Step onto Manitou Avenue at dusk and the first thing you’ll notice isn’t the hum of cafés or the rush of Fountain Creek—it’s the soft, amber halo pouring from cast-iron lamps first lit here in the 1890s, now gleaming again after a meticulous facelift. Ten minutes on foot from your hookup at Pikes Peak RV Park, these restored sentinels turn an ordinary evening stroll into a walk through Rocky Mountain history.
Wondering where to park your rig, push a stroller, or set up a tripod? Curious how eco-friendly LEDs hide inside Victorian ironwork—or where to grab cocoa while the kids hunt for pineapple finials? Stay with us: the next few minutes will map out RV-friendly shuttles, bike shortcuts, docent tours, blue-hour photo tips, and the safest, most Instagram-worthy glow in town. Let’s light the way.
Key Takeaways
– Old street lamps from the 1890s now shine again on Manitou Avenue, a 10-minute walk from Pikes Peak RV Park.
– The lamps keep their iron look outside but use LED bulbs inside to save power and glow warm amber.
– You can reach them two easy ways: stroll the wide sidewalk or bike the flat Creek Walk Trail.
– Leave your RV at the park; a free shuttle (Route 33) stops every 20–30 minutes until 9 p.m.
– Sidewalk work near Mayfair Avenue still lets you walk safely on marked night paths.
– Look for fun touches like acorn or pineapple tops and QR signs that share quick history facts.
– Best photo time is blue hour, about 7:20–7:50 p.m.; bring a tripod and use ISO 800–1600.
– Be polite: stay on paved paths, don’t lean on the posts, and keep voices low after 10 p.m.
– The LEDs aim light down, so streets stay bright while stars over Pikes Peak stay visible.
– Post your shots with #PikesPeakRVGlow and pick up a free walking map at the campground office.
Why Tonight’s Glow Still Matters
The posts you’re admiring echo late-1800s design rules: fluted cast-iron shafts, chunky decorative bases, and finials shaped like acorns or tiny pineapples—symbols of welcome and civic pride in frontier towns. Scan the bases for granite blocks, clues that a lamp survived Manitou’s boom years when wooden sidewalks met wagon ruts. Each detail anchors the avenue to a time when electric light felt as magical as Wi-Fi does today.
Original paint schemes favored dark green or black enamel, chosen to hide soot from coal-fired stoves. Conservators matched those hues so the fixtures recede against brick façades, letting the glow—not the hardware—steal the show. Step back and you can read an illuminated timeline: gas mantles surrendered to electric carbon-arc heads in 1892, two years before Colorado Springs followed suit, making these some of the oldest working streetlights in the region.
Inside the Restoration Workshop
Every lamp you pass endured a spa day worthy of a museum piece. Crews begin with a low-pressure detergent rinse, strip corrosion by hand, then seal bare metal under a zinc-rich primer that halts future rust. Missing acorn finial? Artisans cast replacements in sand molds and pin them in place with cold epoxy to avoid heat warping the slender iron.
Sustainability hides in plain sight. Warm-white LED retrofit kits at 2,700–3,000 K deliver the amber tone of carbon-arc lamps while slashing energy use by roughly 70 percent. Full-cutoff refractors corral stray rays so stargazers still glimpse the Milky Way above Pikes Peak, and motion sensors on side streets dim output after midnight to protect nocturnal wildlife. Low-VOC primers, paints, and sealants keep the project as green as the mountains beyond town.
Creek Walk Trail and Downtown: What’s Happening Right Now
If you spot orange cones near Mayfair Avenue, you’ve bumped into Phase 4 of the Creek Walk Trail upgrade. City crews and West Fork Construction are rebuilding sidewalks, curbs, landscaping, and lighting in a four-to-six-week sprint that began in early September 2025, according to local news coverage. Temporary walkways keep evening routes open, while portable fixtures mimic the vintage glow so your twilight photo session stays on track.
Behind the scenes, every new or replacement lamp faces scrutiny from the Historic Preservation Commission, a Certified Local Government enforcing Chapter 17 of the municipal code. Projects must satisfy federal preservation standards and may qualify for the Vicky Bunsen Doucette Mini-Grant that reimburses up to 75 percent of approved costs, as outlined on the city’s Historic Preservation page. That oversight turns authenticity from a buzzword into policy.
