The Historic Fairy Caves is an attraction at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood, Springs, Colorado.
Nestled in the Rocky Mountains at the elevation of 7,100, the Adventure Park offers lots of fun, including digging for fossils, panning for gems, rides on the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster, (7136 feet above sea level) that provides cliff-edge views of the Colorado River 1300 feet below or taking a trip on the Iron Mountain Tramway that delivers you to the top of the mountain where can take a tour of the Historic Fairy Caves.
The Fairy Caves were discovered by attorney Charles W. Darrow and opened to the public in 1895.
Historic records fail to explain why the Fairy Caves were associated with the mythological beings, but two theories try to explain their origins. One believes that fish-tail-like helictite limestone growths found within the cave may have reminded Darrow of the wings of fairies.
Another speculates that it was one of Darrow’s daughters who felt that the light from her lantern reflecting off the droplets of water in the cave looked like twinkling fairies dancing around the caves. I rather like this one.
Whatever the reason, the Historic Fairy Caves have become a popular tourist attractions. USA Today rated Glenwood Caverns “One of the Top 10 Places to Go Underground!”
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
51000 Two Rivers Plaza Road
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
(209) 937-8206
Born in Philadelphia, Jerome Alphonse Holst worked 30 years as a librarian. He has since retired and lives in Thomasville, North Carolina. Mr. Holst is also the author of the children’s books “Norman the Troll,” "Norman the Troll and the Haunted House," and "Gretchen and the Gremlins." In addition, he penned the fantasy novel “The Adventures of Glinda Gale,” a retelling of “The Wizard of Oz" and the reference text “The Encyclopedia of Movie and TV Insults.” .
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