Five Odd Things about Breckenridge 

It only takes a short stroll down Main Street to know that Breckenridge is a special place with a lot of character. But there are a few common sights that have been known to raise eyebrows. Far from your average resort town, Breck is rich in history and quirks. Here are a few to take note of:

There is no airport on Airport Road in Breck. Photo by Shauna Farnell

There is an Airport Rd but no airport anymore

The naming of one of the main drags in and out of town is no accident. There was in fact an airfield running along Airport Rd around 1960, a rudimentary unpaved runway that stretched for about 4,000 feet called Hanson Airfield. “Airport” is a bit of a stretch, though. There was never a building and certainly no sign of a newsstand, Starbucks or Duty Free shopping.

It’s not a town but a kingdom

Knights in shining armor have never frequented the place. Horse and buggies, yes, but not of the regal variety. From the time Breck was founded as a mining town in 1859, for about 75 years, it was somehow excluded from some U.S. maps. It thus took on the whimsical title of “Colorado’s Kingdom” until it was added to the map in 1936.

Don’t be surprised to see thousands of snow enthusiasts adorning Viking helmets. Photo by Carl Scofield

Locals worship a God called Ullr

The rituals are low key in the summer, but come winter, supplication is full on. The old Norse God, Ullr, is popularly believed to be the god of snow and skiing, but the world “Ullr” stems from the Old English word that means “glory,” which obviously also applies to Breckenridge summers.

Every January, Breck locals and snow lovers gather to Pray for Snow and celebrate Ullr Fest in and around town with one of the most quirky parades and the world’s longest shot ski.

The most haunted bar in town

With a town with as much history as Breck, naturally there are plenty of ghosts. One of the most famous is the one that allegedly haunts The Brown Hotel. Tucked into a quiet corner of Ridge St., The Brown is no longer a hotel, but a colorful, super character-endowed drinking hole, complete with pool and ping pong tables, air hockey and a fantastic jukebox.

Dating back to 1882, The Brown was a school before it became a hotel with the only bathtub in town. The hotel was frequented by a certain Ms. Whitney, who had designs to transform the place into a brothel. Her plans were stifled when the hotel owner shot and killed her, but according to many reports over the years (mysterious unpluggings of the vacuum cleaner, water turning on by itself in the ladies restroom, even some chilling sightings …), Ms. Whitney still resides at The Brown.

This bookstore is a can’t miss stop in Breck. Photo by Shauna Farnell

World’s coolest used bookstore

Like most ski towns, Breck has the market for T-shirts, gear, eyewear and outerwear covered, not to mention a fair share of sports bars and great restaurants. Tucked slightly off of S. Main Street is arguably the best used bookstores you’re likely to find in any city. Ole Man Berkins has an enormous variety of classics, textbooks, poetry, new releases and every other genre imaginable as well as an interesting offering of thrift clothing, trinkets and handmade cards.