Entry No. 15 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: witchy
The Cauldron
A tiny self-described "mystical curiosity shop" on Ruxton Ave packed with oddities, talismans, and the kind of objects you can't quite explain owning.
The story
At 1 Ruxton Avenue, right where the street branches off Manitou Avenue and begins its climb toward Pikes Peak, sits a storefront so compact you could easily walk past it without noticing. The Cauldron calls itself a mystical curiosity shop, but what that actually translates to is a dense little enclave filled with hand-curated spell kits, crystals, herbs, candles, and loose pick-your-own incense sticks. It doesn't trade in touristy trinkets; the inventory leans squarely into actual metaphysical tools, handcrafted talismans, and the sort of unexplained pocket oddities you buy on impulse and end up keeping on your desk for years.
Manitou Springs has long served as a hub for alternative practitioners and oddity seekers, and this small shop sits right at the threshold of that local scene. Independent regional outfits like Serpent & Flame Candle Co. supply the shelves alongside ritual goods and herbs gathered for practical use. It functions best as an unpretentious starting point for a broader occult crawl—a place to pick up a small talisman or a bundle of incense before heading further up the block into the town's cluster of herbalists and witch shops.
What it's like
Step through the door and the smell of raw incense hits you before your eyes fully adjust to the packed shelves. The floor plan is tiny—three people standing by the crystal bins already constitutes a squeeze—so dodging the peak summer weekend crush by visiting on a quiet weekday morning pays off immediately. You'll find rows of pick-your-own incense sticks, jars of herbs, and tables of pocket stones meant to be sifted through slowly. Just don't get tempted by the empty street spaces out front: parking on Ruxton Avenue is strictly residential-permit only and relentlessly ticketed, so stash your car in a downtown municipal lot and walk to the foot of the hill.
The move: Poke through the oddities together and each pick out a small weird talisman for the other — then pair it with the witch shops up the street for a full Manitou crawl.
📍 Before you go The Cauldron sits at the very foot of Ruxton Avenue, right where it branches off Manitou Avenue at the heart of downtown — easy to walk past, so watch for the small storefront as the street begins to climb. Don't try to park on Ruxton itself (it's residential-permit only and ticketed); use a downtown city lot and stroll in. It's a tiny space, so a quieter weekday browse beats a packed summer-weekend crush. Pair it with the witch and metaphysical shops further up the block, and note that Ruxton runs on toward the Cog Railway and the Incline if you want to make a half-day of it.
- 📍 Manitou Springs
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1 Ruxton Ave, Manitou Springs, CO 80829
Hours: Confirm hours via the shop's listings before visiting.
Pair it with
- Hart & Horn — Walk further up the block to Angela Hartshorn's retail shop to move from browsing talismans to consulting a practitioner with 25 years of experience.
- Wise Roots Apothecary — Head around the corner to Canon Avenue, where herbalists craft custom ceremonial blends inside a candlelit 1880s church.
- Leechpit Records & Vintage — Drive east into West Colorado Springs to swap witchy supplies for vinyl crates, vintage clothing, and retro pop-culture oddities.
- Celebration Metaphysical Center — Head down toward Garden of the Gods Road to find a metaphysical center where local covens post business cards and readers work the back room.
Good to know
Where is The Cauldron located and where should I park?
It sits at 1 Ruxton Ave at the intersection of Ruxton and Manitou Avenues in downtown Manitou Springs. Do not park on Ruxton Avenue itself because it is residential-permit only; park in one of downtown Manitou's public paid lots and walk over.
What kinds of items does the shop sell?
The shop carries metaphysical goods and curiosities, including handcrafted spell kits, crystals, ritual candles, herbs, small talismans, and pick-your-own loose incense sticks.
How much time do I need for a visit?
The interior is very small, so a thorough browse usually takes 15 to 30 minutes, making it easy to pair with nearby shops or a walk up Ruxton Avenue.
What else is nearby on Ruxton Avenue?
Further up Ruxton Avenue you'll find additional metaphysical shops, as well as the trailheads for the Manitou Incline and the Pikes Peak Cog Railway depot.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Yelp · Facebook · hiveandhandle.com · dejavuesoterica.com
last checked: 2026-06-04