Elitch Gardens

Elitch Gardens was a botanical garden at the corner of 38th Avenue and Tennyson Street that combined flower beds with rides and entertainment. Alongside green spaces, there was a ballroom, a children's area, and a commercial greenhouse for carnations.

John and Mary Elitch founded the site in 1890 as the first zoological facility west of Chicago. After her husband's death, Mary Elitch Long ran the operation for over 26 years and became the first woman in the US to lead such a zoo.

The on-site theater opened the same year as the garden and later screened the first movies shown in Colorado using Edison's projector. It became the oldest continuously running summer theater in the country and drew audiences from across the region for decades.

The garden opened only during warm months and welcomed families with different age groups. Admission included access to plant beds, animal areas, and entertainment halls within a compact layout.

The carnation cultivation on site supplied flower shops and events throughout the city, providing extra revenue for the operation. Many animal species arrived in Colorado for the first time here and drew attention from visitors for decades.

Location: Colorado

GPS coordinates: 39.76830,-105.04600

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28