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After fierce competition Colorado Springs finally lands the Air Force Academy
Air Force Academy History
Search for Homes in near the AFA in Colorado Springs
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After WWII, the Air Force decided that they needed their own military school. A board was formed in 1950 that recommended the Air Force Academy be established without delay and 
also proposed that no less than 40% of their officers be academy graduates
But where to put it? Many cities and towns were lobbying for it, as it would bring an economic boom to whomever finally was able to call it their own. Colorado Springs really wanted it. After the war, with the soldiers all leaving Ft. Carson, the Springs was noticing a decline in population which meant apartments, homes and stores were vacant. Colorado Springs formed a chamber of commerce committee. The committee was led by John Love (later a three term governor). It also included Thayer Tutt, son of Charles Tutt Jr. who helped found The Broadmoor. Thayer knew all the top people making the decision as he himself had served at the Pentagon during the war.
Tutt was already lobbying to bring NORAD to the Springs and he wasted no time in lobbying for the Academy as well. The committee had even drawn up plans on what it would look like and sent them to Harry Truman. The site that the committee had chosen was turned down by the committee as they didn’t like it. However, one of the members took a drive and found the location to the north of the city. By 1952; however, nothing was accomplished and the board was disbanded.
In 1954, when Eisenhower was President, he started a second site committee and they narrowed the choices down to 3, including Colorado Springs. One place overwhelming opposed the academy as they were afraid it would ruin their tourist trade (Geneva, Wisconsin). The other chosen site, Alton Illinois was very divided and the public decided against allowing the academy to locate there.
While all this debate was going on, the city was making arrangements with the landowners to sell their land to the feds if Colorado Springs was chosen. The state of Colorado also agreed to pitch in 1 million dollars to help purchase the land.
Charles Lindberg even came out and tried flying in the high altitude and stated it was fit to fly.
On June 24, 1954, The Air Force announced the Air Force Academy would be located in Colorado Springs. Lowry Air Force Base would be home to the new students until the Academy could be built. The first students arrived at Lowry in July 1955.
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