Visit The Crestone Ziggurat In Colorado For A Unique Experience With Incredible Views
If you have ever visited the tiny yet charming town of Crestone, Colorado, you may have noticed a strange, castle-like dwelling atop a hill. Is it a castle? Why does it look so different from other castles? What is the deal with the winding staircase? Come to find out, it is not a castle, but rather the Crestone Ziggurat, which comes complete with a fascinating history:
Home to less than 150 residents, Crestone may be a seemingly small town. Still, what it lacks in size it makes up for in diversity, with local religions consisting of everything from Catholic to Protestant to New Age, Buddhism, and Zen.
Nicknamed the "New Age religious capital of the world," Crestone is home to several churches, spiritual centers, and other unique places of worship, including the castle-like Crestone Ziggurat.
Built by Najeeb Halaby, the father of Queen Noor of Jordan, in 1978, the Crestone Ziggurat was once a private place for prayer and reflection but has since opened to the public, who are invited to come to explore and spend time in meditation.
What is a Ziggurat? Initially built in ancient Mesopotamia out of sun-dried bricks, Ziggurats are shrines erected as dwelling places for the gods, making the open-to-the-public one in Crestone all the more unique.
When you visit, be sure to climb to the top of the Crestone Ziggurat's tower, which offers jaw-dropping and heavenly views that you will not see anywhere else.
