Apartments near US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO (529 Rentals)
Colorado Springs, CO Local Guide
Browse Top Apartments in Colorado Springs
Explore Colorado Springs
Let everyone know!
Do you know the Colorado Springs area?
If you’re an expert on all things Colorado Springs, tell us what you love (and don't) by rating it and writing a review.
Write a Review
There is plenty of natural beauty that you can see from your Colorado Springs apartment location, but the man-made beauty of the US Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel is something you don't want to miss. The base itself is very enlightening and beautiful, and features a great visitor's center with a short trail to the chapel. This is not recruitment for the US Air Force, but merely an encouragement to see the great mission of the U.S. The visitor's center is an impressive 31,000 square feet, with exhibits, a theater, gift shop and snack bar. It was named after Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater by the private organizations that funded it for his avid support of the academy. The exhibits focus on the history and current culture of the four "pillars of excellence" of academy life for the cadets in training: character development, academic, athletic and military training. Video and static displays feature information regarding the current and past achievements of the academy. The 250 seat theater shows a 14 minute movie that highlights the academy experience, showing the daily lives of cadets and their expectations. At the gift shop, active and retired military receive a discount on memorabilia, t-shirts and caps that prove that the visitor has been there! A snack shop has that exactly, snacks for after you take the short hike to the Chapel. The Cadet Chapel is one third mile away on a paved trail. It is downhill to the chapel, but the way back to your car is of course uphill, so you may want to wear comfortable shoes. It is an incredible piece of architecture worth seeing. It appears as a dozen or so fighter jets, nose up, about to take off. Inside is beautiful as well, with well placed stain glass windows streaming in light. If it's nearby to your Colorado Springs apartment, you may want to attend a Protestant service there. For an exciting lesson on military formation, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the cadets do a formal march to lunch at noon on the Terrazzo Parade (you'll get a map when you enter). You may see it from the Honor Court wall or the wall surrounding the Chapel during the academic year, mid-August to mid-May. You can get to the Academy easily from Interstate 25, just take exit 156B, and signs will direct you to the visitor's center. It's open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. The chapel will occasionally be closed for private weddings or memorial services, so if you're intent upon seeing it, make sure you call in advance. The only five days of the year that the visitor's center is closed are Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year 's Day. Be prepared to show your driver's license with your Colorado Springs address on it at the gate, and your car is also subject to a brief search. Attention! Enjoy.