Volume 11 , Issue 11

Glen Eyrie Castle - Colorado

I found this 1914 photo of a sandstone monument in one of my grandmother's photo scrapbooks that she had compiled of one of her early 1909 trip to Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods, Glen Eyrie, etc. I have not gotten those 1909 vacation photos ready for viewing this week, but will stick them in next weeks newsletter.

Glen Eyrie is a 67-room English Tudor-style castle built by General William Jackson Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs.

This house was his dream castle-like home and is near Colorado Springs in the northwest foothills north of the Garden of the Gods rock formations (now a city park). After building a large carriage house, where the family lived for a time, Palmer and his wife Mary (Queen) Mellen built a 22-room frame house on the 800-acre (3.2 km2) estate. This house was remodeled in 1881 to include a tower and additional rooms, and made to resemble a stone castle, reminiscent of those native to the England.

In 1880, Mrs. Palmer suffered a mild heart attack and was advised to move to a lower altitude. She and the girls moved to the East Coast and then to England where General Palmer visited them as often as he could. Queen died on December 28, 1894, at the age of 44. In sorrow, General Palmer went to England to return Mrs. Palmer's remains and the girls to Colorado Springs.

Glen Eyrie is a 67-room English Tudor-style castle with 24 fireplaces. The castle was advanced for its time, featuring a primitive intercom system, and a chimney system that would hold the smoke until the wind was blowing in the right direction to take the smoke out of the valley. Glen Eyrie is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The castle is now owned by The Navigators. The general public is allowed on its grounds Monday through Thursday (9-4) to visit its bookstore, located at the Carriage House, or to hike its many trails. Tours of Glen Eyrie Castle are available to the public and require an advance reservation.

Events hosted at the castle include English and Victorian teas[2] throughout the week and Christmas Madrigal Banquets[3] beginning after Thanksgiving.

Glen Eyrie is also a conference[4] and retreat center that puts on many Christian conferences and programs. The property in the enclosed valley is also available for use by groups for meetings, receptions, and retreats. Herds of bighorn sheep, deer and wild turkey may often be found grazing on the grounds.

General Palmer who started the Denver Rio Grande Railroad, founded Colorado Springs and numerous other projects built the castle at Glen Eyrie in 1904. General Palmer also founded Colorado Springs and donated the land for Colorado College.
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