Entry No. 63 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: hands-on
Kilroy's Workshop
Kilroy's is an 11,000-square-foot blacksmithing and welding trade school packed with coal and gas forges, power hammers, presses, 28 anvils, and heat-treat ovens. Its real claim to fame: more than 30 people who teach or train here have competed on the History Channel's Forged in Fire, with 13 calling Kilroy's their home forge. Beginner blacksmithing classes have you firing a forge past 2,000 degrees, heating steel, and hammering out a piece — or learning to make an actual blade — on an anvil. No experience required.
The story
Tucked into an industrial flex park off McClain Point in East Colorado Springs, Kilroy's Workshop didn't start in a polished commercial district. Founder Ron Hardman opened the original operation inside an airport hangar out in Falcon before expanding into this 11,000-square-foot trade school and metalworking lab. Walk through the bay doors and the sheer volume of metal hits you immediately: coal and gas forges line the floor alongside hydraulic presses, power hammers, heat-treat ovens, and 28 heavy steel anvils.
What functions as an open community makerspace doubles as one of the country's densest hubs for high-stakes bladesmithing. More than 30 people who teach or train on these floors have competed on the History Channel's Forged in Fire, with 13 calling Kilroy's their home forge—including Hardman, who won his own televised championship episode. The shop handles high-level production work, including securing the exclusive contract to forge official military sabers for the U.S. Air Force Academy, but the quiet secret of the operation is that you don't need a single day of trade experience to step up to an anvil.
Classes are built for complete novices starting at age nine. In a typical session, you're assigned your own forge station, firing gas jets past 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, drawing glowing high-carbon steel from the flame, and shaping metal by hand. It's a rare slice of heavy industrial craft where absolute beginners work shoulder-to-shoulder with televised champion smiths.
What it's like
Step through the industrial doors of Unit 110 and you're immediately met with radiant heat, roaring gas burners, and the rhythmic ringing of steel. The instructors skip lengthy lectures and get you working metal within minutes, standing right beside your forge station to guide your hammer angle. Leave synthetic clothing at home—you need 100% natural fibers like heavy cotton or denim so stray sparks won't melt your clothes, along with sturdy closed-toe shoes. Class slots fill weeks ahead online, so book early, bring a water bottle to fight the ambient heat, and prepare for your forearms to feel the work the next morning.
The move: Heat steel in a roaring forge and hammer out a blade or small forged object side by side at the anvil.
📍 Before you go Register online; classes for ages 9 through adult. Closed-toe shoes and natural-fiber clothing recommended for the forge.
- 📍 East Colorado Springs (McClain Point)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 7363 McClain Point, Unit 110, Colorado Springs, CO 80915
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Elev8 Premier Glass Studio — Pair flame-forged steel with torch-blown borosilicate glass for an intensely physical craft day on the east side.
- The Control Room — Trade heavy hammer swings for retro arcade cabinets, pinball, and spiked slushies just three miles down the road.
- Escaped In Time — Transition from shaping hot iron to testing your group's puzzle-solving skills in custom, veteran-designed escape rooms nearby.
- Novis Mortem Collective (classes by The Terrorium Shop) — Contrast the loud heat of heavy metalwork with a quiet downtown workshop focused on insect pinning or plant taxidermy.
Good to know
Do I need prior blacksmithing or welding experience to take a class?
None at all. Beginner classes are designed for absolute first-timers, walking you through safety, forge management, and basic hammer technique step-by-step.
What should I wear to a workshop at Kilroy's?
You must wear closed-toe shoes and natural-fiber clothing like cotton or denim. Synthetic fabrics like polyester can melt when struck by hot scale or stray sparks.
What is the minimum age to participate?
Kilroy's offers classes for ages nine through adult, making forge work accessible to kids, teens, and adults.
Can I walk in, or do I need to register in advance?
You must register online ahead of time, as forge stations and anvils are strictly capped for every session.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · Tripadvisor · gazette.com
last checked: 2026-06-23