I feel so fortunate to live and build in the Colorado Springs and Monument area. The views on my drives around town, to Home Depot, or to the job site look like a postcard. Not a day goes by without the pleasure of looking at “America’s Mountain”, Pike’s Peak. And it never gets old. For over three decades I have enjoyed the blessing of being surrounded by such great beauty while living and building custom homes with such tremendous people. My list could go on and on, but I shortened it to share with you, in no particular order, my top 10 reasons why I love to live and build in Colorado Springs and Monument.
1. Hiking and Running Trails
My family loves to run. All of us–my wife, my three kids, and I love putting as many miles on our legs as we are able each year. Every one of our kids qualified for the Colorado State Championships and their teams enjoy multiple state titles for track and cross-country.
Our oldest son currently runs cross-country and track at the collegiate level. And we love to enter races as a family from our local 5K Fun Run to the famous Bolder Boulder.
We also love to hike with friends and our dog, Carlos. There is no end to the awesome places to run and hike in Colorado.
A great local hike 5 minutes from our house: Reservoir Hike in Palmer lake.
2. Stellar Views
Every single day I look at breathtaking views. Pike’s Peak, all 14, 115 feet of it, is visible from every angle up and down the range where we live. You can gauge the seasons by the snowy peak or the brownish summer mountaintop. We also enjoy the changing of the aspen grove on 9,210 Mount Herman situated to the west of our homes, which offers more great views and great biking.
Looking at these gorgeous mountains never gets old.
3. Monument 4th of July parade
Monument has what they call, “the largest 4th of July parade on the Front Range.” The day begins with a Fun Run at Palmer Lake, then a pancake breakfast at St. Peter Catholic Church, a street fair, bands, and entertainment.
About 15,000 people come to town each year for a spectacular parade in downtown Monument. It’s a tradition the city has honored for decades. Kids (and pets) start the parade with their bikes, scooters, or wagons all decked out with streamers and flags while crowds wave and cheer. Then the main parade kicks off with a military flyover and features hundreds of floats, bands, vintage cars, and usually camels and elephants.
4. 4th of July Fireworks Over Palmer Lake
I can’t talk about the local parade that we love so much without mentioning the fireworks spectacular that night in historic Palmer Lake. Monument and Palmer Lake are connected geographically, but remain separate spaces with their own personalities. Both have a wonderful, rich history and they combine forces to make the 4th of July celebrations endless and awesome for our area.
The fireworks show is amazing with Ben Lomand Mountain as the backdrop. People bring their chairs, their dogs, their Frisbees, and their food to spend the evening catching up with friends and watching their kids fish in the lake or dance to the band in the baseball diamond.
5. Garden of the Gods Park
Garden of the Gods Park and National Natural Landmark is impossible to describe. With sweeping views, 300 foot sandstone rock formations against a backdrop of Pikes Peak and beautiful blue Colorado skies. Come see it to believe it, but in the meantime you can enjoy a video overview.
6. The United States Air Force Academy
What a privilege to live so close to the gorgeous, sprawling U.S. Air Force Academy. This premier educational facility offers our area great musical performances, incredible sports, camps for our kids, herds of elk and deer, aerial entertainment (sky jumpers are a regular thing), and usually the President of the United States or another important individual visits and speaks each year. My family loves enjoying the 20 minute air show for the cadets’ graduation each year. We appreciate the students’ sacrifice and preparation to serve our country.
7. Western Museum of Mining and Industry
The Western Museum of Mining and Industry is a wonderful hands-on museum that creatively captures the history of our great area and great state. The museum features artifacts and research showcasing our region’s early mining and industrial activities. They have over 4,000 artifacts on display at the 27-acre indoor and outdoor exhibit site. Our family has enjoyed learning about Colorado history, mining, industrial technology, geology, and the environment at this local treasure.
8. Great schools
As a proud dad of three great kids, quality of education is one of my favorite things about Monument and Colorado Springs.
Our kids were challenged, nurtured, and well prepared in the great schools of northern El Paso County in D38 in Monument. We have about 6000 students in the district with two high schools, one middle school, and five elementary schools, with charter and Catholic school options too. D38 is in the top 3 districts in entire state, top 10% of the nation’s ACT scores, and the only Southern Colorado district named to College Board Advanced Placement Honor roll more than once. Our students in Monument and Colorado Springs have the pleasure of learning from some educators who retired as professors at the Air Force Academy.
9. Nearby cities
Colorado Springs and Monument offer small town living with huge cities just “up the street”. Monument is just twenty minutes from Castle Rock, and forty minutes from the Denver Tech Center (DTC). We can catch the light rail in the DTC for a super easy trip to downtown Denver or Mile High Stadium while we catch up with each other and look out at the Front Range.
Our home is also only two hours from America’s best skiing. We hop up in the morning, head up the mountain by the time the lifts open, ski every run, and we’re back home to sleep in our own beds that night.
It is a treat to live in a “small” town with such big opportunities nearby.
10. Family and Friends
Definitely last, but, not least, I love living here because we are near my parents, some of my siblings, and exceptional friends.
I grew up swinging a hammer with my dad building custom homes alongside him in Colorado Springs. His honesty, strong work ethic, and care for others shaped who I am today. This year I had to honor of building a home for him and mom in Monument.
We all know that any town, big city, or home is beautiful if it is full of the people you love. I am grateful to live and build in Colorado Springs and Monument because I love it here. It is a great joy to help people build their custom home in such a spectacular place.
Bill Herebic is a 4th-generation custom homebuilder in Colorado. Bill’s decades of hard work and honesty mean clients and tradesmen love to work with him resulting in every home being done on time or early for 35 years and counting.