantry and on the table. In November, one of our debtors decided to raise our bill significantly, and would sue us if we didn’t keep up. This was most of our budget for food. We had no choice but to swallow our pride and reach out for help. I reached out to a friend who told me about Lift-Up and what it was all about. I remember crying all the way down to Lift-Up, thanking God that there was someplace that could help us keep our children fed.

When we arrived, I didn’t know what to expect. Debi, a Lift-Up employee, was so wonderful and just started filling boxes and bags of food for our family. She was so sweet and caring. There was no judgement; just love.
Lift Up helped us get through Thanksgiving and Christmas. They helped me with jackets and snow pants for my kids, so they could be warm during winter. We are so grateful for Lift-Up and what they did for our family. They were a beaming light in a trying time of darkness. We appreciate them and we are eternally grateful for providing what we needed and for their love and compassion.”

The organization is always trying to branch out and fulfill needs that aren’t being taken care of. Lift-Up began a new Mobile Friday Lunch program last November, in collaboration with the school district. Kids going to Garfield RE2 schools only go four days a week, so Lift-Up makes and distributes a nutritious sack lunch at three lower-income locations in Rifle on the days when school is not in session.

“We have distributed over 1,800 lunches so far in 2016. This program has been such a blessing for Lift-Up. I personally enjoy handing out the lunches to the kids. They have been so thankful and a joy to be around!” exclaims Loving.

During Turkey Tram-a-Ganza, people donating turkeys get free tram rides to the top of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

“I would encourage anyone who can to come join us and hand out lunches on Fridays. We start at 11:00 at Davidson Park in Rifle and end up at Joyce Park at 12:00. The middle stop is Cottonwood Springs Park, which begins at 11:30. The smiles and thank you’s are so worth it, even when it is really cold out.”

If you’d like to donate to Lift-Up in other ways, Loving says, “we are always in need of donated food items or even gift cards from grocery stores, where we can purchase meat for the pantries. Monetary donations are welcomed too!” A full list of items Lift-Up always wants on their shelves can help guide you.

“I would like the community to know that all of Lift-Ups’s programs wouldn’t be possible without the support we have received. I can’t ever thank everyone enough,” Loving concluded.

Bring at least one can of food to donate to Lift-Up and receive a FREE tram ride to the top for Music on the Mountain this weekend, and every Music on the Mountain show in the future. Thank you for making a positive impact on our community! For more information about upcoming concerts, visit Music on the Mountain.

Music on the Mountain is back!

Our popular concert series returns August 20th after a mid-summer hiatus! Music on the Mountain, showcasing local and regional bands, has been a staple in the Glenwood Springs, Colorado live music scene for eight seasons now. Music on the Mountain also helps to serve the community. By collecting canned goods for Lift-Up in exchange for a free tram ride to the top, we’ve been able to donate thousands of cans to needy families in the Roaring Fork Valley. In the 2016 season alone, our Can for a Tram program has collected 2,571 cans so far!

Kicking off the August concerts is Fifty50, a local rock band who have won many Local’s Choice Awards over the years. Beth Getzen Stoltzfus, Dave Stoltzfus, Dale Loper, Jerry Larsen and Tom Mercer play covers of favorite tunes and original music, and they’re known for a special blend of instrumental energy and unique harmonies.

They’ll be followed the next week by the Gerry Goodman Band, a rockin’ trio that plays classic rock. The band specializes in Stevie Ray Vaughan tunes, paying tribute to one of the most influential electric guitarists of all time.

Music on the Mountain returns August 20th with Fifty50

September 10th brings us “A Tribute to Bob Dylan and The Band.” This special night will bring together a select group of valley musicians to honor Americana music at its best. Folk, rock, bluegrass and gospel music blend together for a magical evening!

September 11th, a special Sunday show, showcases The Orchard and New Creation Church. Bringing faith-based music to the mountain, these local church groups will celebrate worship and spirituality with their passionate, uplifting music.

On September 17th, Fifty50 makes a return to Music on the Mountain, bringing back their infectious enthusiasm and love for music.

The Missing Link Band will close out the 2016 Music on the Mountain series on September 24th. Fans love this local band for their diverse sound and energetic performances. It’s been a tradition for the Missing Link Band to play the last show of the season, and they always make it a party!

