Just south of the town of Beulah, tucked into the ponderosa-studded foothills is Pueblo’s most far-flung city park, 25 miles from town.
Thanks to a recent renovation of the Pueblo Mountain Park’s Horseshoe Lodge, visitors can spend the night at the 611-acre park.
The park, originally purchased for $6,000 when Pueblo bought the land in 1920, borders the San Isabel National Forest. The forested hills and valleys, home to mule deer, black bear, wild turkeys, foxes and other species, was meant as a place for urban dwellers to explore nature, says Dave Van Manen, founder and director of the nonprofit Mountain Park Environmental Center, which manages the property.
The park’s hub long has been the visitors center and Horseshoe Lodge that a Work Projects Administration crew built in the 1930s. But the building lacked insulation and plumbing, and fell into disrepair during the 1970s.
But now the visitors center and Horseshoe Lodge are a centerpiece again, after a three-year, $1.2 million environmentally minded renovation that created 11 guest rooms, plus classrooms and administrative offices.
The bathrooms (some private, some shared) use state-of-the-art composting toilets. The kitchen’s $5,000 dishwasher cleans 45 dishes in 90 seconds with 1 1/2 gallons of water (yes, really).
Because water is so scarce in the park, leisurely showers are discouraged. For each night they stay, guests receive a token good for a five-minute shower.
Each room has a theme, with murals painted by volunteer artists. Murals fill the Hummingbird room, and a butterfly theme is a sight to behold.
The original oak floors are in amazingly good shape and have been refinished. Some rooms have regular beds, and some have double bunks: heavy log beds that fit a double- size mattress on top and bottom.
The next task is renovating the east wing, which will include four dormitory-style rooms that will accommodate up to 50 people, and more restroom improvements.
The environmental center also offers dozens of day programs. Many are oriented for schoolchildren. Because the recession forced the Pueblo school districts to cut back on class outings, the center’s buses pick up the children at school and take them to their outdoors-education programs.
“I’ve always seen us as a program-driven organization,” Van Manen says.
“The park exists so people can come out and enjoy nature. But it seems like they need a reason to come. The programs give them the excuse they need.”
