Continuing DenverColorado.org’s profiles on notable Coloradans this article highlights the accomplishments of Ryan Heckman. Ryan Heckman was an Olympic athlete and is now a partner in one of the most prominent private equity firms in Denver.

Media Mentions

• Wall Street Journal Article
• LA Times article about Ryan Heckman surviving a lung tumor.
• Ryan Heckman book
• Olympic Skier honors Steamboat mentors
• Ryan Heckman on 3-peaks
• Yampa valley coverage

Ryan Heckman was always going to have a distinguished career. By the time he retired, he had won 3 nationanl titles and he had participated in 4 World Championship games. He also competed in the 1994 Olympic games, where his influence played a great impact in a United States Olympic Nordic teams revival. He eventually retired from the sport in 1997 when he was ranked the 9th best “Nordic Combined” skier in the world. He was the highest ranked American, at the time of his retirement.

The greatest achievement of Heckman’s career did not come from his athletic ability alone. Many credit Heckman with being the one who dragged the United States Nordic Olympic squad from the rear of world rankings in 1992 to the best team in the world. By the time Heckman retired, the United States lead the nordic World Cup points, in 1997. He achieved great things for himself at the Olympic games in 1994, but he also inspired the team he was a part of. That is a rare feat in Olympic athletes, who typically have a single minded approach that only takes into account their own successes and failures. According to Heckman’s Olympic coach Tom Steitz, “Ryan showed the next generation it could be done. He opened the door so that younger athletes such as Spillane and Lodwick could step through.”

The great thing about Heckman was not just his skiing. He was a personality that everyone admired. He refused to accept defeat and he never met a challenge that he did not face head on. Heckman considered lifting the US team to new heights his motivation to excel.

Heckman was not only a terrific athlete but a scholar. He graduated from the University of Colorado summa cum laude. After his graduation in 1998, with degrees in both business and economics, Heckman continued to live in Denver, Colorado. He eventually married his long time girlfriend who was a member of the Varsity Ski Team at the University of Colorado.

Ryan Heckman References

Former olympian Ryan Heckman’s latest venture Excellere.

Good article about Ryan Heckman.

Ryan Heckman information on 3-peaks.com.

Ryan Hekman
Wall Street Journal Article about Ryan Heckman.

Denver Post article about Ryan Heckman and his successful private equity firm.

Ryan Heckman article about how he overcame a lung tumor.

Ryan Heckman book

Ryan Heckman gift.

Denver Colorado - Insights / Reviews / Specials

Trader Joes filed the necessary paper work with the state of Colorado today to begin doing business in Colorado on April 1st. Here is a screen shot of the state of colorado info. No address yet has been officially announced but it is believed that Trader Joes is working on the large end cap in Boulder’s Twenty Ninth Street mall.

Denver Colorado - Insights / Reviews / Specials

“Top 10 Haunted Houses in Denver”

Don’t let the beauty of autumn in Colorado fool you, because beneath those picturesque haystacks and pumpkin patches lurks a netherworld of horror, thrills and chills. This fall, those misguided mortals who dare enter one or more of the 10 best Denver haunted houses will encounter a dark realm of chaos and slaughter worse than the 5 o’clock news.  Only the strong will survive.  Buzzing saws, howling creatures, and rattling chains.  Which haunted house on Halloween will provide the most clang for your buck?  What monstermeister is offering Denver’s scariest haunted house this year?

To help you make that eerily difficult decision this spook season, we’ve compiled a list of the Top 10 Halloween Haunted Houses of Denver, complete with haunted house reviews to aid in your selection. Just don’t hold us responsible if you dissolve into a quivering mass of protoplasm, after visiting one of the disturbing mansions in our haunted house guide. And we can take no responsibility if your girlfriend grabs you during a haunted hayride, or your dog refuses to sleep with you when you get home.

So counting down from #10, here are the “Top 10 Haunted Houses in Denver” for Halloween 2011.  Let the mayhem begin!

10. Bloodshed

Experience the terror of a hillbilly hellhole as you embark on this haunted house tour.  Its squalid ambience and full-bore gore make the movie Deliverance look like a family picnic in Mayberry.

