Welcome to Fort Collins, AKA Fort Fun!
Ahoy, friends!
If you've ever looked north of Denver on the map, chances are you've seen Fort Collins marked in a big red star. Just a little over fifty miles north of Denver along I-25, Fort Collins deserves that big star, as it really is a jewel of the state.
The fifth-most populace city in Colorado, Fort Collins is a large University town with loads of history.
When the U.S. Army came into the area in 1864, they established Camp Collins along the Cache la Poudre River, only to decommission the fort a few years later after hostilities in the area settled down. By that time, however, a flood of settlers have moved into the area and the town began to grow.
Known in the early 1900s as an agricultural hot spot, the lamb industry along with farming took off in the settlement. In 1908, the Great Western Sugar Company set up a plant and workers came in droves to pick the sugar beet crops that supplied the sugar.
With such a thriving agricultural base, the government saw fit to establish a college, Colorado Agricultural College, which would later become Colorado State University. While CSU has grown in its offerings in everything from literature to science, the agricultural education at the school is still exceptionally strong and draws students and researchers from all over the world.
Today, Fort Collins is a thriving community with many industries, activities and other great qualities.
A haven for great beers (boasting breweries such as New Belgium, Odells, the Fort Collins Brewery and a Budweiser plant), unique eateries, historic hotels, outdoor adventures, superb shopping and other opportunities, you can't go wrong with a visit to the Fort. Indeed, the historic Old Town area itself is worth an afternoon of strolling (for trivia buffs: Old Town Fort Collins served as the model for Disneyland's Main Street.)
I'll keep you updated on the latest and greatest things to do in this city. Here's hoping you stop by soon!
