Glenwood Springs

The area now known as Glenwood Springs has been used for centuries by nomadic Ute Indian tribes, who were drawn to the healing mineral waters of the hot springs. The area was first explored by Captain Richard Sopris in 1860, who named it Grand Springs. The town was later known as Defiance, a wild west town with a reputation for saloons and gambling. In 1882, Isaac Cooper and his wife Sarah arrived and decided to develop a resort for wealthy travelers. They renamed the town Glenwood Springs after their hometown of Glenwood, Iowa. The town was officially platted and incorporated in 1885.

In 1888, the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool opened, attracting visitors from all over the world. The historic Yampah Vapor Caves, the only naturally occurring vapor caves in North America, opened in 1893. The caves were known as “big medicine” to the Ute people. The town’s history also includes notorious characters like Doc Holliday, who spent his last days in Glenwood Springs and is buried in the Linwood Cemetery.

Glenwood Springs holds a significant place in the history of the American West as a resort town that attracted both the famous and the infamous. Its natural hot springs have been a central part of the area's identity for centuries, first for the Ute people and later for the pioneers and tourists who sought the healing properties of the mineral water. The town’s history is preserved in landmarks like the Hotel Colorado, a historic hotel that has hosted presidents and celebrities, and the Linwood Cemetery, where notorious gunfighter Doc Holliday is buried. Glenwood Springs' unique blend of natural beauty, historic significance, and modern recreational offerings makes it a truly special destination in Colorado.

The Hotel Colorado, a historic hotel that has hosted presidents and celebrities, is said to be haunted by a number of ghosts. The hotel is known for its grand architecture and its history as a popular resort for the wealthy and influential. The story of Doc Holliday's final days in Glenwood Springs and his burial in the Linwood Cemetery is another notable part of the town's history. The annual Ghost Walk at the cemetery is a popular event that retells the stories of the town's notable residents. The town also hosts a number of annual events, including the oldest continuous festival west of the Mississippi River, Strawberry Days.

Glenwood Springs has a number of local heroes, including the famous gunslinger Doc Holliday, who spent his last days in the town. While he was a notorious character, his story is an important part of the town's history. The town has also hosted presidents and celebrities, including President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a frequent visitor to the Hotel Colorado.

Glenwood Hot Springs houses the largest outdoor mineral hot springs pool in the world, stretching over two blocks and holding more than a million gallons of naturally heated, mineral-rich water.

During World War II (1943–1946), the hot springs resort was converted into a U.S. Naval Convalescent Hospital, the only time it was closed to the public.

President Theodore Roosevelt stayed in the iconic Hotel Colorado in the summer of 1905, conducting national business from the hotel; it earned the nickname the “Little White House of the West.”

Doc Holliday spent his last months in Glenwood Springs seeking healing in the hot springs. He died in 1887 and is buried in Linwood Cemetery, just above the town.