Checking out USAFA

LineInTheSand

USCGA 2006
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My fiancee and I are headed to Denver this weekend to catch a baseball game. We'll be headed through Colorado Springs and I'm attempting to convince her we should stop and check out the Air Force Academy on our way, either Saturday morning or Sunday on our way back to New Mexico.

Any recommendations? I know the Chapel is a big draw. If you had to design a tour that would last 45 min - 1 hr. what would you make sure you saw?

Thanks Zoomies! :thumb:
 
My fiancee and I are headed to Denver this weekend to catch a baseball game. We'll be headed through Colorado Springs and I'm attempting to convince her we should stop and check out the Air Force Academy on our way, either Saturday morning or Sunday on our way back to New Mexico.

Any recommendations? I know the Chapel is a big draw. If you had to design a tour that would last 45 min - 1 hr. what would you make sure you saw?

Thanks Zoomies! :thumb:

lol. The chapel can get you about 20-30 min. As far as other "sites" there aren't many accessible for you. The overlooks that look onto the athletic fields and cadet area are neat. Walk from the chapel over to Arnold Hall for more views. As far as the cadet area, you probably won't be allowed access without an escort.
 
You may already know this. Unlike West Point, you are able to drive onto the Academy grounds without taking a formal tour (because of current security levels -- enter through North Gate). Having said that -- the only buildings to which you can get access are the Chapel, Visitor's Center, air field, grounds outside the Cadet Area, football stadium, athletic fields, cemetery and Field House buildings. You cannot get access to the Cadet Area, including classrooms, dorms, etc. You can stand at the Chapel Wall and see the Cadet Area but you cannot enter it (Cadet Area is now behind a fence). You can drive to several overlooks on the way in and out of the Academy. Hope that helps.
 
When we were out last summer, we were able to access the airfield, stadium, etc. But because of heightened security (we were told it's because of the demise of OBL) tourists could only access the Chapel area, visitor's center and B-52 when we were last there. They have guards on the roads leading away from those areas.

At least that was the case in late June.

I would add a hike to your tour. You can head out from the visitor's center and go as far as you wish, getting some nice views of the Academy and surrounding areas.
 
When you drive by the athletic fields there is a dirt road to the right go down it about 1/4 mile there is a pond on the right get out and walk around it the views are really nice.
 
The one hour tour:

printable_map.gif


Enter through the North Gate and follow North Gate Blvd up the hill. Look for the scenic overlook of the Cadet Area on your left. Stop here for a quick look. Get back in the car and follow North Gate Blvd all the way to the back of the Academy and follow the curve to the left as the road follows the base of the mountains and turns into Academy Drive. When you see the sign for the Chapel, pull into the parking lot and walk to the Chapel, and also go to the East side of the Chapel and look down into the Cadet Area. Get back in the car. Turn left as you exit the Chapel parking lot, and go about 200 yards, and then turn left into the Visitor Center parking lot. At the Visitor Center you can spend as much time as you want. There is the gift shop, and also some great displays on the history and mission of USAFA. The there is a 15 minute show in the theater that is very interesting, too.

When you are done at the Visitor Center, you can leave by turning right and following your route back to I-25 if you are short on time. Otherwise, if you have a military ID, or they are allowing the public into more areas (like they used to), you can turn left coming out of the Visitor Center parking lot and follow Academy Drive until the road turns back to the East and becomes Cadet Drive. Then follow Cadet Drive all the way down to Stadium Blvd. There, you will turn right and go past the Stadium. Continue along following the signs for the South Gate. This will take you past the A-10 and Thunderbird displays and the Cadet Airfield, and then out the South Gate back to I-25.

PM me if you need any more details or have any questions.

Stealth_81
 
Sounds good folks. Never liked random people walking around Chase Hall at CGA, and I've done the cadet thing, so I'll of course avoid the cadet areas. I want my fiancee to see the chapel. She's a lieutenant in the U.S. Public Health Service, so while I've separated, she has a CAC and vehicle decals. I'm sure we'll take a look in the visitors center.

I checked the website and found the same map. Looks like they're open every day, does that include Sundays (Visitors Center that is, I'm sure the Chapel is in use on a Sunday)?
 
Yes, the Chapel has services on Sunday. I think the latest service is one of the Protestant services, and starts at 10:30 or 11:00ish.

The B-52, Overlook, Visitor's Center, and Chapel (there is a path from the Visitor's Center to the Chapel) would be a good short tour.
 
Had a good time today checking out AFA. Watched the 15 min. movie....think it's time to update that. GREAT stuff in the gift store. The protestant part of the chapel was locked, which was interesting after hearing how open they are spiritually. We did get into the Catholic part, but the Protestant part of the chapel is so impressive. Good time though, and such a great location along the mountains.
 
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