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.