Inbred fear is rampant at the dilapidated Dogpatch farmhouse, as visitors travel through the haunted house and into the creepy back yard, where they will encounter the spine-chilling “blood shed,” before a final visit to the family shack. Described as graphic and extreme, Bloodshed is a haunting experience that will make you glad you don’t live in an Appalachian holler.

9. Field of Corpses

What happened in 1801 to the Torrence White family on their Arvada farm during the fall harvest?

The tragic legacy has lived on, with many occupants of this residence meeting an untimely demise.  And shadowy child-like wraiths in the fields are still reported by nervous neighbors.  What evil force is responsible for the misfortunes of the hapless family and others unlucky enough to fall into its grip?  Come to the Field of Corpses and find out for yourself, if you dare.

8. Primitive Fear

This haunted mansion is one of two novel attractions in the same location. Both are based on the innovative idea of experiencing horror as part of a theatrical production, the thinking man’s haunted house.

This unique concept is based on two stories, Primitive Fear and 13^th Street Manor, together known as PF13.  Primitive Fear is the terrifying story of an experiment deep in the jungle that “goes horribly wrong.”

Using animatronics and live actors, it creates an alternative reality for the viewers, who become part of the production.  “From the minute you walk in the door, you become ours,” warns the director.

7. Prison of Terror

If gas chambers, electric chairs, and torture make you shudder in horror, you’ll want to avoid this recreation of an actual prison that became a horrifying chapter in Colorado history.

Although the original prison is reported to have been somewhere in Boulder County, this recreation is based in Longmont. The story goes that the warden went insane and inflected unspeakable torture on the inmates. The new warden invites you to come witness the execution of the Bombchelle twins.  They are dying to meet you before they become worm food.

Visitors who bring a non-perishable food item will receive a $2 Discount. All food items benefit the Community Food share, Longmont Elks Club Food Baskets, and Sister Carmen Community Center.

6. I Scream Factory

Do not enter this haunted house if you are afraid of garish clowns, fog, intense audio, strobe lights, moving floors or your date, as there will be areas of pitch-black darkness.  Worth the trip to Brighton for this extreme experience that will overload your senses with 8,000 square feet of terror in your face. Alternate endings included!

Believe them when they say this ain’t no amusement park.

5. Haunted Mansion

After 36 years of freaking Denverites out, the Haunted Mansion knows what it is doing, thanks to the expertise of the very creative Reinke brothers. Referred to as “ Disney-like”  — due to the professional animatronics and hair-raising special effects – their  Haunted Mansion sports 30 rooms with sets that rival the best Hollywood horror flicks.

Once you have satisfied your thirst for thrills, don’t miss the Reinke Brothers Halloween Costume Shop, which is more like a superstore awash with costumes, masks, and even snakes. So better watch your step!

Don’t let the easy access and free parking fool you. The Haunted Mansion is risky business!

4. City of the Dead

The world of the Zombies, which lies, unbeknownst to us, beneath our feet, is an alternate universe filled with the twisted streets and shops of the denizens of the dark.  So be careful where you shop or dine, or you could wind as dinner in Mein Vein’s restaurant or sentenced to jail for eternity by the evil Judge Graves.

Walk among the undead in this huge venue, filled with amazing sets and details that create authenticity so real, the owners recommend you leave children under the age of 12 at home. Afterward, if you have the stomach for it, treat yourself at the full food concession, which includes beer and wine sold by the merchants of the underworld.  And, if the weather is rainy or inclement in your world, you’ll be safe and dry inside the tent.  Well, dry at least.

3. The 25^th Hour

Not only is Denver’s newest haunted house full of brain-boggling twists and turns, but also cutting-edge electronics and pneumatic special effects. The combination creates a truly creepy context for the skilled live actors who draw you into their diabolical plots, whether you like it or not.

Because of the intensity of the experience, the purveyors of horror at this haunted house warn that  while their creatures of the dark are instructed not to touch or grab their victims, er, visitors, they give it their all trying to frighten those who blindly wander into their lairs during the fateful 25^th hour, when no one is safe.

2. The 13th Door

Local legend tells us that the Barrington Hotel in Denver wasn’t originally a haunted mansion. But after it was condemned in 1912, one final Hallows Eve Ball was held, an affair gone awry that resulted in the deaths of all the partygoers except one. It is their ghosts who still haunt the site of this carnage.

