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Glenwood Springs Today
By the People, for the People
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Files for Bankruptcy After Fatal Accident Lawsuit
The Colorado theme park faces a $116 million wrongful death judgment following a 2021 incident that killed a 6-year-old girl.
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
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Glenwood Caverns Holdings LLC, the company that owns the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The decision comes after the park was served a nine-figure wrongful death judgment last year following the death of a 6-year-old guest on the Haunted Mine Drop attraction in September 2021.
Why it matters
The bankruptcy filing highlights the devastating impact of the fatal accident and subsequent lawsuit on the theme park's operations. The $116 million liability judgment far exceeds the park's ability to pay, putting hundreds of local jobs at risk and raising questions about the future of the popular tourist destination.
The details
In September 2021, a 6-year-old girl named Wongel Estifanos was killed on the Haunted Mine Drop ride at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. State investigators determined that park employees failed to properly secure the girl, resulting in her 110-foot fall to her death. Wongel's parents, Rahel and Dagne Estifanos, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the park, which went to trial in September 2025. A jury initially awarded the family $205 million in damages, which was later reduced to $116 million.
- In September 2021, Wongel Estifanos was killed on the Haunted Mine Drop ride at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.
- In October 2021, Wongel's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the park.
- In September 2025, a jury awarded the Estifanos family $205 million in damages, which was later reduced to $116 million.
- On February 9, 2026, Glenwood Caverns Holdings LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The players
Glenwood Caverns Holdings LLC
The company that owns and operates the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Wongel Estifanos
A 6-year-old girl who was killed in a fatal accident on the Haunted Mine Drop ride at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in September 2021.
Rahel and Dagne Estifanos
The parents of Wongel Estifanos, who filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park following their daughter's death.
What they’re saying
“The parents think it's just another maneuver for the out of state company that owns Caverns to avoid responsibility for the felonious killing of Wongel. It's unfortunate, but we're prepared for it and we'll make sure that the full truth comes out during the bankruptcy process.”
— Dan Caplis, Attorney representing the Estifanos family (PEOPLE)
What’s next
The bankruptcy process will determine the future of the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and how the Estifanos family's $116 million judgment will be addressed.
The takeaway
This tragic incident and the subsequent bankruptcy filing highlight the need for rigorous safety standards and accountability in the theme park industry, especially when it comes to the protection of young guests.