Don’t forget to bring at least one can of food to donate for a free tram ride to the top, where there will be amazing views, great food and drink specials waiting for you. Can for a Tram starts at 4pm and music is from 6 to 10pm (except for the Sunday show with The Orchard and New Creation Church, which has a Can for a Tram start at 2pm and music from 4 to 8pm). For more information, visit Music on the Mountain.

August 16th is National Roller Coaster Day!

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 16th and get ready to scream: it’s National Roller Coaster Day! We will  be celebrating at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park by riding the nation’s highest roller coaster, the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster. There will be prize giveaways, including Annual Thrill Passes for the 100th and 300th Cliffhanger riders!

At a whopping 7,100 feet above sea level, the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster overlooks Glenwood Canyon and the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Riding the Cliffhanger is a breathtaking experience with unbelievable views, and it’s the perfect way to celebrate roller coasters!

 

The Cliffhanger Roller Coaster offers incredible views and huge thrills!

National Roller Coaster Day 2016 celebrates 138 years of roller coasters, starting in 1878 when a U.S. patent was awarded to Richard Knudsen and J.G. Taylor for a design that would eventually be called a wooden roller coaster. Roller coasters enjoyed a boom in popularity in the late 1910s and early 1920s. The most famous of the roller coasters from that era is the historic Coney Island Cyclone, built in 1927, which is still in operation today.

Today, wood and steel roller coasters are bigger and better than ever. The Kingda Ka Coaster, in the Six Flags Great Adventure Park, is the word’s highest coaster. Kingda Ka is 456 feet off the ground; about 23 giraffes stacked on top of each other! The coaster drops 416 feet from the first hill: not for the faint of heart!

Have the need for speed? The Formula Rossa coaster in Dubai is the world’s fastest roller coaster, with a top speed of 149 miles per hour. Riding the Formula Rossa, you’ll experience the same g-forces as Formula 1 drivers!

Roller coasters provide all different kinds of experiences, but they have one thing in common: they are all a lot of fun! We’re excited to be a part of National Roller Coaster Day, and we hope you’ll join us on August 16th for roller coaster thrills! We will be open from 10am to 6pm. Regular admission applies. For more information, visit our park info page.

Glenwood Caverns honored with four Locals’ Choice Awards

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park was honored with four Post Independent Locals’ Choice Awards, announced on June 17 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, at Strawberry Days! We’re thrilled to be recognized as a favorite destination among the members of the community. The awards received were:

Best Local Attraction  (Gold)

Best Place for Family Fun (Gold)
Best Place to View the Sunset (Gold)
Best Live Music Venue (Bronze)

“I continue to be honored by the recognition that our park gets from our locals!” says Nancy Heard, General Manager at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.  “I realize that our cave and location atop the mountain helps position us for Best Attraction and Best Place to View a Sunset, but I’m so proud of our staff who take the guest service experience to a higher level and make us the Best Place for Family Fun.”

“I walked through the park yesterday and saw so many busy people readying the park for the day. Once our guests arrived, they greeted them with a warm welcome and a genuine ‘how can I help?’ I was very proud,” Heard says.

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and Iron Mountain Hot Springs staff receive 2016 Post Independent Locals’ Choice Awards

In addition to the Locals’ Choice Awards, the park’s cave was honored last spring with a 10Best Award from USA TODAY. Nominees were chosen by a panel of cave experts, and then the public voted online for their favorites. The 10Best Award highlighted the “crown jewel” of the park, the cave tours. Although the thrill rides have received a lot of attention, the cave is still the top attraction and the reason that Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park exists. This was the third time the park has been recognized by USA TODAY. Previously, the cave was named one of the Top 10 Places to Go Underground and the Alpine Coaster was chosen as one of the 10Best Roller-coaster Rides of Your Life.

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park also received a 2016 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor gives a Certificate of Excellence to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers. It it the fourth year in a row that the park has received the TripAdvisor honor.

“Our Mission Statement is to ‘Make People Smile.’ This mission was created by our owners, Steve and Jeanne Beckley. It couldn’t be any simpler and certainly couldn’t be more genuine. The mission has passed the test of time and continues to be embraced by our management and staff, which is the reason we continue to get recognized,” says Heard.

Thank you to all who make Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park what it is; from the hard-working employees to the guests exploring the caves and screaming along the thrill rides to the community who recognizes the park’s mission! Come visit us and see why we’re the place to be for family fun, amazing views and awesome adventure!

