A Colorado Nutcracker

It’s Christmas Eve, 1907, at the beautiful Glen Eyrie home of railroad magnate and Colorado Springs founder Gen. William J. Palmer.

Excitement fills the castle. His daughters Elsie, Dorothy, and Marjorie have made a special effort to bring holiday cheer to their doting father who now uses a wheelchair due to a horseback riding accident in Garden of the Gods last year.

The Palmer family invited all the city’s founding families to the event – as well as world-renowned electrical scientist Nikola Tesla, who is staying at The Antlers Hotel and preparing some magic for the celebration.

Salvation Army workers are bringing local orphans to share in the festivities; the Palmers have spared no expense in providing food, toys, and delectable desserts for everyone.

When an unexpected snowstorm moves in during the evening, the General graciously invites all the guests to stay the night.

A young girl named Clara is captivated by all the happenings of the day.

She is thrilled by the sight of a beautiful dress she sees hanging in the storefront as she passes by The Antlers Hotel.

Nikola Tesla notices her almost immediately and decides that Clara is the worthy young lady on whom he should bestow the most extraordinary gift of the season – an enchanted Nutcracker doll!

Clara adores her gift and holds the Nutcracker doll in her arms as she falls asleep on the swing in the Great Hall.

At the stroke of midnight, she awakens to see a ferocious Rat King who came to challenge the Nutcracker Prince in battle.

Toy soldiers come to life to defend the Nutcracker Prince while the mouse army rallies behind their king.

When the Nutcracker Prince and the Rat King engage in mortal combat, Clara saves the Prince by distracting the Rat King at a critical moment in the battle.

Clara’s love and heroics set the Nutcracker Prince free from his spell, and he comes to life!

In gratitude, the Prince takes Clara through a wintery Garden of the Gods wonderland to the delightful Land of Sweets, where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy, Mother Nature, and other characters from the magical land.

Later, when Clara wakes up, she wonders, ‘Was it all just a beautiful dream?’ It doesn’t matter because she will never forget this remarkable Christmas Eve!