Plan Your Lamp-Lit Adventure From Pikes Peak RV Park
Route One—the ten-minute classic—ushers walkers out the campground gate onto El Paso Boulevard, across Ruxton Avenue, and straight to Iron Springs Chateau, where the first restored lamps flank the entry. Wide sidewalks, frequent benches, and curb cuts at every block make the path stroller- and wheelchair-friendly. Couples can linger at storefronts while kids chase QR codes without ever stepping into traffic.
Route Two—the bike-and-creek option—follows the nearly level Creek Walk Trail paralleling Manitou Avenue. The trail avoids traffic entirely and lands you at Penny Arcade, where sturdy U-racks stand waiting. Download the GPX file at the park’s Wi-Fi lounge, glide beneath clusters of lamps in ten effortless minutes, and return with energy to spare for campfire s’mores.
Who’s Walking Tonight? Mini Spotlights
Historic retirees often ask about visibility and terrain. Evening light levels hover around three foot-candles—bright enough for sure footing yet gentle on aging eyes—and grade never exceeds five percent along either route. Add in Route 33’s free shuttle loop until 9 p.m. and Friday docent walks at 6 p.m., and you have comfort, context, and convenience wrapped in warm amber.
Families crave attractions that double as entertainment. Turn lamp-spotting into Glow Bingo: acorn finials score one point, pineapple tops two, and the lone eagle motif near Memorial Park five. Crosswalk buttons trigger rapid-flash beacons for easy stroller crossings, and victory earns waffle cones at Patsy’s before bedtime.
Weekenders from Colorado Springs live for Instagram bragging rights. MATI Coffee Roasters pours latte art until nine, perfect for a prop under the lamps’ coppery light. Toss in the trivia that Manitou flicked on its first electric arcs in 1892—two years before the Springs—and your feed practically captions itself.
Digital nomads and night-owl photographers treasure technical details. Blue hour sits between 7:20 and 7:50 p.m. in mid-September; frame lamps against Pikes Peak’s silhouette at ISO 800–1,600, f/4, and a 1/10-second shutter on a tripod planted on brick for vibration-free star spikes. LTE bars register full downtown, so you can livestream the shoot as it happens.
Responsible Nighttime Etiquette
Stay on brick or concrete, never in flower beds; tripod legs compact soil and can rupture irrigation lines beneath plantings. If a perfect angle tempts you off-path, experiment with composition rather than stepping into delicate landscaping. The lamps survived a century; honor that longevity with low-impact photography.
Voices carry in mountain air, so dial conversation down after 10 p.m. when quiet hours begin at the campground. Keep flashlight beams pointed at the ground to preserve night vision for others marveling at the sky-friendly LEDs. Finally, pocket snack wrappers and leave no trace; the lamps may be old, but our stewardship writes their next chapter.
The lamps are lit, the trail is waiting, and your creek-side campsite is just up the road. Make Pikes Peak RV Park your home base, and you can trade traffic for a ten-minute stroll into living history—then wind down to the sound of Fountain Creek under Colorado’s starry canvas. Secure your site today, grab a free walking map at check-in, and let the glow of 1892 guide tonight’s adventure and every evening that follows. Reserve now and experience Manitou’s past from the comfort of your present.
Frequently Asked Questions
Curious travelers often have a few final queries before lacing up their shoes or powering up an e-bike. The answers below cover logistics, safety, and fun extras like scavenger hunts, ensuring you hit the avenue informed and inspired. Each response is tailored to common campground chatter, so skim for quick reassurance or dive deep for planning perfection.
Q: Is there parking for my 30-ft motorhome downtown, or should I leave it at the RV park?
A: Downtown streets are compact and restrict oversized vehicles after dusk, so the easiest plan is to keep your rig at Pikes Peak RV Park and catch Route 33, the free shuttle that stops at the campground every 20–30 minutes until 9 p.m.; after hours, rideshares reach the park in about five minutes.
Q: How late do the restored lamps stay lit, and is the area safe for an evening stroll?
