1. Jon Heder was born in Fort Collins before going on to star as Napoleon Dynamite… Which is pretty much the best movie ever made, gosh!
2. A law used to stand that no liquor could be sold on Sundays or election days, but fortunately (for everyone involved), that law was repealed in 2008.
3. However, it's still illegal to ride a horse while under the influence. So look out for those RUI’s.
4. The famous Fort Collins Budweiser plant is also the home of the famous Budweiser Clydesdales horses.
5. Fort Collins was listed among the 10 Best Places To Retire in the U.S. by CBS Money Watch in 2012.
6. Drivers in Fort Collins average a whopping 14 years between collisions and are 26.8 percent less likely to be in a vehicular accident compared to the national average.
7. University Professor Tom Sutherland is a local hero. He was held captive in Lebanon for six years beginning in 1985 while locals around Fort Collins draped the whole city in yellow ribbons. When he was released in 1991, the entire town celebrated.
8. Colorado State University was founded in 1870, six years before the Colorado Territory even gained statehood.
9. Upon opening, what is now CSU saw an enrollment of 20 freshman students in 1870. The school was renamed Colorado State University in 1957.
10. Jon Cooper plays on the offensive line for the Minnesota Vikings these days, but he got his start in Fort Collins High School where he was a three year starter and letter-man, and received the team MVP award his senior season.
11. Fort Collins is known for being the major town that inspired the design of Main Street, U.S.A. in Disney World’s highly recognizable Magic Kingdom and the other Disney parks around the world.
12. Walt Disney got the idea of Main Street USA when a coworker, Harper Goff, showed him some pictures of his hometown of Fort Collins. Disney liked the look so much, that he incorporated many of its features in his plans for his famous park.
13. Man Vs. Food’s Adam Richman took his crew to Beau Jo’s in Fort Collins to tackle their famous 14er Challenge which entails one brave soul and a willing partner downing a 14 pound pizza in under one hour.
14. Maybe one of the only reality television couples that haven’t broken up, Fort Collins native Ryan Sutter and Trista Rehn starred on the 2003 season of the ABC show The Bachelor.
15. Supreme Court Justice from the state of Colorado during the years of 1962-1993, Byron White, is a Fort Collins boy, born right here in the city. Before taking a government job, he played football for the University of Colorado where he gained the nickname “Whizzer.” He went off to play for The Pittsburgh Pirates (now the Steelers) before taking his political seat.
16. The CSU Library is home to more than two million books, bound journals and government documents.
17. CSU is crowned the top school in the country for international student satisfaction for academics and student support in the “International Student Barometer Survey.”
18. Fort Collins has been listed as one of top ten Best Places To Live in the U.S. by Money Magazine three times: in 2006 when they came in first place, 2008 as second, and in 2010 with the sixth spot.
19. The Odell Brewing Company was founded in 1989 by Doug, Wynee and Corkie Odell on the outskirts of Fort Collins after moving from a kitchen in Seattle. By 2010, the company had 62 employees and distributed their beers to nine states and overseas to Great Britain.
20. Fort Collins was named as the third healthiest midsize city in the country based on a 2014 Gallup survey.
21. There are around 25 local breweries located in Fort Collins and the region. Most locally, they include New Belgium Brewing, Odell Brewing Company, Funkwerks, The Fort Collins Brewery, Black Bottle Brewery, Freedom’s Edge Brewing Company, and Equinox Brewing.
22. New Belgium Brewery also hosts the Tour de Fat which draws over 20,000 people riding bikes and dressing in costume. As well as a series of Bike in movies starting late September.
23. In 2013, the popular Tour de Fat bike parade in Fort Collins drew in a record-setting 25,000 two-wheeled, costumed participants.
24. Fort Collins Utilities was the first company to offer green energy to its customers.
25. In 2011, the New Belgium Brewing Company produced 712,800 barrels of its various choices, including its flagship beer, the Fat Tire amber ale.
26. John Ashton, best known for his roles in M*A*S*H, Dallas, Beverly Hills Cops and Midnight Run was born in Massachusetts, but now lives out his days in Fort Collins. He can be heard all over the radio throughout Northern Colorado on his daily sports show, The Ashton and Davis Show on 870 ESPN radio.
27. A flash flood hit Fort Collins in July of 1997, stretching over a 31-hour timeframe in which 10-14 inches of rain fell. It was the heaviest rainfall on record for an urban area in the state of Colorado.
28. The 1997 flash flood brought about $140 million in damages to CSU, especially to the University’s library.
29. Looking for a souvenir but low on cash? You can pick up a Cave Bear Skull from the Ural Mountains in Russia for a much cooler $4,950 at Nature’s Own.
30. If you're looking to splurge a little more, Nature’s Own also sells a Tyrannosaurus Rex half skull for the measly price of $7,500.
31. Do you have what it takes to beat the Fat Shack Challenge? It’s you versus three 8 inch Fat Shack sandwiches weighing 1.5 pounds each along with a huge plate of fries. Do it and you’ll get your meal on the house, some Fat Shack swag, and your picture on the wall. But beware – many have tried and only two have prevailed.
Feature Image Source: Visit Fort Collins Colorado Facebook
What’s your favorite fun Fort Collins fact? Tell us in the comments below!