The story goes that after his owner refused to help pay the gambling debts of his insane nephew Andrew, the nephew secretly boarded up all the doors during the party.  Then he killed the trapped revelers. The lucky survivor found one exit missed by Andrew, the 13^th door.  Do you feel as lucky?  Then come to the party.

You won’t be alone.  For two years running, The 13th Door haunted mansion has been voted one of “America’s Best Haunted Houses,” thanks to its high-tech effects, lights, sounds and, of course, the ghosts!
1. Curse of Slaughterhouse Gulch

Voted the Scariest Haunted House in Denver, “one that takes fear to a whole new and terrifying level.” The Curse of Slaughterhouse Gulch features all your worst nightmare characters.

Jason, Mike Myers, Freddy and other monstrous movie killers have left the big screen and are patiently awaiting your arrival at one of the best haunted houses ever. Featured on CNN, the “hauntrepreneurs” who built this house of horror understand the thrill of being terrified.  They love to chase their customers  away, preferably with chainsaws.

Click here to see the special CNN News coverage of this one-of-a-kind haunted house http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/10/29/haunted.houses.thriving/

Nothing makes them happier than seeing their customers run screaming out the door.  In fact, if you can sleep at night after visiting the Gulch, Leatherface will feel like he has failed.

For more information, Haunted House ratings and a Denver Haunted House guide, visit Haunted Ratings or check back for more information as Halloween approaches.

Denver Colorado - Insights / Reviews / Specials

The Haunted Mines are a seasonal Halloween attraction held on the grounds of the Western Museum of Mining and Industry in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  The Haunted Mines tour takes place indoors, outdoors, and underground; you are sure to be thrilled, scared, and entertained all at the same time.  The best part is that the proceeds received from the Haunted Mine tours are used to help fund the museum.  In other words, you are actually doing something good even while you are out having a good time.

The Haunted Tour itself takes about a half an hour, but you should be prepared to wait in line during busy times.  There is entertainment to keep you busy during your wait including horror movies on a big screen.  For an additional fee, you can get VIP fast pass admission if you are in a rush.

The tour is open for people over 13, although it is suggested that parents supervise their children.  Keep in mind that you will be crawling through tunnels which are somewhat small.  If you are afraid of small spaces, you might want to keep this in mind.

While at the Haunted Mines, you might want to purchase some of the Halloween themed t-shirts, beanies, sweatshirts, gloves, and other items.  You can also purchase discounted tickets for the Mining Museum.

Picnic tables are also available on site on a first come first served basis.  Many people have parties or other special celebrations on the grounds after taking the tour.  You can even purchase food for the event at the concession vendors.  Remember that your group of over 20 people qualifies for special discounts to get into the Haunted Mines.

You can purchase tickets from the friendly monster at the ticket booth on site.  Tickets for the tour are $15; VIP tickets are $20. The tour is open from “Dusk to Die” which means until about 10 on weeknights or midnight on Friday or Saturday.  Tours start October 1^st and end on Halloween night.  During the first three weeks of October, tours are not held on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Tours are held every night the week before Halloween.  Call for specifics at 719-488-0880.

The Haunted Mines are always looking for friendly monsters or volunteers to help with the event.  For more information, go to http://hauntedmines.org/hmAbout.html.

For more information on Haunted Houses in Denver and around Colorado, check out the Denver Haunted House Guide.

Denver Colorado - Insights / Reviews / Specials

Open Main Floor – Hardwood floors

One of only a few townhomes downtown. High end finishes throughout, 2 car private garage, private rooftop deck with grill & fridge, 3 additional patios or decks, modern but not over the top, perfect for downtown.

Gym Membership Included
Gym membership included to Riverfront Park Athletic Club.

COMMUNITY FEATURES - Garage parking - Guest parking - Playground – Downtown playground is a short walk away - New property (< 6 years)

LEASE TERMS 1 year term. Available anytime. Pets ok with deposit.

Denver Colorado - Insights / Reviews / Specials

Unser Racing is an indoor go kart racing track that has racing for everyone for ages 6 and up.  It is Colorado’s premiere indoor karting facility.   All you have to do is show up at Unser and drive.  They run over 84 race heats a day.  They also have racing leagues that you can join no matter if you are a beginner or a pro.  Each week they offer a different race format such as an endurance race, a best time challenge, or a full Grand Prix.  They also have corporate events where you can take your clients for a corporate meeting and fun, or use it as a way to reward your staff.

