15 Photos You'll Only Understand If You Hail From Colorado
By Christy Articola|Updated on March 28, 2024(Originally published August 24, 2023)
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Christy Articola
Author
Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
Whether you’re a Colorado native or a Colorado transplant, there’s a great sense of pride in being a Coloradan. I sure feel that way. We are so lucky to live in the best state in the nation, with the best mountains, the best weather, the best people, and so much more. Of course, life in Colorado is not without its quirks. There are certain things about Colorado that make us, well, us – and that’s beautiful, too! While reflecting upon that fact, I put together this collection of photos that only Coloradans will understand – because if you’re on our winning team, you definitely know what we’re talking about!
1. Red Rocks in the Winter
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 303-319 CO-8, Morrison, CO 80465, USA
Every Coloradan has visited Red Rocks Ampitheater, whether for a concert, a photography sesh, movie night, or challenging climb just for fun. But locals know it's even better in winter.
Only in Colorado does it make sense that some people want to run up 2,768 steps at a 68% grade to get to the top of a mountain. Nevertheless, the Manitou Incline remains one of the most popular spots in the state.
Only Coloradans truly understand the incredible feeling of landing at DIA at the end of a long journey to finally greet the iconic Blucifer once again. Welcome home!
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4. Mike the Headless Chicken Statue
Mike The Headless Chicken Festival, 212-218 E Aspen Ave, Fruita, CO 81521, USA
This strange statue of Mike the Headless Chicken in Fruita is a tribute to one of our state's most beloved tales of survival. Only Coloradans truly understand good ol' Mike.
Yes, we have a festival dedicated to a headless chicken. We also have a festival dedicated to a cryogenically frozen dead man. Frozen Dead Guy Days has since moved to Estes Park from Ned, where it began, but it still retains much of its old charm. Only Coloradans could look at this picture of the coffin races and immediately know what's happening without even needing this caption.
Coloradans didn't invent the sport of skijoring, but we sure do love it. Of course - it combines cowboys and skiing! It doesn't get much more Colorado than that.
When most people hear the word "columbine" they immediately think of one of the saddest tragedies in semi-recent history. However, if you are a Coloradan, you remember that before that happened, a columbine was and is a flower first - and it's our State Flower, too. May the victims of the 1999 tragedy continue to rest in peace.
Yes, we have dinosaur tracks that you can still see clearly at Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison. No big deal; that's just normal for us. Also, paleontologists found the first nearly complete stegosaurus skeleton ever in Cañon City in 1885, and we're darn proud of that fact.
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9. Buffalo Bill's Grave
The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, 987 1/2 Lookout Mountain Rd, Golden, CO 80401, USA
What's the most visited grave in your state? In Colorado, it's Buffalo Bill's. This soldier, hunter, and showman is still a legend after all these years. Pretty cool, if you ask me. You'll find Buffalo Bill's gravesite just a half hour outside of Denver.
10. Mutton Bustin' & The National Western Stock Show
National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St, Denver, CO 80216, USA
Surely, kids try to wrangle sheep in other states, too, but in Colorado, it's the best part of the "best 16 days in January" at the National Western Stock Show. People come from all over to attend the National Western Stock Show, but we're lucky to have it right here.
There are commercial hot springs and then there are undeveloped, natural hot springs. Lots of places have both but ours are the most beautiful! Anyone seeing this picture will guess pretty quickly that it's of our home state, Colorado!
12. The Stanley Hotel
Stanley Hotel, 333 E Wonderview Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517, USA
If you're a Coloradan, then you know what this place is from any angle and in any photo. You also know that the iconic Stanley Hotel is one of the most creepy and most beautiful hotels in the entire nation.
If you live in Colorado, then you know our mountains are the biggest and best mountains in the nation. Yes, there are some that are taller in other states, but we have the most numerous peaks over 13,000 feet - and it's not even close!
Whether you've been brave enough to try them or not, if you've been living in Colorado for long, you know almost from birth what Rocky Mountain oysters are made of. Yuck!
Ahh, just working my way through these Colorado photos filled me with a huge sense of appreciation and pride for the state in which we live. Hooray for life in Colorado! This is our culture. Thanks for being my neighbor!
Thinking about taking a road trip to revisit some of these incredible things? Check out our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List to help you determine what you need to bring along. Safe travels, friends!
