TERROR at Royal Gorge | History Traveler Episode 12
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2019
- We made a special side trip to see Royal Gorge in Colorado. Turns out that there is some pretty interesting history associated with the gorge that involved Bat Masterson and Doc Holliday. But mostly, this showcases my discomfort with unsecured heights.
royalgorgebridge.com/
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I walked across that bridge almost 30 years ago at the age of 15. Despite being in numerous high places before with similar crazy views, I learned that day waking across that bridge with a car driving across, that I’m deathly afraid of heights and I hate that bridge!
My wife and visited there a few years back and thoroughly enjoyed it. I tend to see things differently than most. Who amazed me were not the people that walked or rode over the gorge. I was impressed at the amazing people that constructed and installed this infrastructure.
I was last at the Royal Gorge in 1975. It's changed a lot since then. There were no rides, swings, or platforms at that time. Also, I have "rafted" down the Arkansas river under this bridge in the mid 1980's. Now that was an adventure.
There was a fire at Royal Gorge in 2013 that destroyed much of the park and damaged the bridge as well. I didn't mention it in the video because the footage that I shot for it didn't turn out very good. I need to go back and go rafting down the river like you mentioned. That looked like a lot of fun. Thanks for watching!
Our young family drove across that bridge back in 1978. We still have a photograph of the "No Fishing from Bridge" sign at the middle of the bridge. No zip lines back then.
Brings back a lot of memories. While on a trip from Alabama to Washington State, my young wife and I walked across the bridge. This was 1962 and we just celebrated our 61 anniversary.
Congratulations to you and your bride on your 61st, that's beautiful. I was 6 years old in '62, we may have passed each other on the bridge. My folks took us there and Buckskin Joe's pretty much every summer. Never got old.
Kurt Loptien Thank you. Who knows we may have pass each other. God bless and stay safe.
So you’re like 120 years old?
@@PaulRodriguez9 And what makes you think that?
@@PaulRodriguez9 ps sometimes I feel close to that . Got a few more years before I reach 120 Sandflat Rd, 85 now.
I was there as a kid and i am now 57. Just watching this video makes my palms sweat-😳😲
I remember as a kid being there and being scared to death as we walked onto the bridge. It gave me the heebee geebees.
Same here and I'm 55 now.
I'm so happy you reacted the way you did! Our parents took us there in the 70's and I was terrified! My dad drove across it and my mom walked me across those creaking boards crying my eyes out! LOL
Me too but we rode. About 1971
The first time we did it was in '68. We lived in Pueblo, Royal Gorge was a go to spot for my parents whenever family visited from out of town. Scared me every time we went there, damn creaking boards.
@@rodneyreinhardt1312 Loved walking across bridge and looking through cracks of the boards. Driving across was scarier for me. Done both many times. did not like the aerial gondola.
Same here.I was never so terrorized in my life!
When living in Colorado we visited the Gorge. A lot has changed there now but when we visited it was windy and the bridge began to sway and there were many people on their hands and knees crossing the bridge.
🤭
Dude! Props to you for going over the bridge and riding the "cable coffin"! I'm the kind of idiot that would do the zip line over it. A little story. My Dad worked for Southern Pacific as a ticket clerk. Our family went to Illinois from Nevada on the train, it could have been on the way back. I was all of 3 or 4 yrs old. I distinctly remember the train stopped in the Royal Gorge, I have no idea why, and I remember looking up at the bridge. Man, thanks for taking me back there! I had no clue to the history! Again, mad props to you for going over the gorge twice! Take it from me your kids will appreciate all the places you have taken them. My mom and dad did the same.
That bridge is a spooky crossing, it moves and sways as you drive over it.
My wife and I walked across the bridge during our honeymoon. I think it was the start of my anxiety problems!
Terror at Royal Gorge - 1972 - I was 16. Walked straight across that dang bridge, right down the middle, turned around and walked back. I was scared to death and said I wont ever do that again. 2016 - 60 years old. I walked across the blame thing again. But this time I hitched a ride back on a golf cart with my eyes closed the whole time. And I will NEVER do that again.
I don’t understand the fear….. but okay. I’ve done it and felt no fear just beauty.
That was fun. I was there in 1999 and walked the bridge and rode the vertical train. That was hard enough and I appreciate your apprehension, but there was no way on earth I was riding the gondola. Thanks for taking me back.
Hah! I love this guy. I never thought I'd meet anyone more afraid of heights than I am. At six, first trip to gorge, I almost passed out after one step on bridge because I KNEW I was going to fall through the cracks between the boards. Cable coffin, indeed.
