Royal Gorge

Recently thinking about our visit to the Royal Gorge Suspension Bridge and Park… This gorge is one of the deepest canyons in Colorado, carved by the Arkansas River which makes it an amazing site to see. It’s hard to believe it was already a decade ago that we visited. Wow how time flies! 😳

“The railway, part of the the Royal Gorge Park (which also houses the Royal Gorge Bridge) was built at a 45 degree angle, which creates feelings of suspense and excitement whilst traveling down the track! Built in 1931 the funicular tracks incline is roughly 1550 feet in length and is only 50 feet at its widest!” – Train Fanatics

Incline Railway (funicular) — ^{“The Royal Gorge Incline Railway, holds the record as the steepest funicular railway in all of North America.”}

^{Granite canyon walls, shrubs and cactus}

The bridge was built in six months between June and November 1929 at a cost of $350,000. Wiki

In the early 1980s, the bridge was renovated with new cable anchors, suspension rods and paint. Wiki

A Skycoaster attraction was added in 2003, with riders being swung out over the edge of the gorge. Wiki

Though we did not ride the “Skycoaster”, we did take a ride on the single gondola, which, is now retired. After the fires in 2013 that damaged much of the park, this single red car was replaced with a newer triple-car gondola system.

One part of the park that may no longer be open to the public was the wildlife park consisting of a small herd of buffalo, elk, and bighorn sheep. I am pleased to have run across confirmation that, they “…all miraculously survived the fire that swept through the park and across the Royal Gorge.” HuffPost

^{This is Chief Silver Bullet, a rare white buffalo bull.}

^{Apparently his baby, Smokey, and a brown bull calf named Fireball, were born while the wildfires ensued.}

If you’ve never been, schedule a day trip or a long weekend. There is a lot to do in the Cañon City area. And these days, the park has even more fun attractions like ziplining and rock climbing. I may have to head back to try ziplining! 😃 Royal Gorge Bridge and Park