There has perhaps been no other person who has captured the spirit of Colorado quite like John Denver. His song “Rocky Mountain High” was adopted as a state song in 2007, and in 1974 he was named poet laureate of Colorado. After decades of moving from place to place, he made his final home in Aspen.
After Denver died in a plane crash in 1997, the city of Aspen approached his first wife, Annie, to collaborate on a memorial in his name. They selected a site on the Roaring Fork River to transform into a space that honors John’s love for nature, music, and community. Over the years, what was once an industrial site and parking lot has been transformed into a garden sanctuary. Native boulders etched with the lyrics of his songs stand amid ponds and natural vegetation. Over time, the lichen of the boulders has spread into the words themselves, making the songs feel as alive as the trees around them.
One boulder stands apart from the rest, inscribed with the lyrics of “Poems, Prayers, and Promises.” Though written many years before Denver’s death, it contains both regret and gratitude for the life he was given, and fond memories both in the company of others and in the company of himself. The John Denver sanctuary, likewise, can be both a place for gathering and quiet solitude. It is often visited on the anniversary of his death, giving people a space to gather and reflect together. It is perhaps an even more meaningful experience to visit on your own, to hear nothing but the murmur of the river and the songs you carry with you.
