5 most colorful (and dastardly) gangs in Colorado Springs history

1. The Pikes Peak Peekers

Active Era: Late 1890s
Claim to Infamy: Known for sneaking into the newly constructed Cog Railway on Pikes Peak and riding for free by pretending to be maintenance workers. Their name came from their habit of hiding behind rocks and peeking out before jumping aboard.
Dastardly Crimes:

• Stealing snacks from unsuspecting tourists’ picnic baskets.
• Replacing Pikes Peak Summit signs with hand-painted signs reading, “Welcome to Slightly Above Sea Level.”
  Demise: They were caught when one of their members fell asleep in a railway car and snored so loudly he alerted the conductor.

2. The Garden Gnomes

Active Era: 1950s
Claim to Infamy: A gang of pranksters who terrorized Garden of the Gods by stealing lawn ornaments from nearby homes and rearranging them in the park’s rock formations. Their leader, “Big Red” Rocky, was known for wearing a gnome hat during all their escapades.
Dastardly Crimes:

• Sneaking flamingos onto Balanced Rock to confuse tourists.
• Painting mustaches on every gnome in town.
  Demise: They disbanded when the city passed the “Gnome Ownership Accountability Act,” requiring homeowners to register all garden decorations.

3. The Alpine Outlaws

Active Era: 1970s
Claim to Infamy: A ski gang that operated out of nearby resorts, wreaking havoc on the slopes. They were notorious for stealing lift tickets, cutting in lines, and starting impromptu snowball fights with ski instructors.
Dastardly Crimes:

• Waxing random people’s skis with extra-slippery wax, causing them to slide into trees.
• Hijacking lodge fireplaces to roast marshmallows for their “exclusive gang s’mores.”
  Demise: They were banned from every resort in Colorado after being caught trying to ski down Pikes Peak during a snowless summer.

4. The Fountain Creek Floaters

Active Era: Early 2000s
Claim to Infamy: This gang of inner-tube enthusiasts claimed Fountain Creek as their turf, intimidating other floaters with their synchronized paddle routines and water balloon ambushes.
Dastardly Crimes:

• Blocking the creek with inflatable flamingos to charge “toll fees.”
• Replacing creek signs with ones that read “Float at Your Own Risk—Property of the Floaters.”
  Demise: The gang fell apart when their leader’s tube popped during a high-stakes float-off against a rival tubing crew from Pueblo.

5. The Thunderstorm Wranglers

Active Era: Late 1980s
Claim to Infamy: A gang of wannabe storm chasers who caused havoc during summer thunderstorms, claiming to “control the weather.” Their hideout was a poorly insulated shack on the outskirts of Colorado Springs that they called “The Lightning Lair.”
Dastardly Crimes:

• Scattering fake lightning bolts made of tinfoil around the city to confuse meteorologists.
• Running up to strangers with umbrellas yelling, “We’ll save you—for $5!”
  Demise: The group dissolved when a rogue hailstorm destroyed their Lightning Lair, and their leader decided to pursue a career in weather broadcasting instead.

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