Summer Fun Going Strong in Glenwood Springs

Summer activities are in high gear in Glenwood Springs

Even as we all adjust to a new normal that includes face coverings and social distancing, you can continue to enjoy many of the activities you’ve always loved to do in Glenwood Springs. In addition to rides, attractions and cave tours at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, there’s rafting, biking, fishing, comedy shows, outdoor dining, hot springs and much more!

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Pro Tips for Navigating Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Happy faces at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
Happy faces at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

You wouldn’t visit the Magic Kingdom without a having plan; similarly, for a 5-star experience, use these strategies for navigating Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park during the peak summer season.

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is a top activity choice for visitors to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. It rates right up there with soaking in hot springs, rafting in Glenwood Canyon and hiking to Hanging Lake, all of which reach the pinnacle of visitation during the summer months when kids and families take time off to travel. Having a strategy for navigating our theme park will help ensure a satisfying experience.

Our Best Insider Advice for Navigating the Park

Purchase tickets in advance.  Buying tickets ahead of time is convenient and you’ll spend less time waiting in the line to take the Glenwood Gondola to the mountaintop theme park. You can also save 5 percent using promo code BUYONLIN5P.

The best value. Our Funday Pass hands-down offers the biggest bang for your buck. It includes everything—the Glenwood Gondola, unlimited turns on rides and attractions and both cave tours.

Know height requirements. All of the thrill rides require riders to be a minimum height  to ensure safety and we’re sticklers about it. Family attractions also have restrictions. We’d rather see you back next year when your child easily meets the height requirement than have to tell you sorry after you’ve stood in line on a hot day.

Check for ride closures. For a variety of reasons, we sometimes we have to close rides. Sometimes it’s a short delay, perhaps due to a thunderstorm passing through. In the event it’s a longer closure we let guests know by posting it to the website under Park Info>Rides & Attractions Status. If you’ve been dreaming about riding the Alpine Coaster, rather than be disappointed that it’s closed, we recommend checking the status page before arriving.

Dress code. Wear comfortable clothing and non-flip-flop shoes; bring a light jacket for cave tours and a hat and sunglasses for sun protection.

Visit early or late. To avoid the crowds, come when the park opens at 9 a.m. and head straight for the rides you most want to enjoy. The Park stays open until 9 p.m., seven days per week, until August 11 when we will start closing at 6 p.m. on weekdays. Until then, evenings after 5 p.m. are another great way to miss the midday traffic.

Eat early or late. Avoid the lunch rush hour at the Lookout Grille by eating before 11:30 a.m. or after 1:30 p.m.  Alternatively, enjoy a lighter meal outside at Snack Shack.

Beat the heat. The sun’s rays are strongest in the afternoon. Cool off with midday cave tours.  On a hot summer day, the caverns internal temperature is a refreshing 52°F. Other ways to beat the heat include attending a 4-D Theater show which takes place every 15 minutes. The misters will cool you off outside while the air-conditioned interior of the theater will keep you comfortable inside.

Use our free stuff. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is located at an elevation of 7,100 feet. At higher elevations like ours the chances of getting sunburned or dehydrated increase. Complimentary sunscreen is available at the guest services shack in the plaza, and there is free ice water available at the Lookout Grille. We encourage you to use both as often as necessary.

Rain, rain, go away. Afternoon thundershowers are a regular part of summers in the high country. The good news is they roll through quickly. Many people choose to leave when it starts raining, but we advise sticking it out as the storms tend to pass quickly.

Leave it outside. Caring for our caves is another top priority at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. Contact with the outside air, detritus, food, drinks, bumping or dropping things inside the caves can create irreparable damage. That’s why we ask you to leave your backpacks, handbags, snacks, water bottles, toys, strollers, etc. outside the cave entrance. If you’re not comfortable with that, we offer lockers where you can store your belongings.

Now that you have a handle on navigating Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, make plans to visit today.

10 Ways to Keep the Summer Fun Going in Colorado

Colorado is cool in the summertime. Keep the fun going with these 10 outside activities you can enjoy across the state.

In addition to the high-flying summer fun at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, America’s only mountaintop theme park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, the entire rest of the state is a playground of outdoor adventures!

