Resting at the base of Pikes Peak, Old Colorado City is a gold mine. Or that's what miners hoped when they set up camp here during the Gold Rush of the 1850's.

Turns out, the area was a total bust for miners, but the Rush initiated Colorado Springs' beautiful historic district that today can easily be defined as a residential gold mine.

Tall trees shade the area's main street, West Colorado Ave., while aged, brick buildings and lofts stand attention just behind. A stroll along the landscaped sidewalks becomes a window shopper's dream. One can ponder magnificent turquoise and silver jewelry, reminding the community that Native Americans admired this mountainous area long before the miners. Boutiques display the latest trends, which here is a unique fusion inspired by the Rocky Mountains, the Mexican influence and the swashbuckling cowboys. To say the least, Old Town represents a mesmerizing medley of history and cultures.

Capturing Old Town's distinctive exceptionality is Thunder Mountain Trading Company, 2508 W. Colorado Ave. As is everything in the area, Thunder Mountain is a fusion—it's an art gallery, a furniture store, a jewelry store and a Western apparel boutique. The ceilings are hung with intricate chandlers crafted from buck antlers. The walls are adorned with Ute Indian inspired dream weavers and stone jewelry. Toward the back, a hunting gallery boasts a stuffed mountain lion and a moose head. There's even nuggets of Fools Gold for any optimistic miners.

Thunder Mountain is an unusual and fascinating gallery that represents Old Colorado City's diverse historical and cultural blend. And, in turn, it is precisely these boutiques that distinguish Old Town as Colorado Springs' precious gold mine.

Thunder Mountain Trading Company
[where: 2508 W Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80904]
719-632-7331
www.ThunderMountainTrading.com