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Changes in Estes Park
Like most of you, I have now made my annual tour of Estes Park, which my mother still calls “The Village.” Just in case you haven't, I can save you the trouble.
I was fascinated by the instant forest, complete with picturesque rocks, in the middle of the intersection just as you get to town. Looks as though it ought to have some bighorn sheep on it. Turns out that's what they have planned for it. Probably up there by now. Classy.
Stanley Village is nice, with some wonderful new shops such as the one where you can get Rocky Mountain Fruit Shakes, taking advantage, one supposes, of our well known fruit crop. And if you're tired of fruit and health in general, you can always find a candy store. Also the usual T-shirt shops and such. The new movie theater is there, giving us what we have needed for a long time: multiplex theaters. Now we're as good as Boulder. The McDonalds is open and looks as though it's doing good business.
The old Village Theater has been sold to the barber who's been in the building for many years, but he's not sure what he'll use the building for—part of the deal is that it can't be used as a theater.
The town struggled like mad to get the street cleared of all the new construction by Memorial Day, and they managed it, by working long hours, rain or shine, toward the end.
There's a big new driveway in front of the municipal building. Looks as though it will hold more cars than will ever want to park there.
The old Radio Shack building has been torn down; they're working on building a park in that area and they've closed the street in front of the post office. Turned the whole thing into a parking lot. Seems like a good idea.
Not much change in the west end of town or out toward Beaver Point, except that there's a new place to catch fish. I've always wondered about the name “Trout Haven.” What kind of a haven is it? Certainly not for the trout. The new one has a nifty sign. It promises you can catch “wild trout.” So I guess you can have your choice now; a domesticated trout that thinks it's safe at Trout Haven or a wild trout. Sounds scary. Think I'll stick to Trout Haven.
That's the quick tour. I'll go back around Labor Day for the sales. If anything's changed, I'll let you know.
Columns
© 1985 – 2003, David E. Steiner
Allenspark Wind Columns:
Back to the Hilltop Guild Bazaar
The Estes Park Hardware Store [1988]
On the Death of Otto Walter, Postmaster
A Whine About Telephone Service [1991]
On the Death of Charles Eagle Plume
Rumors About a Visit by the Pope
The Visit of Pope John Paul II
Devolutionizing Big Government
The Estes Park Trail-Gazette Columns:
How Old is Charles Eagle Plume?