In 1915 Spencer Penrose had an ambitious vision of turning Pikes Peak into a large tourist attraction for all travelers coming to Colorado Springs. He requested permission from the Secretary of Agriculture to reestablish a toll road to the summit of Pikes Peak. Penrose's request for $283,000 was granted and by the completion of the project in 1915 he spent $500,000 to upgrade the original carriage route so it could be used by automobiles.