Tourists caught in hail storm near Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- One day after strong storms, many people are still recovering from the hail that pummeled their cars and busted windows. One of the areas that got the worst of the storms was near the Broadmoor and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

David Greenspon and his kids are from Iowa, but they're no strangers to Colorado. However, they say Wednesday's weather took them by storm.

"It was amazing because the drops were about the size of water balloon and then each drop after that came with a little bit of hail and before you knew it, it was raining rocks," he said.

They were visiting Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, making their way up to the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, when they got the brunt of the rainstorm.

"As we started driving towards the shrine, the sky opened up and all hell broke loose," he said.

He says others around him tested their luck, but Greenspon and his sons helplessly waited out the storm for at least an hour as their car rental was battered by debris and golf ball-sized hail.

"I didn't want to drive for fear of damaging the vehicle. It looks like it has welts all over the hood and the roof and fenders. So I think the car will be given back to the Enterprise Rental Car with an insurance claim coming with it," Greenspon said.

Even after they got the opportunity to safely make their way back to the Broadmoor hotel where they were staying, he says the storm only continued.

"If you were outside walking, I think you would have been injured. I opened my door and window a couple of times and got hit by a couple of these things and it felt like they were bruising my body," he said.

Although damaging, Greenspon says it will be a storm to remember.