Trivia question for Coloradons

[roadbuzz]

How do you pronounce the name of Estes Park, the town just east of Rocky Mtn. Natl. Park? Is it Es-teez, or Es-tes? I think I may have been pronouncing it wrong all these years. (As if it weren't obvious enough that I was a tourist.)

In return, here's one for foreigners traveling to the Appalachian mountains in the southeast... the third syllable of the word Appalachian is pronounced with a short "a" sound. The long "a" pronounciation possibly refers to a symphony by Aaron Copeland, or maybe an area of Pennsylvania.

Thanks,
'Buzz

[DnvrFox]

Es-tes

[Revenig]

I've only heard it pronounced "Es-tes" here in Colorado.

[TrekRider]

A husband and wife were en route a Hawaiian vacation. The man insisted the state name was pronounced "Ha wah ee" while the wife insisted it was "Ha vah ee." They argued and argued until the plane landed.

They stopped the first local and asked him "Is it pronounced 'Ha wah ee' or "Ha vah ee?" The man said "Ha vah ee." The wife looked extremely pleased and said "Thank you." The local replied "You're velcome."

The moral of the story is ask 50 people in Colorado how Estes Park is pronounced and you are likely to get 35 answers.

I am a native of Colorado, born and raised in Denver. Friends of ours had a cabin near Estes Park and we visited there often. The "correct" pronounciation, that is the way the overwhelming people I encountered pronounced it is "Ess - tess."

[roadbuzz]

Thanks, all! Good (and entertaining) analogy, TrekRider. The only people I've heard use the es-teez pronounciation were fellow tourists.

One more question... what is the proper spelling of the name for someone from Colorado. I'm pretty sure it's not the one in this thread title.

[TrekRider]

Thanks, all! Good (and entertaining) analogy, TrekRider. The only people I've heard use the es-teez pronounciation were fellow tourists.

One more question... what is the proper spelling of the name for someone from Colorado. I'm pretty sure it's not the one in this thread title.

I always saw it as "Coloradan."

[DnvrFox]

I always saw it as "Coloradan."

Yes, there was a big debate between "Coloradoan" and "Coloradan" a few years back, and I believe the legislature, in its infinite wisdom, voted "Coloradan"

Wait till you hear the local pronunciations of

"Pueblo"

and

"Buena Vista"

Those two beautiful names are pronounced locally as

Pee-A-blow

and

Buu-nee Vista

Ugh

[roadbuzz]

Pee-A-blow

We have a Buena Vista in Virginia. It's pronounced Byoonuh Vista. Any pronounciation approaching Spanish will just get you funny looks. Here in Charlottesville, we have a Rio road. It's pronounced Rye-oh. The name has nothing to do with a river. One theory is that it was originally Route 10 (R10), and it looked like RIO on the map.

And, if you're ever in the Old Dominion and trying to get to Buchanon or Staunton, ask for directions to "Buckannen" (that's buck, as in male deer)or "Stanton."

TrekRider can probably chime in about some in his neighborhood. Do people actually enunciate Ann Arundel? Or Baltimore?

[TrekRider]

Wait till you hear the local pronunciations of...

This is an oldie but a goodie:

A salesman was traveling through southeastern Colorado and stopped for gas. He said to the attendant, "Nice little town, La Gunta." The attendant said "Around here, we pronounce the J's like H's, so its pronounced 'La Hunta'."

The man said, thanks, and that he'd probably be back later in the year, perhaps around "Hune or Huly."

[UnsafeAlpine]

For the OP, it's pronounced Est-iss Park.

Glad to help.

[jsharr]

I would answer, but all ya'll would just say "Go back to Texas, you idjut"

[Hobartlemagne]

ESS-tess pawrkkkkkkch'

[hos13]

Es-tes

correct

[skinnyone]

S(Like you would pronounce S when saying the alphabet)-tes park. At least that is how recall it.

As for part two denverfox has it right. The CU alumni mag is called coloradan as well if I recall. Personally I dont like it.

[DnvrFox]

10-28-03, 04:07 PM

2003

Sheesh!

I think most folks on this thread are dead now!