    1. Go wild. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Also giraffes, rhinoceroses, elephants, wolves, and alligators are waiting for you at major zoos. Check out the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, and the Colorado Gators Reptile Park in Mosca.
    2. Take a hike. Smell the wildflowers at Yankee Boy Basin near Ouray, Shrine Pass near Frisco, or Lake Isabel near Colorado City. Enjoy the waterfalls at Hanging Lake near Glenwood Springs, Seven Falls in Colorado Springs, or Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride. Retrace history on the Santa Fe Trail’s Sierra Vista Overlook near La Junta, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Pueblo dwellings in Montezuma County, Skyline Drive dinosaur tracks near Cañon City. View elk at Horseshoe Park in Rocky Mountain National Park, bighorn sheep and mountain goats at Mount Evans Wilderness Area near Idaho Springs, and moose at State Forest State Park near Walden.
    3. Camp out. Find cabins and yurts at Golden Gate Canyon State Park near Golden; wilderness backpacking at West Fork Campground near Pagosa Springs, Trappers Lake near Meeker, and Ansel Watrous Campground near Bellvue; and lakeside tent and RV sites at Elk Creek Campground near Grand Lake, Cherry Creek State Park near Aurora, and John Martin Reservoir State Park near Hasty; and amazing views at Silver Bar Campground near Aspen and Moraine Park Campground near Estes Park.
    4. Ride a bike It’s summer, so you can pedal down the ski slopes on Vail Mountain, Purgatory, and Keystone Resort, with a ride-up on the gondolas. You’ll find bike parks at Winter Park Resort, Lory State Park near Fort Collins, and Palmer Park in Colorado Springs, and paved routes in Glenwood Springs, Denver, Vail, and Golden. Mountain biking was invented at Crested Butte, where you can find a great singletrack rides.
    5. Float your boat. Waterski at Navajo State Park, Jackson Lake State Park, and Blue Mesa Reservoir; canoe at Lake Granby in Granby, Gross Reservoir near Eldorado Springs, and the Colorado River near Palisade; fish at Grand Mesa Lakes near Cedaredge, Lake Pueblo State Park, and Steamboat Lake State Park; sail at Lake Dillon in Dillon, Grand Lake, and the Ruedi Reservoir in Basalt.
    6. Swing your club. Golf at mountain courses such as Pole Creek Golf Club, Copper Creek Golf Club, Breckenridge Golf Course, among rock formations at Arrowhead Golf Course and dinosaur footprints at Fossil Trace Golf Club, or on the highest course on the continent at Mount Massive Golf Course.
    7. Go underground. Get out of the sun at Cave of the Winds in Manitou Springs, Rifle Falls State Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Whit4e River National Forest and our own Glenwood Caverns.
    8. Eat & Drink. As the fruit ripens across the season, check out the peach, cherry, and apple orchards and the wineries on the Western Slope, especially around Palisade, Grand Junction, Paonia, Hotchkiss and Cedaredge.
    9. Paddle whitewater. Go for the fast water in the Arkansas River Headwaters near Salida, Gunnison Gorge near Gunnison or Browns Canyon National Monument near Buena Vista. Take it a little milder at Glenwood Canyon near Glenwood Springs, Ruby Canyon near Grand Junction, or Eagle River near Gypsum. Take it easy at Cottonwood Lake near Buena Vista, Pearl Lake State Park, or Barr Lake State Park. For whitewater, hit Confluence Park in Denver; Clear Creek Whitewater Park, Glenwood Springs Whitewater Park, or Gunnison Whitewater Park.
    10. Get festive. Join the celebrations at the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival July 6-15, the Hot Air Balloon Rodeo July 14-15 in Steamboat Springs, the Denver Underground Music Showcase July 26-29, the Vail Dance Festival July 28-Aug. 11, the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo Aug. 28-Sept. 3, and A Taste of Colorado in Denver Aug. 31-Sept. 3.
Explore Glenwood's many hiking trails

Summer Holidays to Celebrate at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

You’re familiar with Independence and Labor Day— summer holidays traditionally celebrated with family and friends. However, these lesser known occasions, while obscure, can be just as much fun!

It’s summer, and at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park as far as we’re concerned that means every day is a great reason to have fun, do something different or daring, hang out with your peeps, eat your favorite foods and most of all make memories that live on long after the season ends. Sure, Fourth of July and Labor Day are day-off-from-work celebrations, but these off-beat “alternative” holidays add novel new reasons to get going, get-together and get busy doing something out-of-the-ordinary.

July is National Anti-Boredom Month. July is the half-way point of summer vacations. Filling the days between now and back-to-school can leave kids and their parents feeling restless. Annihilate boredom at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. A mountaintop of thrill rides, attractions and cave tours keeps the fun flying, zipping and soaring along!