I've ridden many of my motorcycles across that bridge, as well as walked across even in the late sixties before they added guy wires to stabilize the bridge. Still enjoy the views to this day!!
Yup. Rode a motorcycle across too. Pretty cool!
I grew up there, have walked up the tracks under the bridge fishing several times. You find all the stuff people have dropped, lots of coins.
As a resident of Canon City I must say that this gave me some chuckles. I have been across that bridge numerous times and the air tram about 3 times, the Gorge never fails to fill me with awe. I will be going there again for the awesome sunrise service there on Easter 4/17/22.
We drove across that bridge in 1963 when we moved from Colorado to California. What a thrill that was.
Sadly, thanks to the fire, you missed one of the things I enjoyed the most. The Funicular Railway was a small railway that went to the bottom of the gorge. You could go down and see the Hanging Bridge that the Rio Grande built to allow the railroad to run through the gorge. Also at the bottom, on the far side of the gorge, you can see the remains of the wooden pipe that use to supply Canyon City with water. When you showed the river and railroad while crossing in the gondola, that building and the steps where the observation area from riding the funicular to the bottom.
I rode that funicular down to the bottom many times growing up. It was one of our favorite spots to visit. Colorado is such a great place to live, and to explore! (and visit!)
I remember riding down that railway in the late '60's, early '70's. It was a great ride and a great view from the bottom.
Just for info it is not Canyon City it is canon city. I used to live here . It is a great little town. People are really great. I will be moving back here with in the next year. And the royal gorge train ride is really gréât also. And you listes some great info for others people just for tourist info. Have a great day
The train is still there. I was on it two years ago. Was there a fire since then?
@@sarahhall9457 Fire happened in 2013 and the last thing I had heard was that it was too expensive to rebuild the funicular.
I had a Lincoln Limo at one time and drove across the bridge with the family on a vacation. The four kids loved it. Wife, not so much.
Been there as a young man, my Dad wouldn’t even walk on the bridge. Took about 10 steps and said, “ nope, not for me” Needless to say we didn’t do the Gondola ride either....😃
Ha! I get it.
Just walked across it today and rode the gondola.
I understand him perfectly
There's nothing to it if you're full of fear don't go anywhere these days OK I live about 40 miles away and it's a nice place to visit they have music there outside during the summer good grief lighten up you guys I'm 68 years old
Thanks for sharing this great video on the Royal Gorge. I've visited it several time. During the 30s my mother lived in Colorado Springs and had an aunt who lived in Cañon City, the nearest town to the gorge. The engineering behind the construction of the bridge is amazing.
Hope there are many more videos by you. This was a real treat. Thank you.
Now I agree that a ride on the gorge rail line would be a real thrill. Great video History Traveler as usual.
Great ride and, you can get lunch or dinner.
I stopped by Royal Gorge 4 years ago and had no idea about this history. Thanks for posting!
We have a viaduct near my home called Kinzua Viaduct! At one point in time it was the highest in the world! Well a few years back a tornado knocked it down partly! The park service took the remaining part and put a glass floor into it and it can make your knees shake as well lol!
Enjoy watching your videos, nice family you got aswell! May God be with you!
I’m a subscriber and my goal is to watch all of your videos. I want to thank you for slow panning that doesn’t make me nauseous….and also, no annoying background music that drowns out your voice. You are so interesting to watch. One more thing… thank you for not swearing. You’re awesome. ( side note.. I’m from Penna. and we went to Gettysburg often but still have learned so much from you). Good job all around
Thanks. I don’t use foul language even off camera but i especially want to keep this channel clean so that it can be used in schools.
Impressed with this suspension bridge y'all need to walk across the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day, all 5 miles
I never knew the difference between a gorge and canyon, thank you History Underground!
Ha! Yeah, that was a new one for me too. Always learning!
My family went there in 1965 and it was the most terrifying bridge I've ever walked on - the boards move under your feet when a car goes over the bridge. And it's over 1,000 feet down to the roaring river below but it's so high up you can't even hear the roaring noise of the water. I froze halfway across and one of my family members had to get hold of my hand and guide me across I was so scared.
I had a set of grandparents in Glendale, Ca when I was a kid. We made several driving trips to see them during the summers. Most of our trips were through New Mexico and Arizona, but one was through Colorado and Utah. We took the cog train up Pikes Peak and walked across Royal Gorge bridge. I still remember how small a full size railroad track looked next to the river! No gondola ride for us! This was in the early seventies. Brice Canyon in Utah looked other worldly with its rough, but beautiful terrain. We then met our grandparents in Las Vegas! Was pretty much a wasted stop as kids. My parents were old hands,they went every year and they even eloped to there when they first got married.
