What Colorado’s Candy Makers Did When They Weren’t Making Candy

Colorado has been the birthplace of a number of household products that, today, are known throughout the world. Some of these include the iconic Coors beer and a handful of other beverages produced by Coors Brewing Co., Otterbox phone cases, Chipotle Southwest Grill restaurants, and even though not every Coloradan is necessarily proud of it, Crocs originated in the Centennial State as well.

Read More: Historic Colorado Ice Cream Shop Evolved into Iconic Candy Maker |

In Western Colorado, the Enstrom Candies brand is widely known and loved, but many may be surprised to discover that a candy brand found at every grocery store, convenience store, and big box store has origins in Colorado as well.

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Today, the Jolly Rancher brand of candy is world-famous, but its origins date back many years to a Colorado couple who, after numerous attempts to discover their calling, stumbled upon hard candy gold.

Colorado Couple's Many Pursuits Prior to Inventing Jolly Rancher Candies

In 1942, husband and wife Bill and Dorothy Harmsen moved from their home in Minnesota to Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

At the time, Bill was a commercial pilot with Continental Airlines, and Dorothy began her own business growing and selling a variety of fruits and flowers.

After some time, the couple decided to build a woodworking shop in order to build and sell their creations, which mostly consisted of homemade beds for dolls and wooden cocktail trays.

The Harmsens's next pursuit saw them entering into the sweets industry, where they began making and selling their own brand of ice cream, which later evolved into a candy business where they specialized in boxed chocolates.

Finally, after inventing what was originally known as Fire Stix, the Harmsens saw success with hard candy, and the Jolly Rancher was born.