Above Glenwood Springs, hidden deep within Iron Mountain is an underground wonder that can be found at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.
Seventy minute tours through the Glenwood Caverns and Historic Fairy Caves is how Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park got its start. Tom Casperson gives tours at the caves, “it's one of the most spectacular caverns rooms I have ever seen and I have been in a lot of caverns.”
It brings what lies underground in the dark to light. The deep rooms within the earth have been decorated with hundreds of cave formations. Stalagmites, stalactites, cave bacon and soda straws all take millions of years to form, “it takes about a thousand years to create just a cubic inch of formation" explains Casperson. A fact that isn’t lost on visitors to the park, Scoot Achterman from Denver, enjoying the park with his family, “The power that nature has to create and make something that takes so long to make really makes you feel insignificant.”
It's scenery that park officials say needs to be experienced in person explains Casperson, “the films will not really show exactly what you're going to see with your own eyes when you get here.”
As if an underground adventure wasn't enough, there are a number of things to do atop the mountain's peak. For the truly adventurous there is the Swing Shot, which seats four people and then swings them over a thirteen hundred foot dropped off.
Another popular attraction is the Alpine Costar, which has individual cars that races down the mountain side through trees on a 3,400 foot track. The rider controls their own speed, with hand breaks that are on the car that seats two people.
The park is full of other attractions, from a 4d theater to bungee trampolines and even a mechanical bull which provides entertainment for the whole family. “It fells better then a regular amusement park. It feels like you are sort of connection to nature and the mountain,” explains Shane Cladry, father of two, “It’s so basic that they like it better then all the craziness at Disney world of six flags.”
So whether it's a thrill you seek or a calm walk through a cave, you'll find it on Iron Mountain. An all day unlimited rides and attraction pass cost thirty seven dollars and you can add a cave tour for five dollars. For more information, call 1-800-530-1635 or visit their website at http://glenwoodcavererns.com.