End of an Era
As Cragmor closed its doors to ailing patients, a member of its Board of Directors, George Dwire, pondered what to do with the property. He considered just turning over the assets to the state of Colorado for free and also using it as a place to rehabilitate crippled children, but neither option prevailed. Instead, on June 15, 1964, the University of Colorado obtained the property.
Overall, a total of $9.2 million was used to renovate the location. The North wall and roof were torn off, the floors were removed, and the walls were all gutted to the main building alone; only three original fireplaces were what was left of the once reputable Cragmor. Due to these major renovations, for the first time in Colorado Springs’ history, the Cragmor site was removed from the National Register of Historical Places.
Today, over 12,000 students and staff roam the bluffs, unaware of the area’s rich past.