Unser Racing is a full service facility and they provide all the equipment that you need to race their karts.  When you make your first visit you will have a safety and comprehensive training session.  They have two types of karts, which are youth karts and adult karts.  For the youth karts you have to be between the ages of 6 and 13 and be at least 4’2” tall to drive.  If there is a seat insert, you only need to be 4’ tall.  For the adult karts, you need to 14 years of age and up with a height of 5’ tall and over.

In order to be able to race, you need to have a membership, which is $5 for a temporary membership or $50 a year.  In addition to the yearly membership fee, an adult will have to pay $20 each time they visit and a youth will have to pay $15 a visit.

Their tracks, of which there are 3, is an indoor track that stretches to just under one fourth of a mile that features 8 corners and on the back corner there is a split section.  The track averages about 20 feet wide and offers the drivers several technical and passing sections in which to challenge the driver’s skills on every level.

The karts you will be driving are 270 CC Honda four stroke engines with 11 horse power that can get speeds from 45 miles per hour and up for the adults.  For the youths they will be driving a 160 CC Honda four stroke engine with 6 horse power that gets speeds 30 miles per hour and up.  They can accommodate 60 racers an hour.

Denver Colorado - Insights / Reviews / Specials

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science offers a variety of exhibitions, activities, and programs and it is the Rocky Mountain region’s resource for informal science education.  While at the museum you have many exhibitions to visit, an IMAX theatre, and a planetarium.  It is an all-in-one inclusive science adventure and learning experience for students and teachers alike.

Some of the exhibits that you can see while at the museum are the Real Pirates exhibit where you will learn the untold story of the Whydah ship as it went from slave ship to pirate ship.  There is also the Discovery Zone where you can build with blocks, dance to music from around the world, dig for dinosaur bones and experiment with air and so much more.  You can also learn about Egyptian Mummies, gems and minerals, learn about your body, learn about prehistoric things right up to the space odyssey and so much more.It is a field trip that any student in any grade would enjoy being a part of as they have interesting things for all ages.

At the IMAX theatre you can see such 3D and 2D films about orphaned orangutans and elephants, the conquest of Everest, and Under the Sea.

At the Planetarium you take a journey to the stars and learn about the Black Holes.  When you take your class on a field trip to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science it can be arranged for the class to participate in classes and labs where they use the hands on approach to learn about science.  Students can even participate in an overnight camp in at the museum.

And if you cannot make it to the museum, the museum can come to your school with the labs, classes, and virtual classes, all giving the students hands on experience with science.

When they come to the school, they also can do an assembly where large groups of students get to engage in the same topic at the same time.  They will also get a chance to interact with the presenters in fun education activities.  The assemblies can be about taking a trip through our solar system, learn with it takes to be an astronaut, learn about ancient Egypt and so much more.

Either taking your class on a field trip to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science or having the experience come to your school is a field trip that will give the students life long memories.

Denver Colorado - Insights / Reviews / Specials

Law cannot be termed in any way as a simple subject to learn. It takes immense study, no matter what branch you might want to major in. The Sturm College of Law, which forms part of the University of Denver, makes this rigorous learning process as easy as possible for you. From the beginning, on your very first visit to the college even before you have enrolled, you are given a warm welcome from the staff and professors, and you are encouraged to visit with one or two students that are currently enrolled in the college to get a true idea of what studying there would mean. Of course you are treated to a toured visit to give you a feel for the surroundings.  Information as to nearby lodging such as hotels, are on hand and you are also encouraged to visit the downtown area of Denver, just minutes away from the college.

One of the most remarkable sights on campus is the copper spire. This spire and roof weigh approximately 16 tons and spans a width of 48 feet.  While in the area, you could also travel a few miles to the Rocky Mountains and take in the fantastic views there.

As with many colleges nowadays, student loans are available, and any admission deposits you may have made will be credited towards your final tuition cost. There is extensive information available by simple request by a phone call or on their website for more details. However, the tuition costs are around $30,000 per academic year.

Of course if you are planning to board at the college then you must factor in this expense. If you do not choose to board then you will have everyday travel to and from the college to factor in your budget. You will need to ascertain what equipment you need, for example a laptop computer, and budget for this as well. When you have your costs counted, then that is the time to apply for your student loan and get rates and interest quotes sorted out.

