Colorado's scenic drives and roadside attractions that give way to stunning landscapes and inspiring architecture

Coloradosun · Apr 22, 2026 · 1446 words · By The Colorado Sun; Kevin Jeffers

Colorado Tourism Personal Nostalgia State Heritage

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What to know about Colorado Tourism

Editor’s note: Welcome to the first installment of our 15-week series Colorado 150, marking 150 years of statehood with our favorite Colorado things.

Claims checked 29

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

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Center100%

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3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Editor’s note: Welcome to the first installment of our 15-week series Colorado 150, marking 150 years of statehood with our favorite Colorado things.

Why it matters

Around my junior year in college at the University of Missouri, I packed a few things into the back seat of my VW bug, topped off the tank at 60 cents a gallon and headed west down Interstate 70, bound for Colorado to visit a high school buddy at the Air…

Common ground

It was a spring break road trip hastily conceived at that point in life when you suddenly realize that you don’t need permission to stretch your boundaries, geographical or otherwise.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Colorado Tourism story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Most of those cliffs formed through red-hot volcanic explosions some 25 million years ago?
How does this story connect Colorado Tourism with Personal Nostalgia over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/22/colorado-150-scenic-drives-and-roadside-attra…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 29 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 19

info Single Source 5

check_circle Corroborated 3

verified Verified By Reference 2

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Claim 1: “Most of those cliffs formed through red-hot volcanic explosions some 25 million years ago”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 2: “King lived in Boulder for more than 30 years”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 3: “Colorado has 26 scenic and historic byways, half of which are also federally designated America’s Byways”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 4: “Built in 1909, The Stanley is the inspiration behind Stephen King’s “The Shining””

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This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 5: “in 1984, held a reburial of the fake remains, complete with a wake”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 6: “West Elk Scenic Byway... 205-mile loop on the Western Slope”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 7: “Tucked behind downtown Pueblo storefronts, brothers Jim and Joe Koncilja have a collection of roughly 40 neon signs”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 8: “a turnpike connected Boulder and Denver in 1952”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence contains general lists of toll roads and PA Turnpike information, but does not mention a specific Boulder-Denver turnpike from 1952.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Map of states that use E-ZPass or a compatible electronic tolling system, as of May 28, 2021, for any roads (or bridges or tunnels not on this list). This is a list of toll roads in the United States …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_toll_roads_in_the_Unit…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Available 24/7 and designed exclusively for PA Turnpike customers, this service provides live updates on incidents, estimated clearance times and roadway conditions.
https://www.paturnpike.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Welcome to The Turnpike Authority ® — Calculate Toll Rates For All Classes In All States; Pay Tolls Online or Get A Transponder; Find Local and Regional Toll Maps.
https://turnpikeinfo.com/

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Claim 9: “Jim died in 2024”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 10: “Colorado 150, marking 150 years of statehood”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided web search results for Colorado are general descriptions of the state and government services; none of the provided evidence mentions a 150th anniversary of statehood.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Colorado is noted for its landscape of mountains, forests, high plains, mesas, canyons, plateaus, rivers, and desert lands. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeas…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Feb 18, 2026 · Renew your driver license and ID card online using a credit card. File new claims and manage existing claims for state unemployment benefits. Apply for or manage your medical, food, cas…
https://www.colorado.gov/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — From towering mountains and vibrant cities to rich cultural heritage, every part of Colorado offers a unique blend of experiences. Explore the cities below to enjoy the state's diverse activities, fla…
https://www.colorado.com/

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Claim 11: “The Slumgullion Earthflow at the top of the pass is a geologic wonder... one of North America’s most recent major geologic events”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 12: “the Otto Mears Toll Road west of Poncha Pass tops out around 11,230 feet”

SINGLE SOURCE

The Slope explicitly states the Otto Mears Toll Road west of Poncha Pass 'tops out around 11,230 feet'. No other provided source confirms this specific elevation.

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Claim 13: “Find the tombstone on a hill next to Colorado 78, near mile marker 16”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 14: “The iconic Bishop Castle in the Wet Mountains”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and the official Bishop Castle website both confirm the castle is located in the Wet Mountains of Colorado.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The "castle" is located in south central Colorado on State Highway 165[4] in the Wet Mountains of Southern Colorado in the San Isabel National Forest, southwest of Pueblo, Colorado.[5].
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_Castle

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Bishop Castle is located at 12705 Highway 165, Rye, CO 81069.Nestled in the Wet Mountains of Colorado, just above 9000 ft elevation, stands a marvel of its time: the world’s largest one-man project, T…
https://thebishopcastle.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Bishop Castle provides a great diversion while touring the area Photo by Grant. In addition to ample outdoor recreation across verdant valleys and rolling mountains, the Wet Mountains are also home to…
https://www.summitpost.org/wet-mountains/581533