Friday the Thirteenth. July 13th lands on a Friday this year. Instead of hiding from cats walking under ladders and avoiding broken mirrors, why not face your fears instead? Our thrill rides will give you plenty of opportunities to do just that. The Giant Canyon Swing launches riders out 1,300 feet above Glenwood Canyon; the 

The Alpine Coaster  and Cliffside Roller Coaster will have you on the edge of your seat as the G-forces kick in. There’s no better day than Friday the 13th for a screaming good time!

National Hot Dog Day is July 18. Theme parks and hot dogs go together like funnel cakes and whipped cream which we have as well.  Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park has three locations to grab a bite to eat. The Lookout Grille which has a full menu of options including burgers, wraps and salads; the Popcorn Wagon is perfect for grab-and-go options like cinnamon glazed nuts, funnel cakes, corn dogs and popcorn; and the Snack Shack in the plaza features pizza, brats, ice cream, sno-cones and of course hot dogs!

August is Family Fun Month. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park was voted Best for Family Entertainment in the 2018 Glenwood Post Independent Locals’ Choice Awards. For families with younger kids the Park’s small attractions are exciting without being too scary. In addition to cave tours, the 4-D theater, laser tag, Wild West Express, Giddy Up ride, Mine Wheel, climbing wall and new sluice box provide hours of entertainment. Older kids and teens tend to favor the park’s thrill rides. A melodrama show, Trouble Bubbles at Iron Mountain Hot Springs gets laughs from all ages.

Just Because Day. This is one of our favorite oddball holidays. Every day, all of us do the things that are expected or required of us because we have to. Well, on National Just Because Day, celebrated on Aug. 27, that does not apply.  This day is a chance to do something without rhyme or reason like go to a theme park located on top of a mountain —just because.

Autumnal Equinox. Sept. 22, marks the day first day of fall; thankfully it still feels like summer. As for sky-gazing, there’s no better place to watch a Glenwood Springs sunset than from the viewing deck at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. Glenwood Caverns was also voted the Best Place to Watch a Sunset in the 2018 Locals’ Choice awards.

All of these are great reasons to get out and do something fun and different like visit Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. Pick a day, any day and make it special however you please!

5 Reasons to Love Summer Evenings at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Ah, those summer nights! How we love them and so will you! Learn why evenings are extra-special at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

  1. Fewer people. Summertime is peak season at America’s only mountaintop theme park. With the award-winning thrill rides, cave tours and a slew of kid-friendly attractions, it’s no wonder that as soon as school’s out for the summer families head to Glenwood Springs, Colorado and Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. While the park can handle a crowd, for anyone who prefers a quieter experience, we recommend visiting towards the end of the day. Even if you arrive at 4 p.m., you can still get a full five hours of exploring, adventure and fun in before the park closes at 9 p.m.
  2. Free music. Throughout the months of June, August and September, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park hosts weekly concerts. The Music on the Mountain series features artists playing a variety of genres from rock and country to blues and funk. To catch one of shows, bring a canned item (like soup or beans) to the tram base beginning at 4 p.m. (2 p.m. on Sundays) on the day of the show. You’ll ride the tram for free (a $16 value) and help those less fortunate. Music starts at 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 4 p.m. on Sundays. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park also kicks off its popular Friday Afternoon Club on the Mountain summer series on June 15, with free tram rides, live music and food and drink specials from 5 – 8:30 p.m. The park’s FAC also includes a free tram ride with a coupon that appears in the Post Independent on Fridays. The coupon is valid for free rides up the mountain for up to four people starting at 4 p.m.

  3. Winning sunsets. For five years running, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park has been voted a Local’s Choice Gold Award for the Best Place to View a Sunset, by readers of the Glenwood Springs Post Independent! There’s no better vantage point to watch the sun do its nightly dive behind the horizon than from the viewing deck of the Lookout Grille. Evening light combined with panoramic vistas makes for spectacular images. Highlights include snowcapped Mt. Sopris and the Elk Range to the south, the Roaring Fork River Valley in all its emerald glory, the dual waterways of the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers, and West Glenwood Springs as the street lights come on for the night. If there are clouds in the vicinity, you’ll witness a masterpiece sky awash in colors. It’s official—we truly have the best sunsets!

  4. A cool breeze. Summers, even in the mountains of Colorado, can be sweltering with temperatures in the upper 90s on the hottest days. Fortunately, when the sun sets the temperatures drop, especially at the Adventure Park’s elevation of 7,100 feet above sea level. Evening visits are often ideal, with temperatures dipping significantly and late afternoon breezes rolling in. If you’re heat averse, this is best time to visit Glenwood Caverns.

