A mountaintop Colorado experience
High above Glenwood Springs on Iron Mountain is a Colorado destination that combines two very different kinds of adventure: exploring underground caverns and spending the day at a mountaintop amusement park.
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is reached by the Glenwood Gondola. At the top, visitors find cave tours, mountain views, family attractions and thrill rides — all built around the caverns that first drew visitors to the mountain more than a century ago.
Why Glenwood Caverns is In The Spotlight
MKT Colorado created In The Spotlight to go beyond a directory listing and tell the stories behind Colorado businesses, attractions, people and places.
Glenwood Caverns stands out because its story reaches from Colorado's early tourism era to a modern mountaintop adventure park. The Historic Fairy Caves first opened to visitors in 1895. After being closed to the public for decades, Steve and Jeanne Beckley reopened the caverns in 1999. As interest grew, the mountaintop experience expanded into the Adventure Park visitors know today.
The caves that started it all
The cave system includes the Historic Fairy Cave and King's Row. Both guided walking tours are approximately 40 minutes. King's Row takes visitors deeper into Iron Mountain and into what the park describes as the most highly decorated cave room in Colorado.
The caverns remain about 52 degrees year-round. Their formations and unusual underground ecosystem are significant enough that Glenwood Caverns received National Natural Landmark designation in 2023.
From cave tours to a mountaintop park
The park grew because the caves became so popular. As visitor numbers increased and waits for cave tours grew longer, the owners began adding activities for families to enjoy while they waited. The Alpine Coaster arrived in 2005, followed over the years by additional rides and attractions.
Today the experience can include the Glenwood Gondola, cave tours, the Alpine Coaster, Giant Canyon Swing, Defiance Roller Coaster, 4D Motion Theater, Laser Tag and family attractions. Ride availability can change with the season and mountain weather.
A story more than a century in the making
Charles W. Darrow opened the Fairy Caves to visitors in 1895. By 1897, electric lighting had been installed inside, making the caves one of the early caverns in the world to use electricity. Modern exploration later revealed a much larger cave system than those first visitors knew.
That history is still part of the visitor experience. The Historic Fairy Cave Tour includes portions connected to the original tourist attraction, while modern preservation measures help protect the living sections of the cave.
Planning your visit
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is at 51000 Two Rivers Plaza Road in Glenwood Springs, with the Glenwood Gondola carrying visitors from the base to the park on Iron Mountain.
Hours, tickets, cave-tour availability and outdoor ride operations can change with the season and Colorado mountain weather. Check the park's official website and current ride-and-attraction status before making a special trip.