Elitch Gardens Theme Park has been a top summer destination for Denver residents for over a century. It first started out in 1890 as a resort and zoo, and has now grown into a thrilling attraction with over 50 rides and entertainment options to suit all ages.
Adrenaline junkies will not be disappointed! High-octane rides such as the Mind Eraser definitely live up to their name. This supercharged roller coaster suspends you from the track, legs dangling, before throwing you around double corkscrew spins and dives at over 80 kilometres per hour. If you still want more, don’t miss the Tower of Doom, a 60-metre free-fall, or the Sling Shot, which launches you into the air at speeds of nearly 130 kilometres per hour.
There are also many rides perfect for families, which are slower but no less exciting. Explore the haunted house of Ghost Blasters to hunt down the creepy ghouls, or take to the skies with Dragonwing. You’ll also see many traditional fairground rides, including a giant Ferris wheel and the ever-popular spinning Tea Cups.
Next to the theme park, you’ll find the Water Park, perfect for cooling off in the hot summer months. The 12 rides here also cater for different ages, offering everything from the Acapulco Cliff Dive, a 20-metre free-fall slide, to the gentler Castaway Creek, where you float along on an inflatable tube dodging geysers, waterfalls and water bubbles.
As well as the rides, there are many arcades featuring charming funfair amusements. Try your aim with Ring Toss, or have a go at knocking down cans in Tin Can Alley.
A huge range of cafés, restaurants and food stalls can be found on site, as well as a beer garden for those in need of something stronger. Your whole day’s entertainment is taken care of!
Entrance to both the Theme Park and the Water Park is included in the price of your ticket. The parks are open between May and October, but do check the website for exact opening times and dates. Light rail services and bus routes stop near the entrance.
