Sedgwick County • Julesburg, Ovid, Sedgwick
Colorado Welcome Center celebrates 25th anniversary By Sue Carter Welcome Center manager
O
n Wednesday, June 23 the Colorado Welcome Center at Julesburg will be celebrating its 25th anniversary. Developing the Welcome Center took 10 years, from its planning to its opening day on Feb. 8, 1996. The effort was a concerted one by many different entities helping in various ways to finish the goal. The Welcome Center has a Native American and pioneer motif, with silhouettes of buffalo scattered out among trees and native grass and teepees over the picnic tables. The wooden archway symbolizes an entrance to a large western ranch and is marked with a figure of a Pony Express rider. The running horse logo was designed by local artist Gary Lancaster. Visitors pass into an open courtyard which features large wooden pillars and old- time light poles. In the plaza sits a large sculpture entitled “Swept Away.” The blue heron in the sculpture signifies the large abundance of wildlife in the area. The half circle design of the building is representative of a
The Colorado Welcome Center at Julesburg has a 35-foot observation tower and is shaped in a half circle to symbolize a wheel. (File photo)
wheel and shows the significance of transportation to the area. There are walking paths, dog exercise areas and an RV dump.
orado Division of the National Pony Express Association. The interior of the building is designed with high, open-beamed ceilings, patina lights and oaken fixtures. At the entrance to the Welcome The building features a 35-foot Center proudly on display is the tower and observation area. The Pony Express statue which was Welcome Center’s lobby features made at a cost of $110,000 spon“The Ritual,” a steel sculpture of a sored by local patrons and the Col- male and female eagle with talons locked in a free-fall, created and donated by Julesburg Artist Terry Hinde. Inside a large artistic map of Colorado can be found along with over 350 brochures to assist the over 6,000,000 plus visitors that have stopped in the last 25 years. 15225 US-385, Julesburg, CO 80737 A Penny Press owned by Fort Sedgwick Park has also been add970-474-3336 Call us today to set up your reservation. ed with four unique designs depicting our area history. The • Free Wi-Fi • Air-conditioned Welcome Center is staffed by two employees and 50 volunteers • Free parking • Flat Screen TVs many with volunteer hours totalCall 970-474-3336 For Hours ing in the thousands and is a colMake a reservation at Budgethost.com laborative effort with the State
44 • MAY 21, 2021 • EXPLORE 2021
Platte Valley Inn
A silhouette of the Pony Express horse and rider appears on a nearby tipi at the Colorado Welcome Center at the I-76 interchange at Julesburg. (Courtesy photo)
Tourism Office and Sedgwick County. The Welcome Center is planning to celebrate its 25th anniversary with an open house with a dinner and entertainment to kick off the Pony Express Re-Ride through Julesburg and Sedgwick County that will take place on the morning of June 24.
