Bonspiel Info
The 100th Anniversary Spiel will be the final bonspiel of the 24-25 season.
- Three games are guaranteed, and teams that qualify for the playoffs will play more.
- The first draw will be on Friday at 6:00 PM, and the last draw will be on Sunday afternoon. Due to Saturday youth classes, there will be no morning games on Saturday (May 3).
- Saturday evening will feature a World's Fair-themed potluck and entertainment.
- Sign up as an individual or in pairs. We will create fun and evenly-matched teams of four to represent the decades of Rock Creek Curling's history.
- Both new and experienced Rock Creek curlers are welcome and encouraged to play.
- $100 per curler.
- 2x 100th Anniversary Celebration Pins are included with registration!
A History of Rock Creek Curling: 1924
In 1924, a happy accident forever altered the trajectory of Boulder County sports. Children working the coal mines in Lafayette stumbled upon a rich vein of Blue Hone granite deep in the Vulcan Shaft near present-day South Public Road.
When they surfaced with their find, the town elders decreed that the granite be shaped into curling stones for use by the children, as a matter of fairness. Thus America's first Junior Curling program was born, a full year before any actual curling happened in the state of Colorado!
1925
On May 3, 1925, the first curling match in Colorado history took place on the frozen surface of Rock Creek. Memorialized in the attached Daily Camera article, the match lasted 4.5 hours and ended in an 8-3 victory for the green team.
The locals had a wonderful time, but were frustrated by the constant interference of the creek's abundant greenback cutthroat trout. In response, the Rock Creek Curling organization was incorporated that very day to begin exploring options for building a permanent indoor curling facility in Boulder County.
1943
Little is known about Rock Creek Curling's early years, save that the Juniors program thrived on the frozen shores. But historical photographs show that in January 1943, Rock Creek Curling founded America's first Women's Curling League.
The so-called Rosie Curlers gathered every Saturday afternoon to continue the curling traditions of Lafayette after the Juniors were called to war.
1952
During the early 1950s, Rock Creek Curling sought to expand its reach and welcome home returning veterans. RCC commissioned a catchy 15-second radio jingle designed to attract new members to the sport of curling. With its infectious melody and memorable lyrics, this jingle quickly became a local sensation, boosting RCC's visibility.
However, this visibility also brought unexpected challenges. Amidst the rising tide of McCarthyism, both the growing membership and the traditional red and yellow stone handles drew unwanted attention, sparking accusations of communist sympathies. Rock Creek Curling made a decisive change to safeguard its reputation and protect its members: adopting new green and gold handles. These new colors, symbolizing Colorado's natural beauty and the promise of American prosperity, became a lasting emblem of RCC's resilience.
Listen to the 1952 Rock Creek Curling Jingle
(Thank you to Boulder County Historian Sean Quinn Marlow for contributing this research.)
1977
In 1977, curling was struggling in Boulder County. The rise of Disco had decimated potential curlers' free time. Something had to be done.
Rock Creek Curling's answer was to introduce what is now a familiar face: Creekie the Rock Creek Curling Trout. Creekie's Spirit of Curling was a beacon by the frozen creek, inspiring a new generation to take up the roaring game.
1993
The early 1990s marked a dynamic period for Rock Creek, and curling remained a cherished tradition in Boulder County. With a sharp focus on youth development, the Junior Curling program flourished, bringing an entire new generation into the fold.
As competition intensified, Rock Creek teams began making waves at regional and national tournaments, firmly embedding curling in Colorado’s sports scene. While many retreated indoors to their video game consoles, Rock Creek kept the sport thriving on the ice. The rugged style of grunge—flannel shirts and baggy jeans—became as iconic on the creek as the curlers themselves, inspiring the first official Rock Creek team outfits
(Thank you to Boulder County Historian Sean Quinn Marlow for contributing this research.)
2021
In 2021, Rock Creek Curling moved indoors. After 97 long years on the Creek, Boulder County's curling community finally had a roof over its head.
In the years since moving into its new home, RCC has remained prominent on the national curling scene, hosting the annual Colorado Curling Cup World Curling Tour event; the 2023-2025 U18 National Championships; the 2024 Everest North American Club Curling Championships; and the 2025 USA Curling Mixed Doubles Olympic Team Trials.
The Baumgarten Archives
Local historian Alex Baumgarten has unearthed a treasure trove of Rock Creek History. These photographs and scans of artifacts document the progress of RCC from the earliest days through the (controversial) opening of the dedicated curling facility on Overlook Drive.
Missing History
Considerable progress has been made to unearth Rock Creek Curling's rich history as the 100th Anniversary Celebration approaches. But we need your help!
Much of RCC's history and lore have not yet been uncovered. You yourself may be holding onto a vital piece of the puzzle, be it an old photograph, newspaper article, or physical artifact that we have yet to discover.
If you have anything to contribute to this project, please promptly send it to Andy Carle, Rock Creek Curling's Curler in Residence and Lead Historian.