  5. Dinner with a view. For a casual dinner that’s literally above the rest, you can’t beat a meal at the Lookout Grille. The restaurant serves all your favorites including appetizers, daily specials, burgers, gyros, vegetarian options, a kid’s menu, cold beer, wine, lemonade, root beer and more. Best of all, every meal comes with that unforgettable view we mentioned in #3!

Consider yourself invited for the evening. Learn more the Park’s offerings, hours and events at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

Best table in Glenwood Springs is at the Lookout Grille at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park!

5 Reasons to Have Your Company Picnic at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Having fun in 2021 at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
Having fun in 2021 at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Gather your team for an annual company picnic that pays dividends all year long at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, a team-building destination for businesses where fun is the chart-topping trend!

Company picnics done right are memorable events that enable employees to bond over shared experiences. A day dedicated to letting loose and having fun is also a great way to blow off steam and see alternate sides of colleagues and office mates. Choosing the right place to hold a company picnic is central to pulling off one that pays high returns on the investment. As a business that values its own employees, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park understands the importance of keeping your workforce engaged whether you have 10 employees or hundreds like we do.

  1. Easy to plan. Chances are your company doesn’t have a dedicated event planner, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park does. Our group sales office can guide you through the entire process. Choose from several themed menus like a fajita bar or barbeque spread. Serve adult beverages such as beer, wine or cocktails or hold an alcohol-free event. It’s up to you. Whatever you decide, our on-staff event planners will guide through every step of the process.
  2. Show your appreciation. Your employees work hard to make your business successful. A company picnic is a way for you, as an employer, to show your gratitude for a job well done. When you take time to do something out of the ordinary—like plan this year’s company outing at a mountaintop theme park—it’s not something they’re going to forget!
  3. Build team cohesion. At work, it’s easy for employees to focus on the specific job they are tasked to do. While company-wide meetings bring the office together, seeing one another in an off-site environment can help departments, and even colleagues who are just cubicles away from one another connect on a deeper, more meaningful level. A company picnic is a great way to improve corporate culture. More connectivity among workers means a more integrated workforce all striving for the same goal. Put simply, it’s good for business.
  4. Support families. It’s likely the majority of your employees have spouses, children, and girlfriends or boyfriends. When you invite the whole family to join in the company picnic it signals your employees that their life outside the office is important to you as well as their ability to get the job done at work. Glenwood Caverns is a family-friendly group destination with rides and attractions suitable for most ages.
  5. Have fun. The company picnic is first and foremost about having a great time together and sharing smiles, food and experiences as a group. Where better to do that than at a mountaintop theme park? For those who crave excitement, our thrill rides will have your most outgoing personnel screaming for more; our cave tours led by extroverted guides are informative and entertaining; the park’s smaller attractions keep kids enthralled for hours. Company picnics at the park are always scheduled from 4-9 p.m. when the park tends to be less crowded and temperatures are cooler. Snap photos of your crew to post on your social media, or let us take your group photo for you.
Giant Canyon Swing Glenwood Caverns

Benefits of a Family Vacation

Family at Glenwood Caverns
Glenwood Caverns is hiring

 

As ordinary life gets busier and busier, the benefits of taking a family vacation become more important for each member of the family as well as for the group as a whole. From the planning and travel to the experience and the memories, vacations promote a sense of connection, relaxation, adventure, excitement, spontaneity, and affection that lasts long after the return to the routine.

Parents remember the importance of vacations in their own lives and relationships. In a 2013 poll conducted by Harris Interactive for the U.S. Travel Association, nearly two-thirds of adults said family vacations form their earliest memories, even more than birthdays and school events. Two-thirds of the young people surveyed expect to have the same fond memories, and more than half said the experiences bring their family closer together. Bonus: when grandparents went along, more than three-fourths of the children reported enjoying quality time with the older generation.

Family-cave-tour-at-Glenwood-Caverns

Planning a vacation together, including research on destinations, provides a special opportunity for cooperative conversation, mutual responsibility, and shared expectations that boost the chances for a successful trip. Children and teenagers who feel included and respected, rather than told what to do, are less likely to complain if parts of the common plan aren’t as convenient or exciting as expected. Everyone is expected to exercise patience when the agreed-on road trip feels long.

Encountering new people, places, and experiences on a vacation is an important educational experience for children (adults too!). It expands their horizons, gives them new material for reflection and understanding, and even stimulates positive chemical reactions in the brain. Some recent neuroscience studies suggest that vacations can be an important way to develop the “play” and “seek” systems that release compounds associated with warm feelings and stress reduction.