CHeyenne Mountain Zoo and a side trip to Denver

[Roo719]

Dear all,

As you all know, I live here on the Front Range in Colorado Springs--another tourist mecca, if you will. There's a bunch to see and do all within about 30 minutes from my home--which is a great thing these days. I have my summer off as an educator and I usually use this time to physically escape to visit family and friends. However, recent medical issues have kept me lassoed to the home front. As part of this process, my partner and I decided to join up with annual passes to our own nearby zoo.

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo used to be the private collection of Spencer Penrose, one of our city's founders and builder of the famed Broadmoor hotel, located nearby. Upon his passing, the animals became public to the city and as such, the zoo was created.

Now, an important note about this tiny zoo---it is located on a mountainside. Many visitors (and many, many locals as well) find that going up and down hills all day leaves one huffing and puffing. Several times the city has been voted the healthiest---this is probably the reason why. Going anywhere in our little hamlet involves grasping for oxygen. Even with my size, I go visit either coast I'm in great shape from merely living here.

Also, if any of you remember, or know your military history---this is the same Cheyenne Mountain found in the movie WarGames and home to NORAD (basically a huge military base underground).

This is no Disney's Animal Kingdom, but has a certain charm that we appreciate. Most of the tourist attractions in this area are natural--Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods and Pike National Forest. We can't compete with those.

Or Disney.

So, on with the show!

Here's the entrance:



It was Cub Scout/Boy Scout this day. Most people tend to go in the morning--mountain weather will usually bring storms after lunch.

The first area is the Africa Flatlands (which is ironic, being a few thousand feet above sea level!). In the distance, you can see how high up we are. The Boabab tree in the foreground does talk about the area and has a see-through floor into the warthog enclosure.



Meerkats are on display...yeah, Timon as you might know him.



And then there are the "TALL BLONDES." Cheyenne Mountain has a very successful giraffe breeding program. And, due to the layout of the mountain, they can be kept lower then the guests---making it easy to feed and pet them. Sure, Sea World has their seals and dolphins and rays. We have purple, prehensile tongued giraffes. And yes, I ran and washed my hands within thirty seconds of giving the beasts their fiberous crackers.



Considering how long it took for me to upload all of these pictures (not out of difficulty...merely out of practice!) I'll stop it here and continue in a moment.

COMING SOON:
*) Various other critters
*) ROOS!
*) Penelope gets a needed bath

PEACE!
Roo

[Roo719]

Okay, part 2--let's see what we can get here...

First off, this should give you an idea of the beauty of the mountainside:



The chairlift is a separate, ticketed attraction. A complete waste of time--it goes up and comes back down. It doesn't go over any part of the cages. It's as if they hurried and built it for this season and then ran out of budget.

So yes, we rode it:







Dang, probably should show some animals in the next post, eh? How's about the new exhibit? Rocky Mountain Wild!

Peace,
Roo

[Roo719]

Okay, the main reason we went was to see animals, no? The original zoo was built in the 1920s. However, with all of the business they have been having lately, they've added some seriously cool new enclosures. This year, along with the chairlift, we have "Rocky Mountain Wild."

To hear the docent tell it, so many tourists come to the area but do not really get to see the native wildlife--and when they do, it's only in passing. So, these displays were created to encourage people to understand the unique ecosystem.

Dang, I must be a teacher.

So here are some locals for you...

Porcupine, doing the tree snooze thing-



An excellent display of the mountain lions. This one is a tunnel that goes right through the enclosure and gives a very up-close and personal view of the beasties. These are also the reason why we don't like leaving Penelope (our pet Welsh corgi) alone when we go camping. Yes, they have been spotted in many outlying 'burbs of Colorado Springs.



BEARS!

A grizzly, to be exact.



Fresh Trout are kept in water before you for 'snacking.' And these are mere cubs...their parents having been killed.

Can you find the bear in this picture? I knew you could! A private joke for my friends in the Elphaba group! Yes, that is me in the foreground, should you wonder!



And a moose!

