View source for Crestone, Colorado

==Spiritual and intellectual centers==
[[File:Haidakhandefwary.JPG|thumb|upright|The [[deity]] Haidakhandeshwari in the temple of the Haidakhandi Universal Ashram near Crestone]]

Crestone has become internationally known as a locus for a diverse range of religious and spiritual traditions. Accommodating of spiritual pilgrims and eco-tourists is the major industry in Crestone. The town's development as a spiritual and intellectual center was initiated by Maurice Strong, a multimillionaire businessman and [[United Nations]] Undersecretary, and his wife, Hanne Marstrand Strong. Using land acquired from the corporations Strong controlled, they established the Manitou Foundation and Manitou Institute. According to its website, the institute "provides grants and some financial support in Crestone/Baca, Colorado to qualified religious and spiritual projects." The foundation granted land in the area to several spiritual and intellectual centers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brady |first1=Tracy Lynn |title=Kivas, cathedrals and energy seats: The making of religious landscapes in the upper Rio Grande Valley |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/2857b41c695a92506e361f80c97c4a8b/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y |publisher=University of Colorado at Boulder (PhD Thesis) |access-date=April 7, 2021 |date=2004}}</ref>

Crestone is one of only a handful of places in the United States where open-air funeral pyres are legally permitted. Since 1998, over 75 individuals have been cremated on an open-air pyre in Crestone.<ref name=":0" />

Spiritual centers in Crestone:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Religion
!Organization
!Sect
|-
! rowspan="1" | [[Zen|Buddhist (Zen)]]
|'''Crestone Mountain Zen Center''' founded by [[Zentatsu Richard Baker]]
|[[Sōtō]]
|-
! rowspan="6" |[[Tibetan Buddhism|Buddhist (Tibetan)]]
|'''Dharma Ocean Retreat Center''' founded by [[Reginald Ray]]
|[[Karma Kagyu]]
|-
|'''Karma Thegsum Tashi Gomang''' founded by the [[Rangjung Rigpe Dorje|16th Karmapa]]
|[[Karma Kagyu]]
|-
|'''Mangala Shri Bhuti''' founded by [[Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche]]
|[[Nyingma]]
|-
|'''Vajra Vidya''' founded by [[Thrangu Rinpoche]]
|[[Karma Kagyu]]
|-
|'''Yeshe Khorlo''' founded by Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche
|[[Nyingma]]
|-
|'''Yeshe Rangsal Retreat Center''' founded by Tsokyni Rinpoche
|[[Drukpa Kagyu]]
|-
! rowspan="3" |[[Hindu]]
|'''Haidakhandi Universal Ashram'''<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.babajiashram.org/about-us |publisher=Babaji Ashram |access-date=April 7, 2021}}</ref>
|[[Haidakhan Babaji]]
|-
|'''Sri Aurobindo Learning Center'''
|[[Sri Aurobindo]]
|-
|'''Temple of Consciousness Ashram'''
|[[Humanity in Unity]]
|-
! rowspan="5" | Other
|'''Academy of On'''
|[[Academy of On]]
|-
|'''Chamma Ling''' founded by [[Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche]]
|[[Bön]]
|-
|'''Center for Contemplative Research'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the CCR Mission - Center for Contemplative Research |url=https://centerforcontemplativeresearch.org/about-ccr-mission/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=centerforcontemplativeresearch.org |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Interfaith dialogue|Interfaith]]
|-
|'''The Shumei International Institute in Crestone Colorado'''
|[[Shumei International Institute]]
|}

Intellectual and spiritual centers of historical interest:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Nature of organization
!Organization
!Type of organization
|-
! rowspan="1" | [[Nonprofit organization]]
| Manitou Foundation and Manitou Institute<ref name="ManHist">{{cite web |title=History of the Manitou Foundation |url=https://www.manitou.org/foundation/history/ |website=manitou.org |publisher=Manitou Institute |access-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027172547/https://www.manitou.org/foundation/history/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
|
|- 
! rowspan="1" | New age think tank
|'''[[Lindisfarne Association]]'''
|[[New Age]]
|-
! rowspan="1" |[[Liberalism|Liberal think tank]]
|'''[[Aspen Institute]]'''
|-
! rowspan="1" | [[Liberal arts college]]
|Baca Campus of [[Colorado College]]<ref name="CCBaca">{{cite web |title=Global Education and Field Study |url=https://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/globalandfieldstudy/fieldstudy/the-baca-grande/ |website=coloradocollege.org |publisher=Colorado College |access-date=October 8, 2022 |quote=...the College leased three condominium units and the conference center from the Aspen Institute and a fundraising campaign was initiated. In 1990, [with the help of a trustee], a townhouse, the conference center, and adjacent land was purchased. |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008222655/https://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/globalandfieldstudy/fieldstudy/the-baca-grande/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="1" |[[Christianity|Christian]]
|'''[http://www.spirituallifeinstitute.org The Spiritual Life Institute and Nada Hermitage Retreat Center]'''
|[[Carmelite|Roman Catholic (Carmelite)]]<ref name="CCS">{{cite web |title=CCS History |url=https://www.crestone-charter-school.org/ccs-history |website=crestone-charter-school.org |publisher=Crestone Charter School |access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="1" |[[Primary education|Primary]] and [[Secondary school|Secondary]]
|'''[https://www.crestone-charter-school.org/ The Crestone Charter School]'''
|[[Charter schools in the United States|Charter School]]
|-
|'''The Church Ministry of Mother of All Creation'''
|[[Love Has Won]]
|}