Great video pard but scared the daylights out of me with the heights. That is awesome you take your daughter with you. An education she will never get in a classroom. These trips are the building blocks for the rest of her life. I'm mighty proud for you. Stay safe in your travels.
Thanks. I try and take the kids to as many places as I can so that they can learn about history outside of the classroom as well as inside. And yes, the Gorge was stomach churning at times.
Thanks for so much history, it’s rare I don’t learn something new.
glanced through the comments .... hope to be the first to say... this episode of history traveler was... GORGEOUS!!
Oh, this was a hard one to watch - beautiful scenery, but the heights got to me. I had butterflies in my stomach the whole time. Glad you stuck with it and did the Gondola too. :)
Another for the bucket list. That looks awesome.
I live in Colorado with a short driving trip to the Royal Gorge...and am STILL amazed at the view and at times squeemish.
I enjoyed the Royal Gorge video. A beautiful place . A bit frightening but alot of fun . 👍🤗
Pamela Kern - Thanks. It’s a pretty amazing place.
Great video! Need more videos like this so young kids can watch it and learn from it with no bad words being said.
I live in Canon City! I love the gorge. There’s a lot of history here!!!
I used to live on 9th street.
But that was 27 years ago when short lumber was still in business.
T H U : been there , done that !! My mum was born/raised in Colo.Spgs. visited there in late 60' w/whole family(7) ! I myself lived there summer 99-summer 04 . I MISS that beautiful state 💙
Lived in Colorado Springs and Woodland Park all through the 70s. Went back to visit 2 years ago and won't ever be back. Colorado's pot laws have turned the state into a dumpster fire and I want to cry over what's happened to it. I think every lowlife in the US has migrated there.
@8:22 I can feel my own heart stop, and I am sitting on a safe chair.
Good job! And not one word of profanity did I hear. Bravo!
Ha! Thanks. I try to maintain tight discipline over the words that come out of my mouth. This was certainly a test though 😅
They went through my mind though...and I was just watching the video. That is one place I do NOT have to see in person🙈
No profanity but taking the Lord’s name in vain is just as bad if not worse.
No profanity but wished ill will upon a man just for doing what I assume is his job in driving on the bridge. "I really hope something horrible happens to that guy. He just made these boards shake.." apparently I'm the only one who found that to be extremely lacking of class.
I'm with you JD! I am not fond of heights. When I was a kid, I had no problem going on that zip line or that swing or looking over the bridge rail. That was when I was foolish! 🥴😆
The Sky Coaster over the gorge, was breathtaking. Me and 2 buddies did that stunt and lived to tell about it.
Wow, looks as though I have to make a trip back there. When I was there they didn't have the individual rides, or the swing. Was in the gondola, but they packed so many people in, you couldn't move around. Great place though.
I grew up in Fremont County CO. I miss that place very much
Big Macs have way too much bread, I order mine without the middle bun. The Royal Gorge is a magical place, I would buy a season ticket when I lived in Pueblo and visit quite often.
That swing is a blast! I wouldn’t do it again though 😂
Rode on the gondola, tram then, years ago when someone hit the emergency stop. Had to wait for it to stop swinging before they could restart it.
I'm so laughing at your reactions. Everytime I take out of towers there its fun watching them have your reactions.
I absolutely love your comic commentary! Now I feel the same as you, but you gave me my laugh for the day..😀
Back in the late 1970's, my husband and I went to the Royal Gorge. Just a few minutes after we left, a girl jumped off the bridge. Had we waited about 10 minutes, we would have seen it. 😕
The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad may have lost the Royal Gorge Route to the Denver & Rio Grande, but they won Raton Pass.
My family visited there when I was a teenager. We took a ride down into the gorge, and the first thing my father said as we were descending was "What if the cable breaks"!
The train ride along the river is awesome. You get a different perspective when looking from the bottom up to the top 😊.
I went there in the 60s when there was nothing but just the bridge. The road into it was gravel with just a small gravel parking lot. I think there was maybe 2 or 3 other cars there. The bridge itself was about half as wide as it is now. Just a foot bridge really with only single towers at each end. It was rebuilt I believe in the early 80s to what it is today. Now it's a huge tourist attraction with multiple attractions. I went back in 2000 and didn't even recognize anything about the way it was in the 60s. It is a must see attraction.
Thats about an hour from where I love...there's a lot of really interesting history here in Colorado, many ghost towns to explore, mines, and beautiful spots. There were even a few German POW camps.
Hmmmmm.......anything left of the POW camps?
