Penrose, Colorado Apple Days: The Event of the Year!

The stores in the town of Penrose, Colorado all offer a bumper sticker that sells often to the locals. It says, "So what if Penrose isn't on the map? Neither is HEAVEN!" Penrose is a tiny little town with a history rich in old west lore. It lies in the Arkansas River Valley of southern Colorado, just south of the Fort Carson Army Base, in Fremont County. The town is estimated to cover approximately 33 square miles, and is home to a little over 3000 people. We don't have a stop light yet, but we did get most of the roads paved in the past ten years. The county has also added some stop signs at intersections that used to rely only on the courtesy and caution of the drivers for right-of-way. Colorado State highway 115 passes through town, and intersects with US highway 50 at the southern end of Penrose. There is no natural water in the area, but residents get water from the use of run-off from the Cripple Creek area, which is held in a reservoir north of town. Because this water supply is fairly good, the area has been known for many years as the "Apple Valley". Apples of every variety seem to thrive in the hot, dry climate and orchards of apples and cherries are found in nearly every block. One of the local staples is apple and cherry cider, and every family seems to have their own secret "recipe".

Like every other small town in America, Penrose has changed as it has grown. The old apple shed, where the growers came to market their produce in years gone by is now converted to a mercantile store and country café which is known for miles as the BEST. Everything served is home made, even the pies, cobblers and ice cream. The place is quickly spotted from a distance by the murals on the outside walls, depicting the history of the building, and the "world's largest rocking chair" in the front of the parking lot.

In the first week of October, after the summer heat has begun to subside, the residents host a festival to celebrate the harvest. This is a custom in many small agricultural towns, and in Penrose, it is called "Apple Days" for obvious reasons. For several days before the festivities begin, area residents can go to the local senior center and pick up a five pound bag of delicious apples. On the day before the festival begins, those residents deliver the home made pies they've created with the apples to the senior center for judging. Early on the day of the event, the ribbons are awarded for the best pie, and during the full Saturday of the festival, free slices of apple pie are served to the public until the pies are gone. Apple upside down cakes also abound at the tables, but so far, there has been no addition for the judging of those cakes. There may be an added trophy in the next season.

The Apple Day event is the pinnacle of the year for many locals, and the celebration is evident in every corner of the town. There is a pancake breakfast at the local Veterans of Foreign Wars lodge, a biscuit and gravy breakfast at one of the churches, a luncheon of BBQ at another church, corn-on-the-cob dipped in butter is the featured fare of a local youth group, and in the evening, there is even a steak fry in the park. Softball tournaments go on all day, and horseshoe competitions also can be found in several places.

After breakfast, the visitors from all around the country who converge on the town for the weekend can browse the booths which span three or four blocks and several side streets along Broadway, buying anything from sausages on a stick to expensive paintings, leather craft and art pieces. At 10am, the floats and bands and school groups and politicians pandering for votes line up along the backstreets, and at 11 am sharp, the parade begins. Every class in the Penrose School, spanning grades K-8, has their own float, designed and built by the class children with the help of parents and community donors. The school bands from the region come to display their talents, the hot rod clubs, vintage car and motorcycle clubs, and even a few individuals who just want to ride a horse in the parade pass by the grandstands.

During the afternoon, after the parade, and a lunch from one of the many options available, the talent show begins. Throughout the remainder of the day, various comedy acts, singers, dancing and music recitals are presented on the stage in the center of town. Bales of hay and straw are scattered around the sides of the street for seating, and when a band happens to incite the urge, people often dance to the music in the street. At dusk, there are usually several local bands performing in various buildings around town, for dances, and there is always a street dance to end a pleasant day of community celebration.
The Apple Valley is a unique and very homespun place, and with the surrounding recreational and sight seeing attractions, could easily be the place to begin your next late-summer get-away. There are plenty of local camping spots, a host of choice hotels and motels, several RV parks, a short, scenic drive to gamble in the historic casinos of Cripple Creek, or raft down the Arkansas River. Penrose, Colorado may not be on the map, but it is indeed, in the hearts of every person who has come to share the Apple Valley experience.