Royal Gorge Rodeo

The Royal Gorge Rodeo Grounds at S. Ninth Street and Poplar Avenue, Cañon City, Colorado.

The Royal Gorge Rodeo began in Fremont County in 1872 and was known as the Old Settlers' Reunion. In the days of "Buffalo" Bill Cody in the 1880's, the rodeo became known as a Wild West Show and later it was called the Royal Gorge Roundup. Among the old timers who were active in producing the early shows were Woody Higgins, Charles Canterbury Sr., Dudley P. VanBuskirk, W.A. Chapson, Elmer Canterbury, Clyde Chess, George Green, Ted Harding, W.A. MacKenzie, Ed Steinmeier and Frank Steinmeier.

Soon public interest in the event began to falter. But then in 1937, a group of younger men took over and decided to put on a modern rodeo and racing program. The old fairgrounds in the north part of town, which had been the scene of the wild west shows and roundups, was no longer available. So the event was staged in Hollywood Flats, now the site of Veterans' Memorial Park. The event was so successful that it's sponsors organized the Cañon City Rodeo Association, which became incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1939.

Through the efforts of W.A. MacKenzie and famed prison warden Roy Best, the present site was secured for a permanent home for the show. Then began the building of stands, stables, chutes and corrals. Most of the materials were donated by the Speedway Corporation and came from an old hotel they were dismantling in Salida. View the photograph in the image gallery below to see some of these men at work.

With volunteer labor, bleachers were built to seat 800 and a successful show was staged in 1940. The present grandstand was built from plans drawn by John Beaton in 1952. The plans were approved and Beaton was appointed chairman of the building committee on May 10. Much of the materials and most of the labor was donated. Through the cooperation of many spirited citizens the remarkable feat was accomplished and 27 days later the grandstand was completed.

The show opened on June 8, 1952, as the finishing touches were added late the night before. In the last couple decades they have completely rebuilt all of the corrals using pipe with metal posts as well as new bleachers, metal bucking chutes and installing new water lines everywhere. Members have also updated the concession stands and other areas.

The association has 24.16 acres of grounds where the first rodeo was held in 1939 and have had a rodeo at this site every year since. The annual Royal Gorge Rodeo is held every year on the first weekend in May in conjunction with the Cañon City Music & Blossom Festival. There are currently plans to move the Fremont County Fair and Royal Gorge Rodeo to Pathfinder Park between Cañon City and Florence out on Highway 115, but much more construction of numerous structures would be needed there prior to that.

The rodeo grounds are private property, but I have been given permission from association president, Mr. James Boyd Canterbury, to place this cache at this location. As always, please be respectful of property and have consideration if an event is taking place there.