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Show f """""" " " " 1 ' I - , v ' V 1 x " V- v - , " ' I'NOKK FLOODLIGHTS . . . For 74 years, Seven Falls and South Cheyenne Canyon have been among the major seenlo attractions In the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. Visitors now can view the famous falls at night, under clectrlo lights. The waterfall, shown above, Is lighted by 2S large floodlights with alternating white and color effect. IN THESE UNITED STATES Floodlights Now Cast Beam On Scenic Falls and Canyon WKU Features. COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. Embracing "the grandest grand-est mile of scenery in Colorado," majestic Seven Falls and picturesque South Cheyenne Canyon have intrigued visitors to the Pikes Peak region for the past 74 years. Their beauties, however, have been shrouded when nightfall descended but now, through completion of an electrical engineering feat, this major scenic attraction of the Rockies can be viewed under electric lights. At the top of the falls lies a picturesque pic-turesque valley with many small waterfalls and shady nooks. A short hike takes the visitor to Inspiration Point, which Is 1,500 feet above the floor of the canyon. From this point, a breathtaking panorama of mighty cliffs and distant plains is seen. The beauty of Inspiration Point inspired Helen Hunt Jackson to write some of her most famous books and poems; and, on her death in 1885, her last request was that she be buried there. The project, which makes thls Colorado beauty spot the only completely com-pletely lighted canyon and waterfall in the world, required the use of 80 huge floodlights and more than 1,000 small spotlights. More than two miles of heavy copper rubber insulated insu-lated cable was installed underground. under-ground. The waterfall, which has seven separate falls in its 266 foot descent, is lighted by 28 large floodlights -with alternating white and color effects. ef-fects. The crystal clear trout pool at the foot of the falls is lighted by eight underwater lights, revealing reveal-ing the rainbow trout gliding about in its depths. The magnificent weather beaten beat-en pink granite walls of the canyon, which rise to a height of more than 2,000 feet, present countless shadow effects as the ' lights play upon them. Various rock formations, such as the "Setting Turkey," Devil's Slide" and "Wrestling Bears," are spotlighted by 500 to 1,500 watt lights. Majestic pine trees on the banks of the splashing mountain stream are bathed in various colored flood lights, while others are sprinkled with colored lights. Standing as a sentinel sen-tinel at the entrance of the canyon are the familiar "Pillars of Hercules." Her-cules." It is at this point that the huge $10,000 anti-aircraft carbon arc light has been installed. The big light has eight million candle-power candle-power and shoots an effective beam five miles in the air. The Lonesome Lone-some Pine, Eagles Cliff and other features of interest are caught in its bright path. It also will be used to sweep the sky to indicate that Seven Sev-en Falls is now under lights. As a final touch, a 90 watt sound amplifier system has been installed to play soft music. Al G. Hill, Dallas, Tex., oil man, who purchased the 1,400 acre scenic attraction June 1, 1946, immediately immediate-ly began a program of improvements improve-ments which have taken more than a year to complete and have cost approximately $100,000. In addition to the lighting project, a stairway of 250 steps has been erected to a spectators' platform on the south wall of the canyon from which point all Seven Falls can be seen at one time. Part ol a mountain slope was removed by bulldozers to provide parking space for cars, and a graceful grace-ful arch has been erected over the roadway at the mouth of the canyon. The canyon approximately one mile in length is a "box" or dead end type. Before the coming com-ing of the white man, the Indians Indi-ans stampeded herds of buffalo from the plains Into the canyon Tvhere they then were killed as food was needed. The canyon also served as a strategic retreat re-treat from which the Indians fought off their enemies. |