Keeping It 100

The AdAmAn Club represents a century of adventure, pride, tradition, a strong sense of community, and plain fun. For the past 100 years, members have annually ascended the summit of Pikes Peak to set off fireworks at midnight, delighting New Year's Eve revelers below.

This design, created by artist Zane Prater, features subtle symbolism that reflects the AdAmAn Club's spirit, with figures remaining anonymous and androgynous. Community togetherness is symbolized by the rope connecting climbers, backlit by fireworks exploding overhead.

The club’s members thought long and hard about how to celebrate their 100th anniversary and the 101st climb, set to begin on December 30, 2022. "There ought to be something in Colorado Springs to let people know about the AdAmAn Club after we’ve been entertaining people on New Year’s Eve for 100 years," says Jack Donley, who has made the climb 27 times and been a member since 1999.

He adds, "The club's tradition is so rich. This group of people, who trust and care for each other, are remarkably close and share a passion for Colorado Springs, hiking Pikes Peak, and setting off high explosives." The idea to commemorate what club members hold dear about this unique tradition had been simmering for years—often during their New Year’s Eve ascents.

Eventually, a plan was developed for a unique and ambitious placemaking project through a collaboration between the AdAmAn Club, the Colorado Springs Downtown Partnership, the city, public utilities, and downtown business owners. "It was a dream team of enthusiastic, hard-working, and committed decision-makers," says AdAmAn Club President Dan Stuart. "These elements were critical to the project's success." Fortunately, the organizational traits of the team mirrored those shared by the club members—lovers of the mountains, well-prepared and supportive of one another, but, Stuart adds with a chuckle, sometimes "lacking in common sense."

"The theme is to bring a little bit of Pikes Peak into downtown Colorado Springs," Donley explains. "General William Jackson Palmer chose this community's location because of Pikes Peak."

This composite photo of fireworks was captured atop Pikes Peak by local photographer Daniel Forster.

Thus, AdAmAn Alley was born. It aligns perfectly with the Downtown Master Plan, launched in 2016, which included a goal to develop downtown alleyways. Chelsea Gondeck, Director of Planning and Mobility for the Colorado Springs Downtown Partnership, played a key role in bringing the project to life. She says AdAmAn Alley "will be a major draw for downtown" and "provide a unique experience for visitors to enjoy public art while creating new opportunities for businesses to expand into underutilized public space."

The project has been in progress for some time, with the opening celebration scheduled for the end of the year. It will serve as a model for future downtown alley experiences, creating inviting spaces featuring thought-provoking art installations, creative lighting, and a touch of magic.

AdAmAn Alley stretches east to west from Nevada Avenue to North Tejon Street, with a southern leg extending toward Colorado Avenue. The freshly paved concrete surface is textured to resemble native granite, imprinted with regional plants. A painted representation of Barr Trail runs the length of the alley, with the trailhead at the eastern entrance and the summit of Pikes Peak at the western end, nestled between the historic Hibbard and Carlton buildings. Trail markers introduce an interactive experience, complete with QR codes linking visitors to archived information and club photos from the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum website.

Michelle Winchell, Executive Director of Downtown Ventures, outlines how the conceptual pieces come together. The artwork includes two enormous hand-painted murals on the brick walls surrounding the alley. They signify the ascent of Sun Mountain and the wonder and excitement that people—young and old—feel about New Year’s fireworks. Vinyl murals along the alley walls feature colorful cairns, guiding the way to the summit. The northern breezeway evokes the feeling of walking up Barr Trail through a dense forest. A composite image of the annual fireworks display illuminates the City Administration Building, with an archived photo of the firemasters further down the alley.

At night, one of the murals is highlighted by projection-mapping, showcasing native animals, plant species, and, of course, fireworks. At the alley's western end, a place-name arch curves between the buildings with an LED screen above that displays a continuous loop of fireworks at dusk for all to enjoy.

The AdAmAn Alley project team includes club members, business owners, and the Colorado Downtown Partnership. Key partners also include RTA Architects (designers of the Pikes Peak Summit House), Colorado Springs Utilities, and the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. "The amount of resources poured into this project is unbelievable," says Donley. "Everyone we approached was excited and on board... This shows how close-knit and united our community is, and the connection to the sense of adventure that the AdAmAn Club represents."

Ryan Phipps, senior engineer for the City of Colorado Springs, has been involved in the project since its inception, upgrading underground utilities—some of which date back 150 years. "This project has been challenging since it’s in a 20-foot alleyway where utilities are like spaghetti underground," Phipps says. "It will be satisfying to see everything upgraded and functional." He takes great pride in being a part of the team bringing the project to life: "Downtown is the heartbeat of the city, where vibrancy keeps our community alive."

Stuart emphasizes the importance of the new generation taking on the challenge of the New Year's Eve climb. His son, Tyler Stuart, a member since 2019, has made the climb with him about 10 times and, with his daughter-in-law Jessica Stuart, has participated in the last two ascents. "It’s fun knowing they have learned the club's traditions and will carry them into the future," Stuart says.

Priscilla Clayton became the fourth female member of the club in 2021. "I quickly knew I wanted to be part of the AdAmAn Club," she says. "It’s a great feeling to reach the summit and carry on the tradition. It's an incredible experience." Clayton echoes the camaraderie her fellow members share: "We all have a common goal—making a successful climb. Gender doesn’t matter. We’re all mountaineers."

"The club's model of adding one member a year ensures its longevity," says Don Sanborn, a member since 2003 and the first grandson of a previous member. His grandfather, Don Lawrie, joined the club in 1940. Sanborn adds, "The community response to the creation of AdAmAn Alley has been overwhelmingly positive. With our diverse membership and continued public interest, we don’t see the club going away anytime soon."