We want to make you smile in 2021

Free Funday Passes to Royal Gorge Bridge

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Offers Free Funday Passes to Royal Gorge Bridge and Park Annual Passholders

In a show of solidarity for the Colorado amusement industry, loyal fans of the iconic Royal Gorge Bridge and Park have another option this summer, and it’s free. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, based in Glenwood Springs, is offering a one-day pass at no cost to all current Royal Gorge annual passholders.

The owners of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park know how important loyal fans are to the success of any business and they’re big fans of Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. Following the tragic fire that closed this Colorado landmark, the Adventure Park is offering current Royal Gorge Bridge and Park annual passholders a free one-day pass anytime during 2013. It’s going to be a big event, with pop up tents and activities for the family to celebrate this wonderful bridge. The mountaintop park that’s home to Glenwood Caverns and the Historic Fairy Caves, thrill rides and family activities is based in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

“Our hearts went out to everyone at Royal Gorge Bridge and Park last week,” said Steve Beckley, who owns Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park with his wife Jeanne. “Each year we take our whole management team to visit another theme park that’s known for its excellent customer service. We visited Royal Gorge in 2011, and everyone had a lot of fun. We were all impressed with their operation and are hopeful that they can rebuild and reopen very soon.”

In the meantime, Royal Gorge passholders can enjoy a day at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park on the house. The Funday Pass includes a ride on the Iron Mountain Tramway and park admission, two walking cave tours and unlimited access to the Alpine Coaster, Giant Canyon Swing, Cliffhanger Roller Coaster, Soaring Eagle Zip Ride, Wild West Express family coaster, Mine Wheel, GiddyUp, Fort WhereAmI giant maze, 4D Motion Theater, climbing wall and laser tag arena.

To claim the free one-day pass, Royal Gorge Bridge and Park annual passholders can bring a valid annual pass and a photo ID to the ticket office at the base of the Iron Mountain Tramway at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. The offer is limited to one Funday Pass per passholder; for family passes, the offer is good for the same number of family members covered by the Royal Gorge pass. Anyone with questions about the pass is encouraged to call 800-530-1635, ext. 0.

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. this summer, with the last tram ride up at 8:30 p.m. For more information, including fall and winter hours of operation, visit https://www.glenwoodcaverns.com or call 800-530-1635 or 970-945-4228, ext. 0.

Night Plane Descends on Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park this Saturday

Get ready for longtime local favorites Night Plane, who will be playing originals and classic hits at Music on the Mountain this weekend. Although they are often joined by additional musicians, this weekend’s Night Plane will be an acoustic trio comprised of Jimmy Dykann, Haden Gregg, and John Zajicek. Night Plane has been in existence since 1979, and they have been all over the country together: they recorded their debut album Night Plane in Los Angeles in 1982 and completed another album in New York in the 1990s. They are currently promoting a re-release of their first album on vinyl, which features four new original songs.

Veteran local band Night Plane to play free concert Saturday, June 8

“We mix it up, we like to play old rock and blues classics, maybe throw some reggae in there, but we also write a lot of our own material,” says Dykann. Dykann and Gregg are the primary songwriters, and they have been writing together since before they even had a band, in the 1970s. “We mainly just like to write about what’s going on in our lives,” added Dykann.

Night Plane has been out in California doing shows to promote the re-release, but they are back in the Valley for the summer. They play mostly private parties, but they will be appearing July 3rd in the park in Basalt and also at a benefit for the Aspen Deaf Camp with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band this summer.

The band has played with the likes of John Denver, Jimmy Buffett, and a ton of other musicians who passed through the Roaring Fork Valley throughout the decades. “We played with just about everybody that came through in the ‘70s and ‘80s. We opened a lot of shows. There’s been a good group of local players here for 40 years and we’ve had a lot of great shows around here.”

This will be Night Plane’s second appearance at Music on the Mountain. “We’re looking forward to going up on the mountain and playing. It’s always fun,” says Dykann. “The views, the people…it’s a great concert venue. We love it; outdoor shows are what we love. We were well-received last year, a lot of our friends came up. It’s always nice to have locals come to our shows.”

Don’t miss the chance to see these Colorado legends in their element, mountaintop this Saturday, June 8 for a free concert.  Bring at least one can of food for a free tram ride to the top, where you can enjoy rides, drink specials, and much more. It will also be the last Music on the Mountain concert until August, so make sure to follow Dykann’s advice and “Come see us!”

For ticket information, go to Glenwood Caverns’ Music on the Mountain