Goldens on the Road: The Royal Gorge

Friday, November 1, 2019

The Royal Gorge

The Royal Gorge

The Royal Gorge Park is mostly known for the ‘highest’ suspension bridge in the world from 1929 until 2001, when it was surpassed by the ‘Liuguanghe Bridge’ in China; However, it maintained its title until 2003 when the Beipan River Guanzing Highway Bridge was completed in 2003, also in China.

The span of the Royal Gorge Bridge between towers is 880 feet, the total length is 1,260 feet, the width is 18 feet and the towers are 150 feet high. The steel base structure is covered with 1,292 wooden planks. It crosses the gorge at 995 feet above the Arkansas River. The park around the Bridge has additional attractions including an aerial tram, a zip line going over the Gorge, and there is also a sky coaster attraction with riders being swung out over the edge of the Gorge.

We took the tram across the gorge then walked back across the bridge. As we walked around the park we saw the remnants of the Miniature Train that was built by the edge of the Gorge, and the remnants of the Funicular (incline railway) that was at the side of the Bridge and allowed visitors a way down to the bottom of the Gorge. This was a very enjoyable place for a visit.