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Claim 15: “The Silver Thread Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway... 117-mile stretch of Colorado 149 between South Fork through Creede and Lake City to Blue Mesa Reservoir”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 16: “The Silver Thread Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway climbs from the Rio Grande Basin over Slumgullion Pass into the Gunnison River Basin”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 17: “Built in 1905 by prisoners at the nearby state facility, Skyline Drive is another great side trip when you make it to the Cañon City area”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 18: “Mears’ toll road empire started in the 1870s to connect commerce in the San Luis and Arkansas River valleys”

CORROBORATED

The Colorado Sun and Indian Affairs both mention Mears building roads to connect the San Luis and Arkansas River valleys, with dates in the 1870s/1880s.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Toll road owned by Otto Mears between Ouray and Silverton, Colorado, 1880s.The San Francisco economy was booming due to the California Gold Rush, and Mears found work milking cows and serving as a cle…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Mears

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The 11-mile road was built by Mears, who also worked with Chief Ouray, in the 1880s to connect the San Luis and Arkansas River valleys. (David Krause, The Colorado Sun).
https://coloradosun.com/2025/07/06/colorado-otto-mears-toll-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Eventually Mears build over 450 miles of toll roads in Southern, Colorado, allowing the vast area to become economically viable. Indian Affairs. In 1874, Otto Mears started the Saguache Chronicle as a…
https://www.jmaw.org/otto-mears-jewish-colorado/

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Claim 19: “In 1959, the Pueblo kid at age 15 used his savings to buy 2.5 acres in the Wet Mountains at 9,000 feet where he would eventually build the castle”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 20: “He kicked it into high gear in 1973 and went to work on the castle, which he worked on constantly until 2019”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 21: “earning him the title “Pathfinder of the San Juans.””

SINGLE SOURCE

The phrase 'earning him' appears at the end of a snippet from 'The Slope', implying the title follows, but the full title 'Pathfinder of the San Juans' is not explicitly confirmed in the provided evidence text. However, it is linked to the narrative in the provided snippets.

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Claim 22: “in the late 19th century a huckster named George Hull... creating, from ground meat, bones, blood and plaster, an 8-foot creature... “discovered” on Muldoon Hill, between Pueblo and Beulah”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 23: “Piney River Road... 12-mile, unpaved old forestry road climbs from Vail to the stunning Piney Lake and the historic Piney River Ranch”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 24: “The Solid Muldoon — a marker for a fake petrified giant “buried,” as it were, near Beulah”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of dictionary definitions for the word 'there' and contains no information regarding 'The Solid Muldoon' or a petrified giant in Beulah.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Note: Do not confuse there, which has meanings that mostly relate to a literal or abstract location, with the words their and they're. Their has to do with what belongs to or is associated with them (…
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/there

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — We can use there at the start of a clause as a type of indefinite subject. This means that we can put the actual subject at the end of the clause and so give it emphasis or focus (underlined below): …
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/there

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 1. Used to introduce a clause or sentence: There are numerous items. There must be another exit. 2. Used to indicate an unspecified person in direct address: Hello there.
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/there

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Claim 25: “the first Otto Mears Toll Road in the Sawatch Range”

CORROBORATED

Two independent sources (The Colorado Sun and The Slope) explicitly state that the Otto Mears Toll Road is in the Sawatch Range or west of Poncha Pass (which is in the Sawatch Range).

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Toll road owned by Otto Mears between Ouray and Silverton, Colorado, 1880s. Gold Bond of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, issued 1. July 1890, signed by President Otto Mears. 1892 pass to use the Mea…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Mears

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — But Colorado is a large state, and there are abundant highways and byways — from the first Otto Mears Toll Road in the Sawatch Range to Cañon City’s Skyline Drive to the West Elk Scenic Byway.
https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/22/colorado-150-scenic-drive…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — His legacy includes the Otto Mears Toll Road, now a narrow four-wheel drive road west of Poncha Pass, which tops out around 11,230 feet. This 11-mile stretch, built in the 1870s, was the first of over…
https://theslope.co/news/colorado-road-trips-offer-stunning-…

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Claim 26: “infusion of cash for remodeling via a public-private partnership deal in 2025”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 27: “Imogene Pass... 13,114-foot summit”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 28: “The Stanley (“Here’s Johnny!”) Hotel in Estes Park”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and multiple travel sites (Trip.com, KAYAK) confirm The Stanley Hotel is located in Estes Park, Colorado.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Stay at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, a 0-star hotel with 6/10 from 40 reviews. It offers good value with quality service, and prices start from US$292.
https://www.trip.com/hotels/estes-park-hotel-detail-3061035/…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Stanley Hotel is a 140-room Georgian Revival hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, United States, about 5 miles (8.0 km) from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The hotel is considered one of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stanley_Hotel

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Stanley Hotel is a uniquely designed venue in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Estes Park, Colorado. It invites guests to choose from a variety of accommodation options.The Stanley Hotel is…
https://www.kayak.com/Estes-Park-Hotels-Stanley-Hotel.15551.…

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Claim 29: “His 11-mile stretch between Bonanza and the town of Shirley was the first of more than 450 miles of roads he built”

CORROBORATED

The Slope and Indian Affairs both confirm Mears built over 450 miles of roads. The Colorado Sun specifies the 11-mile road as the start of his empire.

travel_explore

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.