@@TheHistoryUnderground not much other than the locations, but its cool to visit them. There's also several remote WWII aircraft crash sites, some of them still have parts laying about. Interesting history in Pueblo where the USAF Initial Flight Training school is. Pueblo airport was a bomber training site, including training Chinese pilots on B-29s. The old hanger is still there, and there's also a really good aircraft museum that doesn;t look like much from the outside but is packed with stuff. You can walk up into the bomb bay of a B-29.
Tuba Dude 😯
I live in Castle Rock probably pretty close to you- I love hiking up around there. The gorge is ‘gorgeous!’ :-)
I remember being with a group of tourists and some of them began to cross the bridge and then chickened out. I’m not afraid of heights and loved it!
There was no way I was going to go there and not walk the bridge, but dang. My gut was in knots a fews times. Thanks for watching!
I was terrified when I went across!! Glad I did it once, but probably not again!!!
I’ve been a river raft guide down the gorge for many years, you can still see the fighting positions built in stone along the river!
Hello. And lucky you! That would be a nice job. My wife and I were there in May, going back in October. What month do you stop doing rides down the river? That's one of the things we are really wanting to do. And fly-fishing. :)
@@jjburkk rafting for us stops the first week of August . That is when the water Usually begins to be too low for rafting. But that’s also when it gets back down to a level that is good for fishing
@@theonesolrac9888
Good morning. And thank you very much for answering. I hope you're having a good day out there. I think it's hard to have a bad day or there. Lol I was stationed at Carson in 90-91. I should have stayed.
I've been to the Royal Gorge twice, you could see through the bridge underneath your feet while walking across the bridge, there was no wooden floor but just a metal crate floor during that time when I went there. The bridge starts moving when a vehicle is going across the bridge and feels like the bridge is gonna flip over. Not for the faint of heart but surely a good experience👍🇺🇸..
Discovered your channel recently and binged watched all. Your contentt is insightful, interesting, professionally done. Your passion is evident. THIS video had me laughing so hard! Everything that camenoutnof your mouth was unfiltered and hilarious. You do NOT like heights. Well noted😊
Those are people, actual people...I laughed so hard I almost cried! If you haven’t done so, you should visit the Rio Grande Gorge near Taos, NM. There is a bridge you can cross and a road that descends to the bottom. Well worth the trip.
Ha! Those people needed to have their head examined.
I had to be one of the poor souls zip lining across😂 it ended up be super fun and the view was amazing!
Nope!
I know a Canon City resident who after yrs of living there still hasn't visited Royal Gorge Bridge and Park; evidently heights scare him.
I live about an hour away from the bridge. Whole place has gone through its changes over the years. What’s fun to do as well is take the train under the bridge along the river. So if you ever get a chance do the train. It’s definitely a different kind of view of the bridge.
I was there in vacation with family when I was 8 or 9 years old. (1968-69).
I was to scared to walk across the bridge so my uncle had to sit with me.
Once I felt that bridge move, it was all over. 😂
Ha! Horrifying.
LOL 😆😆😆 I feel the same way you do on the bridge and that's seeing it through the lense of the camera.
GOOD JOB!!
A long time ago i used to work with this guy.
He had a buddy that lived out of state.
His buddy REALLY wanted to go to Royal Gorge for vacation. They worked to both take there vacations at the same time.
So they do all the planning. They get there. And
The guy jumps. I don’t know where or how but he jumped. He made such a big deal about how bad he wanted to see the Gorge so he could jump.
I mean how selfish this guy was.
He could have driven himself there and done it. But yeah. The guy i worked with he came back I would definitely say he had PTSD.
I actually visited here back in July with my wife and some friends. Absolute beautiful place.
Love your videos. Jealous, wish I could do this as history is my absolute passion. You give great presentations and accurate information on all of you subjects. Please keep up the great work.
i guess Im asking randomly but does anyone know of a way to log back into an Instagram account?
I was stupid lost the password. I appreciate any tricks you can offer me.
@Bobby Dylan Instablaster :)
@Shawn Jay i really appreciate your reply. I found the site on google and im in the hacking process atm.
Takes a while so I will reply here later with my results.
@Shawn Jay It did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D
Thank you so much, you saved my ass!
@Bobby Dylan You are welcome =)
“That’s not incredible that’s just stupid!” Lol 😂
I walked across it and was so proud of myself for making it across and back. The gaps are there to allow for expansion and contraction. I couldn’t go to the edge without feeling extremely queasy, though.
Haha you make me laugh. Having fun. Love your girls reaction.
This is a fabulous experience. Train ride down below is wonderful also. Everyone should see this ! Great video. Thanks.
