Entry No. 5 — the Pueblo file — filed under: outdoor-weird
Crestone Ziggurat
“In 2001 he sold the whole 60 acres to Tibetan Buddhists for ten dollars. They leave it open.”
The man who ran Pan Am and the FAA — and whose daughter became Queen Noor of Jordan — built himself a Babylonian ziggurat on a foothill outside Crestone in 1978, a private prayer tower in the one American town where that's unremarkable. Thirty feet of ochre-stuccoed concrete, a left-spiraling ramp with no railing, fourteeners in every direction. In 2001 Najeeb Halaby sold the whole 60 acres to Tibetan Buddhists for ten dollars. They leave it open.
The story
In 1978, Najeeb Halaby—former administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, head of Pan American World Airways, and father to the future Queen Noor of Jordan—decided what his private foothill plot south of Crestone really needed was a thirty-foot Babylonian prayer tower. Crestone was already starting to draw its reputation as a high-desert magnet for spiritual seekers, but erecting an ochre-stuccoed concrete ziggurat in a residential subdivision was a unique statement. Halaby built it as a personal meditation retreat overlooking the San Luis Valley, wrapping the exterior in a railing-less, left-spiraling ramp that climbed straight to the sky.
By 2001, Halaby transferred the entire property to local Tibetan Buddhists, signing over sixty surrounding acres for a single ten-dollar bill. Volunteers from the nearby Karma Thegsum Tashi Gomang center took over custodianship, keeping the ground open to anyone willing to make the trek. They left the structure exactly as Halaby built it, letting an ancient Mesopotamian architectural style blend into Crestone's collection of stupas, ashrams, and Zen centers.
What it's like
Follow Cordial Way into the Baca Grande subdivision until the dirt dead-ends at a tiny parking space that fits roughly three cars. A short, sandy foot-trail climbs the scrubby hill to the base of the tower. There are no guardrails on the spiraling concrete ramp, and at over 8,000 feet, the mountain wind whipping off the Sangre de Cristo fourteeners can take you by surprise—wear real shoes and watch your step as you wind your way to the top. Sit on the worn bench at the peak for sweeping views across the valley floor, or stick around after sunset to take advantage of the dark skies and absolute silence.
The move: Time your climb for sunset — take the railing-less spiral ramp slow, sit on the worn bench at the top, and watch the light leave the Sangre de Cristos together.
📍 Before you go The ziggurat stands at the end of Cordial Way in the Baca Grande subdivision just south of Crestone; the dirt lot below fits about three cars, and a short sandy footpath climbs the hill to the base. The spiral ramp has no railing and the hilltop catches serious wind, so wear real shoes and skip it in a storm. It is free, open to the public, and kept up by volunteers from the local Tibetan Buddhist center — treat it as a sacred site, not a jungle gym. From Pueblo it is roughly a two-hour drive into the San Luis Valley, so pair it with Crestone's stupas and temples or the Great Sand Dunes.
- 📍 Crestone
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: End of Cordial Way, Baca Grande subdivision, Crestone, CO 81131
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Tashi Gomang Stupa — Pair Halaby's ziggurat with a visit to Crestone's 42-foot Tibetan stupa nearby to see how different sacred architectural traditions sit along the same mountain base.
- Crestone Spiritual Centers Cluster — Use the ziggurat as a entry point to explore the surrounding valley edge, where dozens of global spiritual traditions operate side-by-side.
- UFO Watchtower — Trade the quiet, meditative atmosphere of the ziggurat for a trip down to the valley flatlands to scan the skies from a local viewing platform.
Good to know
Is there an admission fee or set hours?
It is free and open to the public, maintained by local Tibetan Buddhist center volunteers. Because hours and access can occasionally shift, confirm before driving out, and treat the site with quiet respect.
Where do you park and how do you reach the top?
Park in the small dirt lot at the end of Cordial Way. Walk the short sandy path up the foothill to the base, then follow the railing-less concrete ramp as it spirals around the tower to the top.
Is it safe to climb in bad weather?
No. The summit catches severe mountain winds and the narrow ramp has zero outer railing or wall. Skip the climb during high winds, rain, or winter ice storms.
Why is it considered a great stargazing spot?
Crestone's high elevation, thin mountain air, and distance from major municipal streetlights give the hilltop almost zero light pollution, making the summit bench a prime location for viewing the night sky.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · karmapastupa.org · southwestcontemporary.com · gazette.com · uncovercolorado.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-11