What attraction would you most like to see in Colorado Springs? (Denver: chapel, camping)

[Marcy1210]

They tried to generate a more international flair when they built PPIR, but that fizzled. An aquarium might work, but the one in Denver couldn't make it and was eventually bought by Landry's Seafood Restaurants, so that doesn't bode well for one in the Springs. Denver's got Elitch's as for amusement parks, and Lakeside, so I don't think that would fly here. A natural history museum would be nice and could go with the Pioneer's Museum. Still, there's really a lot to do in the Springs without importing a bunch of touristy gawdy attractions.

[otowi]

Originally Posted by Gfitz1010

What do you mean?? Colorado Springs could support a amusement park or a large mall! That would be amazing!I just hate that the people of COS have to make a trip to Denver just for that stuff!

I don't know if we could support one, but I don't want them. I don't mind going to Denver for those things; I'd rather not have them "in my back yard", thank you very much.

[Pookie]

You forgot to add "none of the above" as a choice.

[Mike from back east]

None of the above would be my vote too. I'd go maybe ONCE to some of those, not all. I rarely even go to the mall we now have, and a downtown mall wouldn't interest me. IMO, for any endeavor to be a long-term success, it has to have enough appeal to garner repeat visits, which is rather hard to do and I cannot even think of something that would work for me.

When I think of what DOES work, I think of Denver's LODO and 16th Street Pedestrian Mall, which has THREE major draws, a baseball stadium, a football stadium, and the Pepsi Center (basically an indoor stadium that also does major productions). Then there's the Arts center with all sorts of shows, dozens of watering holes and eateries, a linear shopping / eating / business mall with free bus service and no cars. A light rail station at one end (Union Station) and lots of other businesses, hotels, and residences. And a university. All within a certain range of LODO.

IMO, COLO SPGS might get there in 50-100 years, but I won't be here to see it and before we can think about civic improvements we've got to get through this recessionary period which may well last another decade.

For me, if I want those things, I'll drive to Denver. If Denver appeals to me in an overwhelming manner, I'll just move there.

[lurtsman]

Originally Posted by deckdoc

can't think of a thing that would be worse for the abiance and tourism than highrise buildings~ if you want them go somewhere that has them. Drove around denver recently and was glad I live in the springs because skyline there was ugly because of the hirizes

Quoted for truth.

Every other large city has this. If people really want high rise, they should move to a place that has them, rather than adding them to one of the few places where people can get away from them. The skyline that draws me to this city is the mountains. It isn't the backdrop, it is the entire view.

[Gfitz1010]

Originally Posted by Pookie

You forgot to add "none of the above" as a choice.

Then don't vote?

I'm sorry if I sound alittle rude or dumb...why not be open minded? It would be great for COS to have these things (even if you wont be going to any of them as often). Do you really think people in Denver frequently go to the Aquarium, Elitches, Cherry Creek mall? (some people do..and those things would be for those particular people). Colorado Springs (imo) needs these things! Not for tourist, but the enjoyment for people who like those kinds of things!

Mall: A large mall downtown would make DTCOS more vibrant, it would add to the atmosphere.

Amusment Park: Come on people. I can understand if a Amusment park isn't your thing, but you have to admit...Six Flags Colorado Springs would be a pretty awesome park

Aquarium: This is the think i truely think Colorado Springs needs. We can delete all the other options..IF there was an aquarium. COS would be the perfect location.

Streetcar Tour: I'm actually not sure why I listed this to be quite honest. But I think it would be cool to people who travel to the city to expirence it through tours.

Huge Water park: I love Water World in Denver. Its amazing, and arguably more fun than amusement parks. It would be awesome for families.

Like Mikefrombackeast said...

Sports stadiums: Those would be great to have...along with pro sports teams.

Its good to keep an open mind while thinking about these things. Little do people know, but COS is thought of as a vacation spot for..hiking, Relaxing..etc. Why not add on to the excitment?

As for the person that stated Denvers skyline was ugly because of the highrises...can you please elabororate some more on why?

