Elitch Gardens, Denver

Elitch Gardens, originally located in the West Highland neighborhood of Denver, was a beloved family-owned amusement park, theater, and botanic garden that served as one of the most popular entertainment destinations in the state for over a century. Established on May 1, 1890, by John and Mary Elitch, the park originally opened as Elitch's Zoological Gardens on a 16-acre plot of former farmland. It was the first zoo west of Chicago, offering Denver residents a unique cultural experience that combined natural beauty with amusement.

The park gained national recognition for its lush gardens, the iconic Trocadero Ballroom, the Theatre at the Gardens, and the premier wooden roller coaster, Mister Twister. Over the years, Elitch Gardens introduced many attractions that became integral to Denver's cultural landscape. In 1916, the park was sold to John Mulvihill, who ensured the park’s name would remain unchanged, preserving its legacy.

Notable attractions added during this period included the Wildcat roller coaster, designed by Herbert Paul Schmeck in 1922, and a new carousel in 1928, both crafted by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. The carousel remains operational at the current Elitch Gardens location. The park's famous slogan, "Not to See Elitch's is Not to See Denver," became widely recognized, reflecting its status as a must-visit destination in the city.

In 1994, Elitch Gardens was relocated to downtown Denver, where it later became known as Six Flags Elitch Gardens. The original 28-acre site of the park in the West Highland neighborhood has since been redeveloped into Highlands' Garden Village, a new urbanism development that includes 308 housing units along with various office and retail spaces, honoring the site's historical significance while adapting it to modern urban needs.