General William Jackson Palmer began the estate that later became Glen Eyrie Castle in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Palmer was the founder of several railroads in the city and a decorated war hero. After his marriage in 1870 he bought a couple thousand acres to build a family home. He had a 22-room frame house built that was later remodeled in 1881 to include a tower and more rooms. In 1904, following his now deceased wife's wishes for a castle, Palmer had the home remodeled again to become the castle that it is today. Construction was completed within two years.
The castle had some of the first telephones in the west. It had electric gates and two spectacular hot houses and a creamery. One of America's first milk pasteurizing plants was installed at Glen Eyrie Castle in Colorado Springs. When Palmer died in 1909 at the age of 72, the estate was valued at $3,000,000. In 1916 a group of Oklahoma businessmen who called themselves the Glen Eyrie Companies bought Palmer's estate for $150,000 with plans to change it into a private resort and country club. These plans didn't work out.
The estate was sold several more times and was eventually bought by the Navigators in the 1950s. Glen Eyrie Castle became the international headquarters and conference center for the Navigators that also offered year-round training and a place for Christian leaders to gather for fellowship and prayer. Today Glen Eyrie's focus is to bring "top-quality, Christ-centered adult and family conferences." It has over 20 miles of hiking trails that are also open to the public during specified times and in limited numbers. Drive-thru tours are also available to the public. Glen Eyrie Castle also has a gift shop.
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