Fort Collins is one of the most beautiful places in Colorado. It’s a charming and cozy town with a lot of history and natural beauty. But there’s much more to Fort Collins than beautiful mountain scenery and a charming vibe. Here are eight surprising facts about Fort Collins, Colorado, that you probably didn’t know.
Disneyland’s Main Street USA Was Inspired by Old Town Fort Collins
One of the most interesting things about Fort Collins, Colorado, is that it served as an inspiration for Disneyland. In fact, it’s believed that it was a Fort Collins local, Harper Goff, who used his childhood memories of Old Town Fort Collins buildings to draw sketches for Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. He used historical buildings, such as the Old Firehouse Book Store, the Old Linden Hotel, the bank building, and the city hall building, for inspiration.
Fort Collins Is a Bike Town
Fort Collins is a very bike-friendly community. With over 200 miles of dedicated bike lanes and 40+ miles of paved bike trails, Fort Collins is definitely a bike town. This is why it’s a perfect place for outdoor sports lovers and outdoorsy people in general.
It’s Also Every Beer Lover’s Heaven
Other than being an ideal place for bikers, Fort Collins is also a heaven for beer lovers. The brewery scene is amazing! There are so many craft breweries and microbreweries that even the locals can’t keep up with them anymore. It’s truly every beer lover’s heaven.
There’s an Underwater City at Horsetooth Reservoir
Not many people know that there was a town called Stout where Horsetooth Reservoir is today. Stout was established back in the 1860s as a camp for workers on sandstone quarries. Unfortunately, the town was evacuated and then flooded during a project in the 1940s.
We Have a Restored Trolley Car Still in Operation
Another surprising fact about Fort Collins is that there’s a nearly century-old trolley that’s still running from City Park to Old Town called Birney Car 21. It was originally introduced in 1915, remaining in use for 32 years until the abandonment of the streetcar system in Fort Collins. Then, it was restored in 1984 and is still in operation today.
Colorado’s Only Nationally Designated “Wild & Scenic” River Runs Through the Heart of Fort Collins
The Cache la Poudre River is Colorado’s only nationally designated “Wild & Scenic” River. And interestingly enough, this river runs through the center of Fort Collins. Cache la Poudre is truly a hidden jewel, serving as a popular summer destination for whitewater rafting, fly fishing, tubing, and kayaking in the Poudre Canyon.
There Are Many Decoratively Painted Pianos All Across Town
Painted pianos all across town are one of the signature pieces of Fort Collins. This artistic collaboration between the City of Fort Collins Art In Public Places Program, Bohemian Foundation, and the Downtown Development Authority is a must-see. It showcases more than 20 beautifully-decorated pianos by local artists, and it also allows the locals to watch these pianos being painted every year.
Fort Collins Is Home to a Drive-in Movie Theater
Believe it or not, drive-in movie theaters still exist. And there’s one in Fort Collins, Colorado! It’s called Holiday Twin Drive-In, and it’s one of seven remaining drive-in movie theaters in Colorado and 348 in the entire country.
As you can see, Fort Collins is full of surprises! And there’s more where that came from, trust us.
If you need any tips about life in Fort Collins, the Soukup Real Estate team is here for you! We’re professional real estate agents with years of experience in helping people start a new life in our charming little town. Fort Collins real estate is our life, and we’d be happy to help you with everything you need.