This one is just a youth--he still has velvet on his rack, as it were.



More to come, now that I've figured this out...including the ROOS!

Peace,
Roo

[summerz]

Thanks for these!!!
I was born in Denver, raised mostly in Colorado and lived a few years in Southern California(won't bore you with the many towns I have lived in)
Finally landed in Colorado Springs, and the Zoo and the Broadmoor is where I spent many a weekend.
Graduated from Air Academy High many moons ago.
Also beautiful, used to sell programs at the Air Force football games. Fun times.

Have been living on the northeast coast for sometime now.
I always love a chance to go back home, even if just through the internet. Thanks again.

[Megastrophy]

Cool thanks, I'm heading to Denver in a couple days, and this zoo wasn't even on my radar, but no I think I'll head over, I've already done Denver zoo and this one seems really different. Great pictures!

[Olympicnut]

Yay for a great TR!!! What an awesome place! Next time I'm in the area, I definitely want to go here. Thanks for this.

[sir clinksalot]

Awesome Pics Roo. Can't wait to see more.

[Grumpy4]

Yay!! Great TR! Looks awesome and can't wait to see more!

[MickeyMaxx]

Roo-riffic so far!

More please. Especially the segment with Penelope!

Lu

[Roo719]

Thanks for all the replies! I do have more. I'm like all excited I figured out how to finally post pix with my partner's new camera!

Megatrophy, do understand we're about an hour's south of Denver. You can get here pretty much in a straight shoot from the I-25 corridor. PM if you want some more specifics. There's a ton of stuff to do in these parts. The Air Force Academy is also nearby; Pikes Peak's Cog Railway is great too (just get your tickets online prior).

Okay, let's see what else I have here--

ROOS! Ok, more like wallabys/wallabies, but our display is tiny and the little critters roam free. Usually, they'll have a small joey or two out.

Yes, they are, like the bear...a total totem for myself. So, here's some roo-action.





And a joey. Being marsupials, the backpack is the best place for rearing the infants. This one was way shy, so we got just the one picture, hiding under the zookeeper.



Peace,
Roo

[Olympicnut]

AWWWWWWWWW, baby roos!!! How cute is that!!

[dsnylndmom]

Awww look at the baby

What a great TR Thanks for sharing with us!

[Roo719]

*) PS: Okay, this last one was a bit of a side trip with Penelope, our Corgi. This post exists SOLELY for the purpose of making you go AWWWWWWWWW.

My mother works for University of Colorado Medical Hospital. An offshoot of that is the Childrens' Hospital. They have a very active 'perscription pet' program. What that means is that they save dogs and cats from the local shelter and then train them to work in the hospital. It helps the kids who are recieving care feel a bit more comfortable. However, being a publically funded hospital, they have to do fundraisers.

When Ma found out about their bi-annual 'dog-wash' fundraiser, we ran up to Denver (my 'rents live in Aurora, should you know the lay out) to let Penelope lend her paws to the cause.

Everyone got clean and we made a small donation to boot. So, here we go, in MotherUnit's Durango to the hospital.

My parents' dogs-
Bridget, the Scottie
Mattie, the Sealyham (there were only six born in the United States last year, a very rare dog)
Penelope, the corgi



A kiddie pool was put out for the dogs. A small sign stated: "Prewash cycle." My dog refused, but her 'cousins' sat in there for a good five minutes. Denver heat and California heat are two separate things. With 10% humidity, we don't really notice it like you on the West Coast.



Penn loves the attention! No, she's not poopin!



Scubbin' ole Penny.



And squeeky clean, el puppo. She loved it. I think it felt good in the sun.



And there ya go, a quick side trip up to Denver.

Hope you all enjoyed!

Peace,
Roo (and Penn & Tigs)

[MTNGIRL]

Awww, who's the pretty puppy?

What a great trip report! Makes me want to make the trip south.

[Olympicnut]

Oh my god, WHERE ARE MATTIES EYEBALLS!!!!!!


Those were great! Such happy puppies.