FAMED animated series South Park is thought to be inspired by a real-life town in the United States.
While the series' co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have never publicly acknowledged the theory, Colorado locals believe the cartoon draws inspiration from their town.
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Parker and Stone did meet while attending the University of Colorado and they set the animated South Park series in the state.
Fairplay, Colorado, is located within the South Park Valley and, at one time, was called South Park.
Situated about 85 miles southwest of Denver, Fairplay is a town of less than 800 people within Park County.
Its history dates back to the 1850s when it was settled as a mining town during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush.
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In 1869, the town was dubbed South Park City but was later renamed Fairplay in 1874.
Within the South Park Valley, Fairplay is nestled between 14,000-foot peaks and has several rivers nearby.
In 2009, South Park and the area around Fairplay were designated a National Heritage Area by Congress for their landscapes and history.
While the animated town of South Park doesn't exist in real life, many have claimed that Fairplay is similar in nature.
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For example, Fairplay has an annual Burro Days festival that draws about 10,000 visitors.
The festival features prizes, rides, and the well-known Running of the Burros.
One South Park episode from Season 2 featured a strikingly similar festival - but with cows instead of burros.
VISITING FAIRPLAY
Fairplay boasts plenty to do for those seeking to experience the supposed real-life version of the animated town.
For starters, South Park City is a historic museum that was constructed in the 1950s and pays homage to the town's mining roots.
The museum consists of 44 historic buildings and structures plus 60,000 artifacts dating from the 1860s to 1890s.
Visitors can walk through the old buildings as they were originally set up for an authentic mining town experience.
South Park City is open daily between May 15 and October 15.
For those who enjoy outdoor adventures, Fairplay Beach is not-to-be-missed.
The beach features a revitalized section of the South Platte River with a growing trout population.
Beachgoers can also try their luck searching for gold at designated panning spots.
Main Street and Front Street house most of the shops and restaurants in Fairplay.
Here, visitors will enjoy local cafes, restaurants, shops, and art galleries, in addition to bigger chain stores.
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Visitors will see that the town has angled many signs, businesses, and even merchandise on the idea that it's the real-life South Park.
There are a handful of hotels and campgrounds within Fairplay for those looking to stay for a few days or more.
