Yule Log Hunt brings hundreds to Beulah

It’s an annual tradition that’s been going on for more than six decades in the small mountain town of Beulah.

The annual Yule Log Hunt happened Sunday.

For Nan Hassey and Phil Hassey the event is a tradition. For the last three years, they brought out their goats to help hunt for the log.

“It’s a unique celebration finding the yule log, running around in the woods, it’s outdoors, I love that,” Nan Hassey said

The Hasseys and their pets are among the hundreds that come out to Beulah to find the holiday wood.

Organizers say the tradition started 63 years ago when a family from Beulah brought back a piece of wood from the Palmer Lake Yule Log Festival. Palmer Lake is north of Colorado Springs.

“It’s special partly because it’s rare. There aren’t that many places that do (yule log hunts) anymore,” organizer Lori Lara said.

This year, 18-year-old Taylor Denniston, from Pueblo West, won the log hunt.

“It wasn’t buried that far under, so I saw the notches on the bottom and I was excited,” she said.

After finding the log, Denniston cut it in half. She was toasted with cider and won a mug.