(Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).
My kids noticed Moose long before he tried to eat my wife’s purse.
The massive, black draft horse is one of the biggest animal attractions at Four Mile Historic Park, one of Denver’s oldest public parks and arguably the last vestige of the city’s early agricultural heritage. Moose — whose name truly suits him — and his smaller, black-and-white buddy Jake were chilling in their corral when my children spotted him.
They’d never seen any animal that big outside of a zoo, so we stopped along the fence line to snap some photos.
The horses were curious and kind, as a park volunteer told us, and that was borne out as my wife (who grew up with horses) petted Jake’s head while I took a few pics. Moose then sidled up and wrapped his giant lips around my wife’s purse when she wasn’t looking, as well as my 8-year-old daughter’s hand, which was feeding him a treat from a volunteer.
They flashed strained grins as they wiped off horse saliva, while Moose photo-bombed the scene by nudging Jake out of the way and hooking his head over the fence.
Like the smattering of pigs, goats and chickens on this working farm, visitors can only get close to Moose and his gentle slobber in a supervised way. That’s a good thing, since the park hosts dozens of annual events, school groups and all-ages visitors. Its grounds are dotted with historic buildings — including Denver’s oldest standing structure, dating back to 1859 — and even on a muddy day like the one in which we visited, the park felt immediately welcoming.
That’s because you can stroll leisurely and still see the whole thing in a visit. Of course, you can stop and examine the indoor/outdoor collection of artifacts and reproduced Western gear — blacksmithing tools, saddles, stagecoaches and other late-1800s items — and the on-site experts are more than happy to give guided tours and share educational tidbits.
With a pair of kids in tow, it was the perfect location and amount of time for a Sunday outing in the city. Located on the banks of Cherry Creek, just east of Colorado Boulevard, it’s a Western oasis in a place that often feels markedly less Western these days.
Hand sanitizer is entirely optional.
Four Mile Historic Park is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday at 715 S. Forest St. in Denver, with more weekday hours starting in June. Tickets are $6-$8 per person, with discounts available, and free for kids under 6. Call 720-865-0800 or visit fourmilepark.org for more.