A: The LED fixtures switch on at dusk and remain at a gentle three-foot-candle level until sunrise, with police bike patrols and well-placed security cameras along Manitou Avenue and the Creek Walk Trail making the route comfortable for all ages well past 10 p.m.
Q: Are the sidewalks and trails stroller- and wheelchair-friendly?
A: Yes—curb cuts appear at every intersection, grades stay under five percent, and the freshly poured Creek Walk Trail offers a smooth, 8-foot-wide concrete surface that’s easy on wheels and little legs alike.
Q: Can we join a docent-led tour that highlights the lamps’ history?
A: Absolutely; the Heritage Center kiosk on Manitou Avenue books 75-minute walking tours each Friday at 6 p.m. for $5, and seniors and kids ride free when you show a campground wristband.
Q: When were the original street lamps first installed?
A: Manitou switched from gas mantles to electric carbon-arc heads in 1892, making these fixtures some of the oldest continuously operating electric street lights in the Pikes Peak region.
Q: What makes the restoration eco-friendly?
A: Conservators retained the iron shells but slipped in warm-white LED kits that cut energy use by roughly 70 percent, added motion sensors on side streets to dim output after midnight, and used low-VOC primers and paints to keep the project green from start to finish.
Q: Can I bike from the RV park to the lamps, and are there racks downtown?
A: Yes—the nearly level Creek Walk Trail links the park to downtown in ten minutes by pedal, and you’ll find sturdy U-racks outside the Penny Arcade, MATI Coffee Roasters, and Patsy’s Ice Cream.
Q: Where’s the best spot for night photography, and what basic settings work well?
A: Stand on the brick apron by the Iron Springs Chateau for clean sightlines and minimal foot traffic; start around ISO 800, f/4, and a 1/10-second shutter on a tripod, then tweak for your camera’s sensor and the available glow.
Q: What is the current blue-hour window?
A: Mid-September blue hour runs roughly 7:20 to 7:50 p.m.; in October it shifts earlier by about ten minutes per week, so plan accordingly for that perfect cobalt sky.
Q: Is cell service reliable enough for live posting or video calls?
A: Both major carriers deliver full LTE bars along Manitou Avenue, and the park’s Wi-Fi extends to the front gate if you want to upload shots before boarding the shuttle.
Q: Can I charge camera batteries or an e-bike at the campground before heading out?
A: Yes—sites 12-22 offer accessible 20-amp outlets near picnic tables, and the office has a loaner power strip if you need extra ports for chargers and drone batteries.
Q: Any kid-friendly scavenger hunt ideas tied to the lamps?
A: Pick up a free “Glow Bingo” card at the park office; youngsters earn stamps for spotting acorn finials, the lone eagle motif near Memorial Park, and any lamp mounted on a granite block, redeemable for saltwater taffy back at the desk.
Q: Where can we grab coffee, cocoa, or ice cream during our night stroll?
A: MATI Coffee Roasters pours lattes until 9 p.m., while Patsy’s between Memorial and Soda Springs Parks dishes up waffle-cone ice cream until 10 p.m. on weekends, both just steps from the brightest lamp clusters.
Q: Are public restrooms available after dark?
A: Yes—the city keeps the Memorial Park restrooms open until 10 p.m.; they’re located a half block off Manitou Avenue and are lit by two of the newly restored fixtures.
Q: Will current construction block access to the lamps?
A: Daytime sidewalk detours appear near Mayfair Avenue, but crews clear equipment by 5 p.m. and set up temporary walkways so evening visitors can follow the full lamp line without stepping into traffic.
Q: Are pets welcome on the evening walk, and is the route crowded?
A: Leashed pets are welcome and water bowls sit outside several storefronts; foot traffic is lightest after 8 p.m. on weekdays, giving you and Fido plenty of room beneath the vintage glow.
Q: May I touch or lean against the lamps for photos?
A: A quick hand on the iron for balance is fine, but please avoid leaning or climbing—internal fasteners can loosen over time, and preserving alignment keeps the lamps safe for future guests.
Q: Are there QR codes or signs that explain the lamps’ history while we walk?
A: Yes—small bronze plaques with QR links stand at every third lamp; scan them for two-minute audio snippets detailing everything from pineapple finials to modern LED retrofits, perfect for self-guided learning.