This Quiet Colorado Town Lets You Choose a Viking-Style Funeral

We All Have One Thing in Common

There are two things we all have in common; we all are born and we all are going to die.

I know... it's morbid, but it's the truth.

Sometimes I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling and just think about what comes next.

Other times, I think about what my funeral will be like. Will it be a full on rager? Who will be the person that gives my eulogy? Will people actually cry?

If my younger sister doesn't weep, then I'm going to come down and haunt her.

What Happens to Our Remains After We Die?

Another thing about death that people think about, is what will happen to their remains.

People can be cremated, buried, or in one specific town in Colorado they can have a funeral pyre.

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What Is a Funeral Pyre?

Funeral pyres, also known as open-air cremations, are end of life ceremonies that we usually equate with Vikings.

A Tradition With Deep Roots

This tradition at its core is just "a pile of wood on the ground or on a stone base on which a body is burned," according to Beck Funerals.

Who Uses Funeral Pyres Today?

This is an accepted practice amongst followers of the Buddhist and Hindu religions, according to reports. It's seldom seen or heard of here in the United States.

Strict Regulations Around Cremation

Executing a funeral pyre is difficult here in North America. The disposal of bodies is highly regulated in many countries, including the U.S.

Also, to pull this sort of funeral off, you're going to need heat...a whole lot of it.

The Heat Requirements for Cremation

According to the Universal Life Church website, the process of cremating a body needs a fire that can burn at " 2,012 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of two hours.

It's tough to generate that sort of fire over a pyre. Due to these regulations and safety concerns, it's illegal to pull this type of end of life service off in most places.

Where Are Funeral Pyres Legal in the U.S.?

However, one town in Colorado might be one of if not the only town in the United States that you can actually execute a funeral pyre.

Inside Colorado’s Town That Allows Funeral Pyres

The town of Crestone, Colorado is one of the only places that you can legally have a funeral pyre. This hippie paradise is considered by some as "America's sacred spiritual center."

Meet the Crestone End of Life Project

This town of 139 people is home to the Crestone End of Life Project.

Described on its website as, "a non-denominational, non-profit organization promoting informed end-of-life choices and supporting their fulfillment for Saguache County residents."

One of the end-of-life options that they offer is open air cremation.

Want a Funeral Pyre in Colorado? Here’s What to Know

If this seems like something that might interest you or your loved ones, you have to take a few things into account.

This service is only available to Saguache County residents who lived in the area for more than three months and have registered with CEOLP prior to death.

According to their website, they are a volunteer organization so CEOLP only asks for "a small donation to cover hard costs."

Check out more information about this project and where this burial ground is here.

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