Sara Miley - I really regret that we didn’t include the train ride through the gorge. That’ll be for the next trip 🙂
Sara Miley - I really regret that we didn’t include the train ride through the gorge. That’ll be for the next trip 🙂
Walked and drove the bridge all 5 times I’ve visited !
Ive saved this to my Fav's b/c I love this channel and you, bro .. 🙏💜😧
Awesome, thank you!
Amazing video...
You have a lot more courage than i did. I didn't get nut maybe 25-20 feet out on the bridge. Just couldn't do the height. Bravo to you!
lots of freight moved on that RR from Provo UT through Price and along I-70 in western Co up along the Arkansas River to Eagle River. Up the Eagle River over Tennessee Pass by Leadville Co and follows the Arkansas River on down . Lots of RR history about the line.
Good vid....the last time we made the Swinging Bridge it was closed to vehicle traffic because of high winds. I've walked the bridge before but it was swaying to bad for me.
Cable coffin love it !
Great video. I have been to the royal gorge a few times and loved it every time. I take it the wind wasn’t blowing when you crossed the bridge. I think you would maybe say say the truck going across wasn’t so bad if it had been. I’m not afraid of heights like that but it is a bit un-nerving when the bridge sways in the wind. I have a suggestion for you, go across the state to Montrose and go to the Black Canyon. It is as spectacular as the royal gorge and you can drive down to the bottom if you want. I used 1st gear all the way down so that I didn’t have to ride the brake the whole time. That was something else but worth it. Take care and safe travels. Love your videos and just discovered you yesterday.
Thanks! Glad that you are enjoying the channel. Thanks for the travel advice as well 🙂
Short story, myself and another deputy were transporting a prisoner from Glenwood Springs to Canyon City State Penitentiary, we drove him across that wood bridge before we turned him over. The other deputy was driving and don't know who was more afraid me or that prisoner. Also this was about 1981 and I don't remember anything else there but the bridge.
Can you imagine the guys that built it???
Great video - I trekked across it last year and I know exactly what your stomach was doing each time you looked over at the gorge lol. All I could think of if that there were only wooden boards between me and straght down. My grandfather actually worked on the railroad during the depression and cut hair on the side for extra money. Thanks for your videos :)
I just watched this and I am cracking up! I went there as a teenager and loved it. However, I have not visited as an adult. I may have the same reaction as you!
I hope you rode the Royal Gorge Train. That is fun! I did that with several of my friends couple years ago. They have an open car where you can go and stand and look at the canyon walls and the river. It’s just amazing and beautiful and the train is fun to ride.❤
Thank you love this esp.
When I lived in Colorado in the 50s-60s, we visited here in the early 60s. it was the bridge and the ride to the bottom as the only things there then. I see the wooden road still wobbles as cars come along, and recall the bridge swaying in the wind in the middle bit. A train came along and echoed all along the gorge. The railroads wanted this route back then as the shortest, quickest route from the Rockies to out east in this region to save having to build a railroad around it. Down the road at Canon City, we took a tour of the state prison too.
Interesting! It was quite the place. Probably one of my favorite stops on that trip out west. We drove by the prison, but didn't have time to stop. Thanks for watching!
I got serious vertigo watching this :-D Great video.
Imagine the guys who built it!
When I was a kid, on a show called "That's Incredible!", I saw the inventors of bungee jumping jump off that bridge. One came within a hundred feet of the water.
And then I saw the sign! 😒😏
You know what they say: “Insanity takes all forms”!
My stomach is churning watching this like it was in August 1993 when my husband and I were there. I am afraid heights but he wasn’t. So glad we did it but no desire to do it again.
I echo every sentiment dude!!
More history then the History Channel thanks.
😅👍🏻
Dude you have No since of adventure. I remember when you could take the tramway to the bottom of the gorge by the railroad tracks and look up and what was really cool was when it rained come through.
I will be visiting Colorado later this year (2023), Must visit this place!! Alan. U.K.
Went there as a kid in the 1960s. The place was beautiful and the bridge was scary fun. However, the place has now been trashed with a bunch of tourist gimmicks. It has all the charm of a cheap roadside attraction. I don't think I will ever return.
Just in case you want to know, if the cable car cable broke, it is a 9 second drop to the bottom. Also, about 1-3 people a year jump from the bridge.
Hi. Great program. Congratulations. The Spanish conquistadors were there long before!
The newer boards on the bridge were replaced after the fire. Unfortunatly we have several suicides a year. The best place to go is Whitewater Bar and Grill. Rafting (We have class 4 and class 5, Ziplines, rentals. Remodeling the old Bucksin Joe property. Small rentals bike/horse/people trails. And 3 houses for rent.