Manitou Springs, Colorado

In 1980, the Manitou Springs Historic District was formed by the Historic Preservation Committee to manage development, renovation and preservation within the town.[9] It is a National Register of Historic Places listing[11] and one of the country's largest National Historic Districts.[12]

In June 2012, the entire city was evacuated due to the Waldo Canyon fire nearby. Parts of western Colorado Springs were also evacuated. Manitou Springs did not suffer any fire damage, and the city was under evacuation orders from only 1:30 a.m. Monday until 8 p.m. the same day. There was no fire damage visible from Manitou Springs, and all businesses reopened. [13]

On the afternoon of August 9, 2013, the city was inundated by a flash flood entering the northern edges of the city via roadways and natural channels as it descended from the flooded-out US Hwy 24. Traffic was stopped in both directions as the highway barriers formed a river drifting several occupied cars down a runoff ditch. The strong current made a path down Manitou Avenue from Cavern Gulch, as well as Canon Avenue, meandering turbulently through streets, homes, businesses, and spillways, damaging 20 homes, 8 of them significantly. The flood water threatened buildings and parking lots along Fountain Creek, and closed a portion of Manitou Avenue, which reopened later that evening.[14]

Manitou Springs has a humid continental climate (Koppen: Dfb), categorized by four distinct seasons. Summertime is hot, and wintertime is cool, sometimes cold. Spring and fall are generally very pleasant.

Manitou Springs is managed by the elected mayor and six city council members. The mayor is elected to a two-year term. Council members are elected to 4 year, overlapping, terms. Three council members are "at large" members and three members represent one of each of the 3 wards in Manitou Springs.[18][19] Manitou Springs residents may attend the following meetings or working sessions held each month at the Council Chambers at 606 Manitou Avenue.[20]

The Manitou Springs City Boards and Commissions include:[21]

• Business Improvement District sponsors events and promotions to encourage tourism and business within Manitou Springs. It was also formed to "improve the cleanliness, safety, and marketability of the Downtown Historic District."[22]
• Fountain Creek Restoration Committee[23]
• Historic Preservation Commission manages development, restoration and preservation of the Historic District.[24]
• Housing Advisory Board
• iManitou including the Chamber of Commerce, Office of Economic Development and Visitors Bureau.[25]
• Metro Parking District, which operates parking lots.[26]
• Mineral Springs Foundation was organized to "restore, protect and publicize the natural mineral springs".[27]
• Open Space Advisory Committee was formed to acquire open space.[28]
• Park and Recreation Advisory Board is charged with the enhancement and promotion of the local parks and trails.[29]
• Parking Authority Board[30]
• Planning Commission, with the objective of "guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, well adjusted and harmonious development of the City and its environs."[31]
• Urban Renewal Authority Board to oversee the "redevelopment of the east end of Manitou Avenue."[32]

Attractions include:[33]

• Cave of the Winds, cave complex; tours given daily
• The Iron Springs Chateau Melodrama Dinner Theater, located on Ruxton Avenue, is a dinner theatre for families and adults.[34][35]
• Manitou Cliff Dwellings,[36] a full-size replica of Anasazi Indian cliff dwellings, as well as a museum. The cliff dwellings were built in the early 1900s, using materials from ruined cliff dwellings in the Four Corners area.[37][38]
• Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway, extending from Manitou Springs to the top of Pikes Peak[39]
• Manitou Springs Food Tour[40]
• Manitou Springs Heritage Center[41]
• Miramont Castle and Manitou Springs Fire Department Museum
• Rainbow Falls (aka Graffiti Falls) is a waterfall on Fountain Creek where there is a large amount of colorful graffiti painted on the canyon walls and bridge overpass.

• The Springsabouts Walking Tours, a tour of nine of the Manitou Mineral Springs sites offered by the Mineral Springs Foundation. People can also take their own tour of the springs by visiting The Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau to pick up a free mineral springs brochure, content chart and a sampling cup.[42]
• Parks, from east to west along Manitou Avenue, include Schryver Park, Memorial Park, Mansions Park, and Soda Springs Park. Fields Community Park is located on El Paso Boulevard. Seven Minute Gazebo is located behind Mansions and Memorial Parks.[43][44]
• There are a total of eight springs throughout town, each with their own mineral properties.[45]
• Manitou Incline, a former incline railway bed that rises over 2,000 feet above Manitou Springs is a popular hiking and fitness activity.

Annual events include:[46]

• Barker House, (a private Residential Apartment building for many decades) was one of the first hotels in Manitou Springs and due to its long history, Barker House is on the National Register of Historic Places.[61]
• Briarhurst Manor, Victorian manor house built by the founder of Manitou Springs, Dr. William Bell[61]
• Cliff House at Pikes Peak, a small luxury hotel and dining room, on the National Register of Historic Places[61]

A view overlooking the city from the foothills