MORRISON- The massive cross that sits on the east side of Mount Lindo in Morrison has not been lit up since lightning struck it last summer. Now, there is a plan by the Olinger Mount Lindo Cemetery to restore the cross and light it up once again.
The cross has been hit with innumerable lightning strikes and has recently become subject to target practice by shooters in the valley below.
"People shoot at them with rifles. And once it takes a neon out, it takes a transformer out and then you get all kinds of problems," said Mike Walters, director of operations for Gordon Sign.
The restoration plan is to replace the neon lights with LED lights which use a fraction of the power, thus wreaking less havoc on the electrical system when the lights go out.
"LED's will fix that. You can shoot the LED's, it'll take out a string of LED's but you are not going to have the fires," Walters said.
The cross is 393 feet high and 254 feet across. It can be seen for miles. Some say they use the cross as a weather indicator while driving on 285.
Mount Lindo was owned by a man named Francis VanDeber starting in the 1940s. He wanted to be buried on the serene land upon his death. He also wanted a large cross to be lit up near his burial site so his wife could see him from her east Denver home. So on Easter of 1964 the cross was installed. Shortly after the land was sold to the Olinger family and was subsequently turned into a cemetery.
"It is a shining light. Families that are buried up here, they actually look to the cross and know that their family members are up there. It gives them a quick view, to say a little prayer to them, or whatever that may be," said Gill Giddens, general manager of the cemetery.
There is no set date for the restoration but the plan is to complete the new cross sometime this year. The 19 boxes and lights will be completely replaced. Electricians are currently working on a temporary fix for the neon lights.
Since the cross is on private property, Olinger will pay for the repairs.
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