Historic Norris-Penrose Event Center at Home in Colorado Springs
Taking its cues from rodeo in the 1930s, the Norris-Penrose Event Center is still right at home in Colorado Springs. The center was started by Spencer Penrose, Charles Leaming Tutt, and Jasper Ackerman as a way to encourage tourism. Today, its mission has expanded “to preserve our Western heritage and sense of community while providing recreation, education and exciting opportunities to residents and visitors.”
Event Center History
Building design and construction anticipates the Western style prevalent 75 years ago in the Rocky Mountain. Spencer Penrose had a vision for Colorado Springs, that vision was to take advantage of the tourist industry that bustled during the annual celebrations of Pikes Peak or Bust Days. Penrose started the first professional rodeo in Colorado Springs which was so well attended it needed a larger stadium.
Located near the Broadmoor Resort, the Will Rogers Memorial Stadium seated 10,004 sporting events. Penrose, Tutt and Ackerman, started the Cowhands which became the Colorado Springs Rodeo Association. They also began the Turtles which became the Professional Rodeo Cowboys is Association. Rodeos were held every year with the exception of 4 years during World War II.
In 2005, El Paso County sold the Norris Penrose event Center to a group of men including Tutt’s son, William. The group is closely associated with the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Foundation, a nonprofit. Much of the finances were contributed by Robert Norris. Hence the name Norris-Penrose Event Center.
The acquisition diversified the Norris-Penrose Event Center, turning it into a multi-dimensional facility. It is geared to hosting various types of events as well as the rodeos. Many types of events have been added to the schedule. For example, Supercross and Monster Truck Races, Home Shows, Landscape Shows, Car Shows, have been held at the Premier Event Complex.
Facilities at the Norris-Penrose Event Center
The Event Center continues to maintain excellent equestrian facilities. Located between Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs are professionally groomed on-site arenas, full-care boarding facilities, and excellent equestrian management personnel. This complex includes a central arena, barns, indoor footed arena, many outdoor arenas, hundreds of stalls, public tack rooms, around pen, dress and ring, and hundreds of miles of foothills and trails near Bear Creek Park in El Paso County.
The Norris-Penrose Event Center also features wonderful meeting and banquet facilities, catering services, concessions, box office, restrooms, and so much more.
Location of Norris-Penrose Event Center
1045 Lower Gold Camp Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80905
Colorado Springs REMAX Agent
For more information about Colorado Springs real estate near Norris-Penrose Event Center, please call top REMAX real estate agent Ann Heiring at (719) 440-1010.
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