Mount Falcon
It was a great hike this morning on Mount Falcon. Lots of snow, beautiful views and fun trails.
Castle trail leads from the plains at the east end of the park to the foothills via a narrow road which once carried Stanley Steamer autos. The trail then branches to explore forest and meadows and the many points of interest at the trail summits.
History
The story of Mount Falcon is largely the story of John Brisben Walker, who once owned over 4,000 acres of land in this area. During the early 1900's Walker lived in an elaborate stone house on Mount Falcon while planning the construction of a summer home for the Presidents of the United States, which was to have been located on a ridge to the east of his home. Walker's home burned in 1918, and all that remains of this once splendid edifice are the massive stone walls and numerous fireplaces of a unique mountain castle.
On this site the crumbling remnants of a broken dream and the views of the plains to the east and mountains to the west combine to create an inspirational setting. The construction of the Summer White House never proceeded beyond the laying of the foundation and cornerstone, though thousands of Colorado school children each donated 10 cents toward Walker's dream. American involvement in W.W. I, combined with a waning of Walker's good fortunes, brought an end to this project. From the site of the Summer White House one may look down on Red Rocks Park, one of Walker's dreams come true.
John Brisben Walker was a man of many visions. He made fortunes on land speculation in West Virginia and his purchase of Cosmopolitan Magazine, but other ventures were less successful. Walker's purchase of the Stanley Steamer Company was a losing bet against Henry Ford's internal combustion engine. Although he held vast fortunes at various times in his life, Walker died penniless in 1931 at the age of 83.
Song of the Day:
Elton John - Rocket Man
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