If these walls could talk...

Information courtesy of the

Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center

Royal Gorge Academy sits on what was originally a boy's military school. In 1881, the Collegiate and Military Institute, later known as the Grand Army Collegiate and Military Institute, opened its doors. Boys who were at least six years old with knowledge of reading, writing, and mathematics could attend the school. Unfortunately, the academy was short-lived and had to close its doors before 1890 due to financial troubles.

On May 16, 1890, the property was purchased for the use of an all girl's Catholic boarding school. The purchase price was $15,000. That June, the first of the Benedictine Sisters arrived from Chicago to open the doors of Mt. St. Scholastica. Forty girls entered the school that fall. In 1893, the main building was damaged from nearby blasting during construction of the Kansas-Colorado irrigation ditch. The portion of the building left standing was subsequently torn down after investigations determined it was unsafe. Most of the school children returned home, and those that remained lived with the Sisters in tents until a temporary two-story frame building was constructed on the grounds.

The State was using convict labor to dig the irrigation ditch, so the Benedictine Sisters sought indemnity from the State for the loss of their building. Thus began a long series of legal battles that would finally end up in the Colorado Supreme Court, where, on March 31, 1895, Governor McIntire signed into law Senate Bill 83 awarding the Siters of the Benedictine Order the sum of $8,000 for damages. After finally retaining funds to rebuild, the school was reopened in 1897. The first class of six girls graduated on June of 1901.

It wasn't until the 1930's before the main building, which houses the dorms and the cafeteria, was built. Mt. St. Scholastica educated girls for over 100 years before closing its doors in 2000.

In 2005, Dr. Huddleston purchased the property that was formally Mt. St. Scholastica. The property would once again be used for educational purposes. Royal Gorge Academy opened its doors to both male and female students on February 27th 2006.

Today, Royal Gorge Academy remains a private boarding school located on a gorgeous campus nestled against the foothills of the Greenhorn Mountains. It is approximately two hours south of Denver, Colorado, and approximately 40 miles south of Colorado Springs. The school is open all year round allowing immediate enrollment as needed.

Royal Gorge Academy has expansive grounds that cover seven and a half acres and features five separate buildings. The main building, which houses the dorm rooms, cafeteria, administration offices, and a spacious recreation room, was built in the 1930's. The academic building, built in the 1980's, houses the classrooms, academic offices, and a performing arts auditorium. There is also a library and conference center on the grounds and a full gymnasium with an indoor swimming pool and workout room. On the outer grounds we have tennis courts and a future soccer/football field.