Published reports say 14-year-old Curt Goerke began taking photos of tourists with the rock in the 1890s, charging 25 cents apiece. Demand for photos was so high that his father, Paul Goerke, bought Balanced Rock and nearby Mushroom Park for $400.
Within a few years, they built a photography shop, attached to adjacent Steamboat Rock, where they processed the photographic wet plates and developed prints. Business was lucrative and they opened a concession stand, sold photo supplies and even cut stairs into Steamboat Rock and erected a telescope on top.
As cameras became cheap and popular with tourists, Curt Goerke built a tall wooden fence, estimated at two miles long, surrounding his property and Balanced Rock to prevent freeloading. He charged 25 cents admission and put dozens of signs advertising the “wonders” inside the fence, prompting complaints from area residents and visitors who wanted access and who objected to the commercial nature of the site.
The rock was part of a 20-year legal tug-of-war between Manitou Springs and Goerke. It even became tied up in Goerke’s 1915 divorce and led to the rock becoming property of the city.
Great shot, Gary.
Thanks for relaying the Goerke history. It inspired me to do more historical research on Garden of the Gods that I wasn't aware of.
It turns out that the bulk of property of Garden of the Gods was originally owned by two different people who purchased different plots. Paul Goerke owned Balance Rock and Steamboat Rock, and Charles Elliot Perkins, a railroad tycoon, who owned another 480 Acres which was later donated by his children to the City of Colorado Spring for the park. Another player was General William Jackson Palmer who convinced his friend Perkins to buy the land. Palmer owned an 800 acre estate adjacent to the north end of the Garden of the Gods where he built a 'castle' he named 'Glen Eyrie', which has been owned since 1953 by the Christian organization "The Navigators".
My wife and I stayed in Glen Eyrie many year back while attending a photography conference.there.
The whole area is breathtaking.
morris wrote:
I love the story Gary. How much does the city charge for parking? Is there a restaurant and/or souvenir shop?
Morris
I'm not following what you're asking Morris. Garden of the Gods is a 1300 acre public park that sits about 10-15 minutes outside of Manitou Springs. I don't believe there are any restaurants within the park.
gmccroskery wrote:
Great shot, Gary.
Thanks for relaying the Goerke history. It inspired me to do more historical research on Garden of the Gods that I wasn't aware of.
It turns out that the bulk of property of Garden of the Gods was originally owned by two different people who purchased different plots. Paul Goerke owned Balance Rock and Steamboat Rock, and Charles Elliot Perkins, a railroad tycoon, who owned another 480 Acres which was later donated by his children to the City of Colorado Spring for the park. Another player was General William Jackson Palmer who convinced his friend Perkins to buy the land. Palmer owned an 800 acre estate adjacent to the north end of the Garden of the Gods where he built a 'castle' he named 'Glen Eyrie', which has been owned since 1953 by the Christian organization "The Navigators".
My wife and I stayed in Glen Eyrie many year back while attending a photography conference.there.
The whole area is breathtaking.
Very beautiful area indeed. We stayed at The Cliff House at Pikes Peak, highly recommended. Here's a plaque within the park. I'll type out the inscription because it's probably hard to read.
Garden of the Gods
Given to the city of Colorado Springs
in 1909 by the children of Charles Elliott Perkins
in fulfilment (sic) of his wish that it be kept forever
free to the public
sum1sgrampa wrote:
I'm not following what you're asking Morris. Garden of the Gods is a 1300 acre public park that sits about 10-15 minutes outside of Manitou Springs. I don't believe there are any restaurants within the park.
I thought that rock looked formilia. Garden of the Gods is a wonderful park. They have a visitor's center and I believe a gift shop inside it. I think parking is free.
sum1sgrampa wrote:
Very beautiful area indeed. We stayed at The Cliff House at Pikes Peak, highly recommended. Here's a plaque within the park. I'll type out the inscription because it's probably hard to read.
Garden of the Gods
Given to the city of Colorado Springs
in 1909 by the children of Charles Elliott Perkins
in fulfilment (sic) of his wish that it be kept forever
free to the public
I think you'll appreciate this, Gary.
In Feb 2008, I was at the 'Broadmoor' Resort in Colorado Springs photographing the annual conference for the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. The first day, I had nothing on my schedule until early evening when I had to do Board of Directors/Staff portraits. So early that morning I went over to Garden of the Gods and hiked around with camera in hand. Around noon a storm started coming in over the mountains. This first photo is a shot of Balanced Rock I got at 10 in the morning. The second image was at the Broadmoor around 6 that evening right before doing the portraits!
gmccroskery wrote:
I think you'll appreciate this, Gary.
In Feb 2008, I was at the 'Broadmoor' Resort in Colorado Springs photographing the annual conference for the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. The first day, I had nothing on my schedule until early evening when I had to do Board of Directors/Staff portraits. So early that morning I went over to Garden of the Gods and hiked around with camera in hand. Around noon a storm started coming in over the mountains. This first photo is a shot of Balanced Rock I got at 10 in the morning. The second image was at the Broadmoor around 6 that evening right before doing the portraits!
sum1sgrampa wrote:
I like the angle you took there Greg. Shows more of the "balancing" effect. TFS
Thanks Gary.
From what I read, Curt Goerke originally re-enforced the base with concrete because tourists were chipping pieces of it off for souvenirs! As someone said, "We need to quit asking how stupid people can be. Because some take that as a challenge."
