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Mountain News: Telluride embraces visitor-based economy

TELLURIDE, Colo. - After seeing the real estate-based economy crash, Telluride is ready to embrace a visitor-based economy. But just what that visitor-based economy looks like isn't entirely clear.

TELLURIDE, Colo. - After seeing the real estate-based economy crash, Telluride is ready to embrace a visitor-based economy. But just what that visitor-based economy looks like isn't entirely clear.

The Telluride Daily Planet reports that a task force has been convened to examine the options.

"Overdependence on a housing starts- and housing sales-based economy is not sustainable," San Miguel County Commissioner Joan May said at a recent gathering devoted to the community's future economic foundation. "It has not proved to be resilient or sustainable either for the community or the environment."

But tourism has its deficiencies, too. Mike Rozycki, planning director for the county, questioned whether tourism would furnish the community with enough high-paying jobs to live in Telluride.

Another question involves seasonality. Despite the best efforts for now two generations, most ski towns remain essentially just that. Summer business has perked up, and in some places, the shoulder seasons have become somewhat lively. But winter overshadows all else.

Seth Cagin, publisher of The Telluride Watch, says ski resorts within driving distance of major metropolitan areas are different than destination resorts such as Sun Valley and Telluride, which are well off the beaten path.

"Figuring out the model for high-end destination resorts in remote locations - I am not sure anyone has that completely dialed in," said Cagin. "But I think the recession has provided plenty of evidence that while real estate sales and development will undoubtedly be part of the solution in the long run, they can't be the dominant feature of your economy."

He also said that the dramatic economic decline in Telluride also proves that the community, contrary to its self-perception as a place of enlightenment, still has some things to learn.

Bob Delves, the mayor of Mountain Village, the slope-side town above Telluride, noted that the task force got together on the assumption that "our community is not broken, but it could be."

Will Europeans and Brits return?

VAIL, Colo. - Europeans shied away from Vail, Aspen and other international resorts last winter. Will they come this winter, now that the dollar sags so significantly against the pound and the euro?

It's an open question, says Ralf Garrison, co-owner of the Mountain Travel Research Program. A well-publicized snowstorm, however, would go a long ways to drawing the Europeans, he tells the Vail Daily .

Johannes Faessler, a hotelier in Vail, said improved exchange rates do boost business at his hotel, the Sonnenalp. But even European travellers have been mimicking their American counterparts in booking closer to the time they intend to travel, he said.

 

Aspen particulate count so-so

ASPEN, Colo. - As measured by microscopic particulates, Aspen's air quality is better than many other ski towns of Colorado. A new report for 2008 shows Aspen having fewer of the particulates, called PM-10, than Crested Butte, Breckenridge, Durango, and Telluride.

But several Front Range cities, including Boulder, Longmont, and Colorado Springs have better readings, as do some sites within Denver itself.

Go figure.

Lee Cassin, Aspen's environmental health director, said Aspen's high PM-10 levels are caused almost exclusively by cars and trucks.

Starting this winter, reports The Aspen Times , city officials will be monitoring the ozone. Aspen Mountain showed the highest ozone reading ever measured on the Western Slope.

There may be some link between the ozone and drilling in the gas fields to the west of the ozone, although scientists in similar cases across the West say they just need better data.

 

Greenhouse emissions continue to rise

DURANGO, Colo.-While much has been made about China's growing air pollution, Colorado has also rapidly increased its emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. The Durango Telegraph notes a new study by Environment Colorado that finds Colorado fifth nationwide for growth in greenhouse gases since 1990. That increase was based on fossil fuel consumption, but also corresponds closely with population growth. Arizona led the nation in growth in greenhouse gases.

 

Record year for foreclosures

JACKSON, Wyo. - It's been a record year for foreclosures in Teton County, with 127 auctions scheduled that had combined starting bids of $80.3 million. The Jackson Hole News & Guide notes that the county historically has had few foreclosures.

First marijuana dispensary opens

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. - Medicine Man, the first medical marijuana dispensary in Breckenridge, has opened for business in an upstairs office along the town's Main Street. The company offers an array of buds, hash and edibles, such as suckers and brownie balls.

