Fountain

Nestled just minutes south of Colorado Springs, Fountain, Colorado, offers a welcoming community rich in history and natural beauty.

Known for its friendly atmosphere and vibrant local culture, this growing town boasts scenic parks, family-friendly attractions, and easy access to outdoor recreation. Whether you're exploring the lush trails at Fountain Creek Regional Park, uncovering the area's railroad heritage, or enjoying the stunning Front Range views, Fountain is a hidden gem that captures the heart of Colorado living.

Things To Do
Events & Festivals
History
Military Ties
a brick building with an angular roof sits in the center of shrubbery and trees. A paved trail leads to the entry and mountains can be seen in the distance.
Fountain Creek Nature Center

Things To Do

The City of Fountain is located in El Paso County, Colorado, approximately 12 miles south of Colorado Springs. Situated along the eastern edge of I-25 and Fountain Creek, the City acts as the gateway to the Pikes Peak region, offering residents and visitors exceptional views of the southern Colorado front range mountains and an affordable, small-town lifestyle with access to urban-style amenities. The city also serves as the commercial spine to the Greater Fountain Valley, comprised of both Security-Widefield unincorporated El Paso County and City of Fountain.

There are numerous things to do in Fountain. This list includes:

Events & Festivals

Fountain has a number of annual signature events. These include

A historic photo of main street in Fountain, Colorado. The sepia-tone image shows two vintage cars parked on the road outside some industrial-looking buildings

History

The Town of Fountain, Colorado was founded in 1859, the same year as Colorado City, Denver, Golden and Central City. Fountain can trace its roots to the Ute Indians choosing the confluence of Jimmy Camp Creek and Fountain Creek as wintering grounds. Rich with game, trappers followed setting up trading posts along the Fountaine Qui Bouille or “bubbling springs.”

Named for Fountain Creek, the town was originally built as a railroad shipping center for local ranches and farms. Settlers arrived in covered wagons, farms sprung up and soon the valley was alive with cattle, dairies and merchants. The main crops were sugar beets, cherries, beans, grain, corn and alfalfa. A stagecoach road connected Canyon City and Denver in 1873. The Colorado gold rush increased its patronage, and stagecoaches eventually gave way to rail. However, in 1888 a train broke loose in Colorado Springs, gained speed approaching Fountain and slammed into a rail car, starting a fire. The fire spread to a car full of explosives. The blast of 1888 was felt 13 miles north in Colorado Springs. Residents of Monument, 33 miles to the north, reported it woke almost everyone in town!

Fountain rebuilt itself and in 1898, the Fountain Trading Company was established, which still stands today at 117 Main Street. This mercantile store provided supplies to miners, traders, ranchers, trappers and farmers. The oldest church in El Paso County is just two blocks north. Fountain was incorporated as a town in 1903 with the idea it would someday be the biggest city in the state, possibly the state capitol. It remains one of the oldest incorporated towns in the Pikes Peak region.

By 1942 WWII had arrived, and Fountain had a new neighbor. Named after Kit Carson, Fort Carson was founded in 1942 and has played a major role in the community. Between 1942 and 1956, trains of up to 300 mules were a common sight to carry equipment, weapons and supplies over mountainous terrain. Today “the Mountain Post” has over 25,000 soldiers.

A statue of Kit Carson depicts a man on a horse at the entrance of the Fort Carson military base.

Military Ties

The City of Fountain spreads over 22 square miles, and boasts a population of around 30,000 residents, almost double the population of the City just 20 years ago. With long-lasting and strong ties to Fort Carson Army Post, Fountain also hosts a large population of active military, military family members, retirees and veterans, representing approximately 50-60% of the population.

Fort Carson is affectionately known as the "Mountain Post" and ranked #1 "Best Hometown in the Army” as the most requested post in the Army due to Quality of Life and Center of Excellence Adolescent Unit for families. Notably in 2022, Fountain became the winner of the Army Community Partnership Award with Fort Carson.

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