[Mike from back east]

Fitz: IIRC, we had a long thread before on fixing downtown, and some of us called for a minor league football team and stadium downtown, as well as moving the Skysox into the same facility, plus allowing the USAF Academy to play it's college baseball there .... multi-use, multi-purpose, multi-season, and more importantly, multi-reasons for people to get down there and enjoy themselves / spend a buck. A decent sports anchor, a free bus in that zone, a destination eatery like Cheesecake Factory or Rainforest Cafe, and other aspects to mimic LODO might make our downtown a great place to be, albeit smaller. Pikes Peak Center is already down there to bring in a lot of shows, but we're a bit hamstrung by having the World Arena in another part of town; if it were down there too there'd a much stronger draw in the downtown.

[Marcy1210]

For one thing, CO isn't CA or NY or FL that can support more than one city in the state having a Pro Sports franchise, especially when SLC, Phoenix, and Dallas aren't that far away. COS is lucky to have a minor league franchise. I live north of Tucson (like Monument is north of COS) and it is a lot like the Springs in that we are about 65 miles south of Phoenix where all the "action" is. We have a population of about 1 million people, which is larger than the Springs, but our city cannot support the venues listed on the "want" list even though we're larger, have casinos and we're a home to Snowbirds.

We HAD three teams here for Spring Training, but our city govt didn't pay attention when the Rockies said Hi Corbett needed major renovations in order to keep them in town, nor did they listen when the D'Backs and White Socks said the same thing about TEP, now Kino Sports Complex. So, the renovations never got done and a major stadium/hotel/casino was built in Scottsdale for the D'Backs and Rockies to share. Now, every team in the Cactus league is in Phoenix. A lot of lost revenue for Tucson. With Denver being a four sport town, plus MLS, it would be extremely difficult and financially challenging to have another pro franchise of any sport here.

Tucson is also home to the U of AZ which has a law school, med school, teaching hospital and children's hospital and trauma center like the U of CO has in and near Denver. We also have the annual Gem Show which attracts international vendors and the Tucson Festival of Books among other things, and STILL, we couldn't support an aquarium, pro sports franchises, a downtown mall, or any of the other things on the Springs list, so I don't see how COS could financially support them. The Springs would need a really large tourist industry, voter approval and the land to build them. Right now, there just aren't enough locals to support those venues with Denver also having those attractions, and being so close by.

Plus, many years ago, Colorado turned down an opportunity to be in the running for the Olympics as they didn't want to build a bunch of winter venues only to have them go unused after the Olympics were over. So, the voters turned down a tax proposal to fund the buildings. The voters were also concerned with the environmental impact that many of those venues would have on the mountains. That was in the days of major downtown expansion in Denver and other front range cities, so it wasn't as though Coloradoans were anti-building or anti-development, they were just choosy as to where expansion would be. Now, in these economic times, it's doubtful that any sales tax amendment or bond issue would be approved by voters to fund the building of those attractions.

[ryanek9freak]

I love that Colorado is STILL the only state to have thumbed it's nose at the Olympics. That kind of attitude is why I live here.

I would love to have a pro football team in Colorado Springs, but the city just isn't big enough, and it's too close to denver. Ohio has the Browns and the Bengals, Cincy and Cleveland are are opposite ends of the state. I've never been able to figure out why Cincinatti has pro teams but Columbus doesn't.

[Maynerd]

Originally Posted by Gfitz1010

Colorado Springs seems to be majorly lacking when it comes to tourist attractions.

- Air Force Academy
- Pikes Peak
- Garden of the Gods
- Olympic Training Center
- Seven Falls
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo/Shrine of the Sun
- Cliff Dwellings
- Cave of the Winds
- Cheyenne Canon/Helen Hunt Falls
- Manitou Springs
- Old Colorado City
- Cheyenne Mountain State Park
- Royal Gorge
- Sky Sox Baseball
- CC (or AF) Hockey
- Various events at the World Arena
-The Broadmoor

I dunno, Gfitz. If you can't find something for a visitor to do around here (or locals), you're not looking very hard.