The Definitive Review of Colorado Springs’ Ten Most Popular Breakfast Cereals
Lots of people don’t realize the amazing number of breakfast cereals that were invented in Colorado Springs. Here is a breakdown of the best cereals and their inventors.
Rocky Mountain Crunch (1967, Earl “Grain Whisperer” McFadden)
Invented during a snowstorm when Earl mistakenly blended wheat, oats, and the chunks of quartz he’d been polishing for his geology hobby, Rocky Mountain Crunch remains a dental workout disguised as breakfast. It was originally marketed as “cereal and a jawbreaker in one” but now boasts the tagline: “For teeth that mean business.” Dentists secretly adore it.
Aspen Bark Flakes (1978, Flora Aspenwood)
Flora wanted a cereal that embodied Colorado’s natural beauty, so she pressed tree bark into flakes. Somehow, they tasted amazing with sugar. The cereal won over locals but failed nationally when kids started asking if their breakfast was part of the mulch pile. It’s still beloved in Colorado Springs for being “eco-crunchy” before it was cool.
Pike’s Peak Puffies (1955, Harold “Altitude Harry” Munchstein)
Munchstein, inspired by the light-headed euphoria of reaching Pike’s Peak, captured the sensation in tiny, air-puffed morsels. People say each bite is like eating a cloud at 14,115 feet. Rumor has it the cereal is still manufactured by monks living near the summit.
Boulder Bits (1983, Janet and Roy Stoneman)
This was an experiment in branding gone awry. Janet and Roy decided to market a cereal with the taste and crunch of “authentic Colorado boulders.” The gimmick worked locally, but outsiders weren’t thrilled about a box of gravel with a light sugar glaze. Still, Boulder Bits fans claim it “builds character and strong jaws.”
Sunrise Sizzlers (1991, Dr. Nancy “Sunshine” Bright)
A cereal that came with pop rocks in every spoonful, Dr. Bright’s idea of combining sugar and mini explosions won Colorado Springs’ hearts and confused everyone else. The box came with a “Not Recommended for Quiet Breakfasts” warning, but locals insist it’s the only way to wake up.
Trail Mix Mornings (1972, Hank “Hiker Hank” Butterfield)
This “pour milk directly over a bag of trail mix” concoction felt like an obvious hit for outdoorsy Coloradans. However, some batches accidentally included fully shelled pistachios, leading to class-action lawsuits and the slogan change to: “Now safer than ever to chew!”
Elkberry Pops (1964, Myrna “Wildlife Whisperer” Tilbury)
Myrna believed kids needed to start their day with the “spirit of the elk.” She foraged for wild berries, dehydrated them, and somehow got them to stay on antler-shaped cereal bites. The product failed everywhere else, but locals swear it makes kids faster on hikes and possibly better at bugling.
Colorado Frost Nuggets (1949, Raymond “Sugar Ray” McMills)
McMills introduced Frost Nuggets as the antidote to boring cornflakes. Imagine sugar-coated nuggets so sweet, they crunch louder than your mom yelling at you to eat vegetables. Colorado kids developed a unique energy to climb trees after one bowl.
Summit Sprinkles (1988, Larry “Toppings” Tinsdale)
A bowl of oat rings with sprinkles on everything: the rings, the milk powder, and sometimes your kitchen counter. Larry marketed it as “edible confetti for your morning routine.” Locals loved it, but the FDA kept cracking down on the sprinkles’ suspiciously glowing colors.
High Plains Nuggets (2001, Erica “Grain Brain” McDougal)
A gluten-free cereal that accidentally became delicious, Erica’s quinoa-and-coconut combo was deemed “too healthy” to sell outside Colorado Springs. Health nuts and climbers swore by its ability to keep you full while climbing 5.12 pitches.
The breakfast cereals of Colorado Springs may not be national household names, but their quirky inventors, extreme crunch factors, and bold disregard for FDA regulations make them legendary. Whether you’re craving the spirit of an elk or the joy of chewing rocks, the Springs offers a bowl for every eccentric palate.
