If you haven’t noticed, Colorado’s tiniest of towns are usually the first to do the biggest of things. For example, Dinosaur (population: 339) has brilliantly capitalized on its close proximity to Dinosaur National Monument, while the Denver suburb of Lakeside (population: 8) houses its own iconic amusement park. Then, there is this small Colorado town, which is famous for a reason that is slightly darker than the others…

Located in southwest Colorado is the town of Crestone, which bills itself as being the "New Age religious capital of the world."
Wikimedia / Jeffrey Beall
Established in 1880, Crestone is a historic ranching and mining town that was once the location of a short-lived gold boom that ended up leaving the town in a financial decline.
Wikimedia / Denver Public Library, Western History Collection / Call Number: X-7575
Since then, the population has actually grown and now boasts one of its highest population counts to date, with nearly 150 residents.
Wikimedia / Fred Bauder
In addition to its beautiful surroundings, Crestone has made a name for itself for another reason: its spiritual center that houses a Zen center, Buddhist center, and Hindu temple all in one.
Wikimedia / Fred Bauder

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While such unique and uncommon places of worship (in the United States, at least) may seem strange in such a small town, it gets even more unusual, as Crestone is also home to the only funeral pyre in the country.
YouTube/Rodney Volkmar
What is a funeral pyre? Well, it’s essential a pile of wood where corpses are burned in some traditional funeral ceremonies. The practice is referenced in both Christian and Hebrew bibles.
YouTube/Rodney Volkmar
These ceremonies are performed by the Crestone End of Life Project, which also offers traditional and eco-friendly burials.
YouTube/Rodney Volkmar
You can learn even more about Informed Final Choices and the practice of funeral pyres by visiting the non-profit organization’s website.
Informed Final Choices

You can get an even better look at funeral pyres in Crestone by watching this YouTube video from Rodney Volkmar:

You can discover even more unique churches around the Centennial State by reading 10 Stunning Colorado Churches That Will Make Your Heart Sing.

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