
Yo, West Coast fam, let’s take a quick detour from the Hollywood red carpet to the rugged landscapes of Colorado for a story that’s straight out of a sci-fi flick. You’ve probably heard of Philip K. Dick, the legendary author whose mind-bending tales inspired blockbusters like Blade Runner, Total Recall, and Minority Report. But did you know this literary genius is buried in the Centennial State, even though he never called it home?
Dick passed on March 2, 1982, and instead of a glitzy LA send-off, he was laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery in Fort Morgan, Colorado. That’s right - a small town vibe far from the SoCal spotlight. The question buzzing louder than a Venice Beach street performer is: why Colorado? Stick with us as we unravel this mystery with some serious Rocky Mountain intrigue.
Here’s where the plot thickens like a Malibu sunset drama. Philip K. Dick was born prematurely alongside his twin sister, Jane, who tragically didn’t make it past infancy. At the time of her passing, the Dick family was in the middle of a cross-country move from Chicago to San Francisco, with no deep roots left in the Windy City.
Their fraternal grandparents, who lived in Fort Morgan - a quiet spot about 80 miles northeast of Denver for those not in the know - stepped in. It’s believed the family chose to bury Jane there as a sort of midway point between their old and new lives. Later, when Dick’s grandparents passed, they joined Jane in the same cemetery, setting the stage for Philip’s eventual resting place.
"I’ve always felt a deep connection to my twin, even in my stories - it’s like she’s been with me all along," Philip K. Dick once mused in his writings, hinting at a bond beyond life itself.
Now, let’s get into some real head-scratcher territory. Philip K. Dick often wove his late twin sister into his stories, sometimes flipping the script by portraying himself as the one who’d passed while Jane lived on. It’s almost like he was foreshadowing his own final chapter in Fort Morgan.
Many fans and scholars reckon Dick had always planned to be buried beside Jane, a poetic reunion with the sibling he never got to know. This eerie connection makes his Colorado burial feel less random and more like a scripted ending straight out of one of his own novels. Talk about life imitating art!
While we’re on the topic of Colorado surprises, let’s chat about the A-list crowd that’s traded Hollywood Hills for Rocky Mountain highs. It’s no secret that stars like Tim Allen, born in Denver, and the South Park masterminds Trey Parker and Matt Stone still rep the state hard. Parker and Stone even own a pad in Steamboat Springs - word is, Trey once had a wild poolside encounter with a moose there!
Then you’ve got heavy hitters like Tom Cruise chilling in Telluride, Metallica’s James Hetfield rocking a mansion in Vail Valley, and Oprah Winfrey with a sprawling estate near the same area. From Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn’s longtime Aspen digs to Kevin Costner’s mountain retreat, Colorado is basically Hollywood’s secret hideout.
Don’t sleep on the homegrown talent either. Amy Adams grew up in Castle Rock, just south of Denver, while Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Chapman films around the same turf where he lives. And if you’re into music, keep an eye out for Big Head Todd Park Mohr or even Rise Against recording at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins.
Colorado’s also got a rep for drawing in legends like Ringo Starr, who owns a ranch outside Aspen, and Dierks Bentley, who’s got a Telluride spot and a song to match. Whether it’s skiing in Vail or hitting the music scene, this state’s got more star power than a Hollywood premiere. So, next time you’re grabbing a craft brew in Denver, don’t be shocked if you bump into a familiar face!
Let’s not forget the historical heavyweights tied to Colorado. Former President Gerald R. Ford had an 11,000-square-foot ski lodge in Beaver Creek - talk about presidential perks! And then there’s the darker side, with notorious figures like Ted Bundy, who spent time in Colorado jails (and even escaped from one in Aspen) after his crimes in the area.
From literary icons like Hunter S. Thompson, who called Owl Farm home, to modern-day celebs, Colorado’s got stories for days. So whether you’re chasing sci-fi mysteries like Philip K. Dick’s burial or hoping to spot Arnold Schwarzenegger on a Loveland visit, the Centennial State is serving up drama hotter than a SoCal summer day.