Company employees tell the Summit Daily News that the store is the caregiver for about a half-dozen medical marijuana cardholders. Those strolling in to buy marijuana, however, will be required to fill out an application that is 10 pages long.

In response to the federal government's decisions not to enforce laws against medical marijuana, Colorado towns have taken a wide array of actions. Some have permitted dispensaries within their towns, others have adopted moratoriums pending adoption of state rules, while others have flat out banned dispensaries.

Winter Park has banned dispensaries. Town manager Drew Nelson told the Sky-Hi Daily News that this protects Winter Park while awaiting further direction from the state government.

Breckenridge allows dispensaries, but with conditions: none near schools or solely residential properties and neither are they allowed on the ground floor of a downtown building.

Applications for two more stores have been approved, and two more applications are pending, town officials tell the Daily News.

 

No driving to this St. Regis

PARK CITY, Utah - The St. Regis, a five-star hotel located in one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods of Deer Valley, has now opened, and company officials insist it is more of an elite property than the St. Regis in Aspen.

How elite is it? Well, in Aspen, you can drive to the front door. But most visitors to the St. Regis at Deer Valley will be required to take a funicular from the parking lot. Although common in Europe, North America has few funiculars. The device is affixed to a cable and works well for transportation up steep grades.

"It's not that much different than an elevator, but far more spectacular," said Michael Zaccaro, managing partner of the ownership group Deer Crest Janna.

There had been some rumours in Park City last summer that the hotel might be in trouble. Like most hotels today, it's also a real estate play. Zaccaro acknowledged the talk, reports the Park Record, noting that the condominium-hotel industry was "given a black eye by the start of the recession." But, he added, the financial structure of the hotel is incredibly sound. The closings are now occurring at a rate that has soothed fears.

For Deer Valley, this is the third five-star hotel, with another one still in construction. The oldest hotel, the Stein Eriksen Lodge, recently completed a 20,000-square-foot spa.

 

It's not big news, but...

KETCHUM, Idaho - With so little good news to come by, tourism officials at Sun Valley pounced on the improved bookings for direct flights into the local airport. At last, the reservations have caught up with last year.

Carol Waller, director of the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau, admitted that last year's mark was abnormally low, so breaking it wasn't a great shake. "But we're all tired of bad news," she told the Idaho Mountain Express.

 

Water diversion plans opposed

GRANBY, Colo. - Residents of Middle Park - the area around Winter Park, Grand Lake and Kremmling, where the Colorado River originates - were in no way happy at a recent hearing about potential diversions of water to metropolitan Denver.

"If you had the opportunity to live with a beautiful river in your backyard, wouldn't you fight to save every stinkin' drop of water in that river," asked Gary Redfield, referring to the Fraser River, a tributary to the Colorado. "The idea to kill the Fraser River for (Denver's) future growth is the worst idea I have ever heard."

Primarily because of its fast-growing suburbs to the south, Denver wants to dip its wick into the valley for an additional 18,000 acre-feet of diversions per year through the Moffat Tunnel.

Already, more than half of the water originating in those headwater rivers is diverted over or through the Continental Divide to farms and cities from Denver through Boulder, Greeley and Fort Collins.

Redfield, who wants to preserve his backyard river, thinks the better solution is to impose drastic cuts in lawns, which consume the largest portion of municipal supplies. He figures 200 square feet of lawn, or a space of about 10 by 20 feet, should be sufficient for a house. That's about what is allowed in Las Vegas.

At least some state officials have agreed with Redfield's general idea, if not his precise limit. And, for the record, Denver has used various devices - a tiered rate structure, rebate programs, and educational campaigns - to reduce water use by 22 per cent per capita in Denver. But, Denver Water representatives admitted that the utility can "always do better."

But, they said, Denver cannot simply outlaw lawns.

Lurline Curran, Grand County manager, points out that agreements worked out with Denver Water will actually mean guaranteed water flows, even if the city does take more. "The commissioners are at the table, in negotiations, which in my history with the county, we've never been able to have," she said.

 

For the record

In this column two weeks ago, it was stated that Mike Kaplan, the chief executive of the Aspen Skiing Co., is married into the Crown family that owns the company. That statement had no basis in fact. The writer, and this publication, regret the error.