11 Facts You Might Not Know About Fort Collins

Whether you were born and raised here in Fort Collins or consider yourself a transplant to the area, here are 11 facts you might not have known about our beloved little town.

1.) Old Town Fort Collins served as the inspiration for Main Street USA in Disneyland. A man named Harper Goff showed Walt Disney some photos of his childhood hometown when the street was first being built in the Florida theme park. Disney was so inspired by what he saw from this Colorado town, that he decided to incorporate some of the designs and features into Main Street for all visitors to enjoy.

2.) The upper Poudre River was where the first episode of “Centennial” was filmed, as well as the filming location for portions of the television series “Walker: Texas Ranger.

3.) In the early 1900s, Fort Collins was known as the “Lamb Feeding Capital of the World.” Thousands of sheep were fed the leaves of sugar beet plants, courtesy of the abundant beet farming industry in this area at the time.

4.) It's illegal to ride a horse while under the influence in Fort Collins. Beware of those RUI’s...

5.) Colorado State 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.

6.) Fort Collins Utilities was the first in the state and among the first in the nation to offer its customers the option to purchase clean, renewable wind power in 1998. In 2010, Fort Collins Utilities introduced the Green Energy Program which allows customers to purchase renewable energy.

7.) More than 60,000 Canadian geese winter in Fort Collins each year.

8.) A Gold Medal Trout Route up the Poudre Canyon provides excellent fishing. An average of 170,000 pounds of trout are harvested out of Larimer County waters each year.

9.) During an average year, the sun shines in Fort Collins 300 days. Always remember to keep those shades handy!

10.)  Two movies, One on One (1977) and A League of Their Own (1992) included scenes filmed at Colorado State University.

11.) Some notable citizens from Fort Collins include actor Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Pat Stryker (billionaire heiress and philanthropist), Temple Grandin (professor, author), Pretty Lights (electronic artist), and actor John Ashton (MASH, Beverly Hills Cop).