Visit Salida, Colorado
To See Christmas Mountain
Visitor Photo Gallery
Lighting of the worlds largest Christmas Tree on Christmas Mountain to follow.
Holiday Park is open through the Holidays.
Move over, New York City. Salida’s got something even better – higher and brighter—than the lighting of the tree in Rockefeller Center. How about a 750 foot tall Christmas tree? Not just a tree either; it’s a whole Christmas Mountain. This holiday symbol made up of 4,500 brightly-colored LED bulbs strung from Tenderfoot Mountain’s summit to base shines over Salida throughout the whole holiday season, from late November into mid-January.
Locals say it’s the world’s largest Christmas tree with the magical power to transform Salida into Christmas Town and Riverside Park into Holiday Park, too. It’s been a local holiday tradition since 1989.
This much-anticipated tree lighting is always held the Friday evening after Thanksgiving. This year’s festivities start at dusk on Nov. 24th, with the City’s annual Parade of Lights. Santa will be present and we are hopeful the weather will allow the Salida Fire Department to ignite fireworks off the top of Tenderfoot Mountain. Join us as we gather with friends and neighbors and countdown to the tree lighting.
The glowing effect is accomplished with green lights outlining the tree and its garland, while red, orange and white lights create ornaments to complete the picture. This giant Christmas tree is topped with a large sparkling star visible over the Arkansas River Valley for miles and miles.
Holiday Park also hosts the special annual display of Christmas trees. Decorated by local sponsors to commemorate loved ones or just celebrate the season, the trees line the walkways making for a heart-warming winter’s walk.
Heart Of The Community
Tenderfoot Mountain, a.k.a. ‘S’ Mountain, has a major year-round presence in the heart of Salida. Prominently located at the end of F Street — the town’s main drag – it is normally adorned with white lights in the shape of “S.” This alternates with a red heart symbolizing the “Heart of the Rockies.” The lighting is occasionally changed to commemorate other special occasions, too – including special tributes and causes.
Originally, the idea for Christmas Mountain came from a local contractor. First he tried using floodlights to create a ‘tree’ effect, but the results didn’t quite inspire the magical effect he envisioned. So in 1990, he asked a surveyor to draw up a design for the display. Using these blueprints, volunteers carefully strung extension cords and lights in a zig zag pattern down the gently sloping 500-foot mountain. If stretched out, this strand of lights would cover a mile. The enchanting effect forever transformed Salida’s Christmas celebrations, making the town a true Christmas-in-Colorado destination.
Every year since then, volunteers continue to take on this traditional task in early November. After the holidays are over, they’re back out there volunteering to take them down. Local real estate agents cover the electricity costs, as they do year-round for the other lighting. Salida Middle School students help out by holding a penny drive to raise funds. Locals donate money and manpower too. Christmas in Salida is truly a community affair; a gift to all who want to share in the glow of this holiday spirit.
This year, Christmas Mountain USA has been granted the honor of being the charity of the quarter by High Country Bank. Please visit their lobby at 7360 Hwy 50 and see the Christmas Mountain display. We will also be holding an auction for a beautiful photo of S Mountain in it’s holiday glory. Take me to the auction!
