BUCKSKIN JOE'S, CO MAY 31, 2009

May, 31, 2009 We started our journey today with a stop at Rosie's Diner in Monument, CO for breakfast. What a neat place! Started in 1946 as the Silver Dollar Diner in New Jersey, Rosie's gained national acclaim and took on its current name in 1971 when the bounty paper towels "quicker picker upper" TV commercial made the diner and waitress Rosie (a.k.a the late actress Nancy Walker) household icons. Now with an established diner in Monument, Rosie's continues to be a national dining destination. There are juke boxes at every booth, 50's music is playing, there are 50's car posters on the walls, chrome bar stools at the counter, and the menu is great! You can almost see "the Fonze" and the gang from Happy Days here.

Just before Colorado Springs, we stopped at this scenic overlook. That's the US Air Academy and Pike's Peak in the background.

The plaque is in honor of Jasper Ackerman, soldier, rancher, banker and great supporter of the Air Force Academy.

We arrived at our destination - Buckskin Joe Town at Royal Gorge, Colorado. Established in 1958, it is a step back in time to an 1860's authentic western town.

Just had to get someone to snap our picture here.

Designed to replicate its namesake, Buckskin Joe is a town right out of the 1860's Colorado Frontier. Overgrown ruminants are all that remain of the original town, about 2 miles from Alma, CO. Luckily the builders of Buckskin Joe saved the only salvageable building and one of the main buildings from the original town, the H.A.W Tabor General Merchandise store from ruin.

All of the buildings are authentic buildings from the mid to late 1800 Colorado Frontier. Each building was taken apart, marked piece by piece and reconstructed in the current location.

Many western movies used Buckskin Joe town including Cat Balou (Lee Marvin), The Cowboys with John Wayne and Conager (Sam Elliot and Katherine Ross). You may recognize this bath tub where John Wayne and Lee Marvin took baths in their movies. It is reported to be the most photographed bathtub in the west!

Of course, no western town is complete without a gunfight! This cast of actors put on a show about every 2 hours during the day, some funny and some serious.

In between gunfights there is a magic show that is held 4 times a day featuring Las Vegas magician Christian Augustine. This is a picture of his wife, "a magician in training". The show features illusion, mystique, and humor and is suitable for the whole family.







Joseph Higgenbottom, known for his eccentricity and the buckskin clothing he wore discovered the "Buckskin Joe Diggings" in 1859. Thus the common name of the boom town formed around the area was "Buckskin Joe".








You may recognize the Sackett House from some of the western movies you have seen.

Bill, with the Rocky Mountains in the background.









This was our trolley driver. He took us for a ride around town in the wagon pulled by a team of Belgium draft horses.











Bill decided he need some money so he tried panning for gold. All he got was a few little flecks.

Next he decided to try the bank for money.

Evidently they didn't like his withdrawal method and he ended up in jail!

So I had to find "Mayor Donkey" and get Bill out of jail. "Donkey" is about 30 years old. He was originally used to give rides to children. One day he absolutely refused to give any more rides so the owner of Buckskin Joe's retired him and made him the Mayor. Now he just wanders around town. You might find him anywhere. He was in the trolley office when I found him. But he's been seen in the gift shop and various other buildings in town. What a happy ending for the little guy!

After all the excitement of getting Bill out of jail we decided to get a bite to eat at the Golden Nugget Restaurant and dined on, what else, buffalo burgers, quesadillas. and sarsasparilla.

One last look down the street before we leave.

What a great day! Now back to the 21st century.