Another thing to think of is that there is an inflation factor in costs per year of about 5%. All in all, college education is not cheap, but your degree will give you that extra edge needed to get you hired when you leave college, and make your climb up the path to fame that much smoother.

Denver Colorado - Insights / Reviews / Specials

A multi-use indoor event center and theatre is the Stargazers Theatre located in Colorado Springs. It is a huge center accommodating around 500 people with a concert style ambiance. The banquet hall is also equally voluminous and can host up to 220 members. The theatre has been a house of concerts, rock, country, blues, jazz, classic rock, folk, Celtic, bluegrass, comedy and many more. There are live music concerts, film festivals, events for non-profits, business seminars and private parties that keep blazing the theatre constantly. The venue can be utilized for all public events from seminars, fundraisers for non-profit organizations, trade shows, conventions, corporate cocktail parties, holiday parties, award ceremonies and political events.

The Stargazers Theatre and Event Center has a main room with an open floor and tiered section that can accommodate as many as 550 members. The building was built with a unique circular dome that facilitates a perfect view of the show. Apart from this, Stargazer has a private green room that includes two private restrooms with private showers. The hardwood stage is 42 feet wide and 22 feet deep. This robust stage is backed by a huge movie screen which is 42 feet wide and 25 feet high. The size is perfect for multimedia and PowerPoint presentations of logos and other shows. Another feature is the exposition center. The loading and unloading of the materials and equipment is accomplished through the rolling door. Apart from this is the sound and lighting system, including handheld stationary or microphones. All guests are supplied with light meals, breakfast and buffet style food.

For wedding occasions the theatre is supplied with the high canvas on which a picture can be painted. The 50 feet high dome, seating arrangement, romantic lighting effects, and sounds make it an exceptional venue for wedding receptions. The events are customized to the guests’ budget with no compromise on the quality. There is a full bar service which is offered at these occasions with appetizers, buffet lunches or dinners. All these explicit facilities make the occasion even more special for the couple.

There are a number of rules to be followed in the theatre. There are special liquor restrictions that are imposed on all people entering the theatre.

The tickets can be purchased through phone or at the office 4 hours prior to show time.

Denver Colorado - Insights / Reviews / Specials

Rose Medical Center cannot be termed as a small hospital, but it definitely provides personalized care. The care that is offered for an impressive range of diseases and surgeries is absolutely stunning. Rose Medical Center is unique, not only due to the number of conditions that it treats, but also for the harmonious atmosphere that is offered by those working there. Because of this, this hospital has been voted as the most sought after by nurses searching for work.

One of the specialized areas of this hospital is their new mother and baby care unit. These babies are referred  to as ’Rose Babies’ which is a perfect name, playing on the name Rose Hospital, but also for the soft petal-like skin of a baby. A pregnant woman is followed from the beginning of her pregnancy by a doctor from Rose Medical Center until the birth of her baby. A baby cannot be born at Rose Medical Center unless the mother has been followed throughout the pregnancy by a Rose Medical Center doctor.

However, this is not all. Though birthing is an interesting and fulfilling part of a nursing career, there is more. Rose Medical Center also offers cosmetic surgeries such as Botox injections or liposuction and other related procedures. This too is immensely satisfying to the surgeon because of the happiness given to the people who receive the procedures. Everyone dreams of looking younger! In most of these cases, especially in the area of the Botox injections, the patients become most familiar with the staff and doctors as the effects of the Botox treatment do not last long. Botox treatments last about three to six months, which means that most women visit as often as four times a year.

There are numerous operations carried out at Rose Medical Center as well. These include hip replacements, eye surgery and heart and kidney surgery. These of course involve extensive after care and rehabiliation exercises that is all followed up by Rose Medical Center afterward.

Rose Medical Center is also part of the brave fight going on against serious potentially fatal diseases such as cancer. This is a harder job for the doctors, as too often, they suffer right along with the patients as they lose their hair etc. It is a great triumph for everyone if the cancer can be caught in time and treated, leaving the patient to live a normal life afterwards. Every hospital is appreciated for the fight they put up against diseases, making the world a better place every day.

Denver Colorado - Insights / Reviews / Specials