Estes Valley Voice Podcast

Story by Barb Boyer Buck

The construction of a performing arts center that supporters would like to build at Stanley Park will cost an estimated $25 million. To proceed, 70%—or $17 million—needs to be raised.

The problem is that the area being considered for the facility is currently used for overflow parking for large events such as the Rooftop Rodeo and the Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival.

Also, there is skepticism based on previous failed attempts to build a performing arts center in Estes Park.

Tim Phillips, president of the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies board, says there is plenty of public support for a performing arts center in that location, according to public outreach conducted by Design Concepts, a consultant completing a new Stanley Park Master Plan.

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Story by Patti Brown

As the Town’s summer visitor season kicks off this month, retailers are beginning to see tariffs on invoices for imported merchandise they will put on their shelves to sell.

More than 40 business and community members attended a panel discussion on dealing with tariffs and understanding the uncertain economic landscape Monday afternoon at the Estes Park Holiday Inn, hosted by the Estes Valley Voice.

Adam Crowe, economic development manager for Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development, moderated the discussion, which included Mark Ell, a financial advisor with Alpha Capital Management Group, Maureen McCann, owner of The Mad Moose, Rajiv Poudel, owner of Estes Village and several other area businesses, and Scott Applegate, president and CEO of the Bank of Estes Park.

Saying, “Brace yourself,” Ell provided a 30,000-foot overview of what has transpired over the past several weeks and how the tariffs may affect the economy throughout the calendar year and beyond.

While the situation with tariffs is fluid, Ell said economic data is already starting to show the impact of supply delays, shortages, price hikes, and market volatility, “which is rolling into what we would call inflation.”

Imports from some countries carry a 10% to 50% tariff, with products from China carrying a tariff of 145%, up from 20% before April 2. This is increasing the wholesale prices of toys, furniture, clothes, smartphones, computers, and consumer electronics.

“The way U.S. imports work is China sends us about $440 billion worth of products every year. The U.S. sends about $150 billion of its products to China every year. So, there’s a trade deficit of about $300 billion,” Ell said.

To balance that, Ell said the White House is trying to negotiate better bilateral trade agreements with many nations in a 90-deals-in-90-days tariff pause with some countries. As this plays out, consumer sentiment has fallen, which will likely impact spending locally, at least in the short term.

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Story by Patti Brown

The Town of Estes Park Trustees and the Larimer County Commissioners met Tuesday for a two-hour joint session to address concerns raised by Town Trustee Kirby Hazelton about the Visit Estes Park Board of Directors.

Hazelton was appointed in April 2024 to serve as the Estes Park Town Board liaison to the VEP board.

In an April 1, 2025 letter addressed to the Larimer County Commissioners and sent to Estes Park Town Trustees, Hazelton called for dismissing the VEP board, citing issues with board operations and not adhering to policy governance.

She wrote, “the Visit Estes Park Board has demonstrated a pattern of being unable or uncommitted to responsibly govern the organization. By not properly managing and obtaining a Chief Executive Officer, by choosing to avoid community transparency, and by abandoning the obligation to be beholden to its owners, or the Estes Valley, it serves, the Visit Estes Park Board is currently dysfunctional, ineffective, and jeopardizing future operations.” 

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Story by Suzy Blackhurst

Polls close at 7 p.m. this evening

Today is election day in the Estes Valley. Electors can voice their opinions about the individuals they would like to see represent their interests on three special district boards of directors.

These boards encompass areas inside the Town of Estes Park and in specific areas of Larimer and Boulder Counties.

Five representatives will be chosen to serve on the Estes Area Fire Protection District board, two board members will be selected for the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District, and two board members will be selected for the Park Hospital District.

Where do you vote?

The lower level of the Estes Park Community Center, 600 Community Dr., is the location for in-person voting for casting ballots in the recreation district and fire district elections.

The hospital district is conducting a mail election, although ballots received at home addresses via U.S. mail and already completed but not returned by mail can be delivered to a drop box located at Estes Park Health, Prospect Ave.

All ballots, including those mailed to the designated election official for the Park Hospital District election, must be received by 7 p.m. this evening.

When will the results be announced?

Once ballots have been collected, unofficial results from the fire district and recreation district elections are expected to be posted at the polling location later today.

Unofficial votes in the hospital election are not anticipated to be released until Wednesday, May 7, when they are posted on the Estes Park Health website.

Election results will be final, with election results being certified on May 20.

Who are the candidates on the ballots?

Scott Dorman, Steven Ferrante, Jeff Robbins, and Jon “Hippy” Smith are running for three four-year terms on the Estes Valley Fire Protection District board. Candidates for the two two-year terms include Christopher Buser, Ryan S. Leahy, Joshua Leeds, Robert H. Foster, and Sandra Ellen Smith.

Dan Derman, Aaron Dorman, and Derek Vinge are the candidates for the two four-year terms on the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District board.

Two new board members will be elected to the Park Hospital District board. Both will serve four-year terms. Tim Cashman, Tom Leigh, Max Salfinger, Ralph Strickland, and Janet E. Zeschin are on the ballot.

Why are the elections on different ballots?

The three special districts holding elections today in the Estes Valley are separate government organizations with their own physical boundaries, governing laws, and boards of directors.

State law regulates special district elections. To conduct coordinated or combined elections—meaning that the elections would all be on one ballot—all the special districts must have exactly the same boundaries. Since the organizations are separate, they are each conducting separate elections.

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Story by Patti Brown

The Great Estes Park Duck Race takes flight Saturday, but the weekend fun kicks off with music and laughs tonight starting with Warburton’s Mountain Madness launch dance party and concert at the Stanely Concert Hall from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The event features Burn The Ballroom, a high energy rock band, with actor and comedian Patrick Warburton who starred in Seinfeld, Rules of Engagement, and A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Tickets for the event are $40, but if you adopt a duck for $25, you will get a special code via email for complimentary tickets to the Friday night launch event.

Saturday morning there will be a 5K Duck Waddle race around Lake Estes. Click here to register online, or show up at 8 a.m. on the northeast side of Estes Park Parking Structure for race day registration. The race begins at 9 a.m. at the Lake Estes Trail on the east of the Parking Structure. Racers will get a t-shirt and a race day ticket.

This year’s duck race — the 36th — will look different with a new course and a new starting point at the recently renamed Baldwin Parking Lot located in front of the post office.

The venue will open at 11 a.m. and the first of five races beginning at noon when Warburton steps up to serve as the event’s grand marshal to pull the cord on the cage to release the raft of ducks. The next four races will begin at the top of the hour.

The day’s festivities include a Kid Zone at Riverside Plaza with kids’ duck race, bounce houses, street performers, face painters, and arts and crafts. Other events and activities will take place along the River Walk.

One of the most “poop-ular” events is the Duck Squat Game. For $10, you can place a bet on which square the duck chooses to squat. The grand prize is $500 if your square is picked.

The finish line and prize zone will be next to the Estes Park Visitor Center. The grand prize is $10,000 Cash. Other prizes include a two-night Nova Guides adventure trip, a guided climbing experience, and e-bike and ATV rentals.

In all the prizes total $30,000 in value and the event expects to generate more than $215,000 which will be distributed to 75 area nonprofit organizations.

Saturday night the entertainment continues with Warburton taking the stage at The Stanley for two sold-out stand-up comedy shows.

In an interview with the Estes Valley Voice, Warburton describes his 90-minute show “as adult and a bit naughty.”

His humor is anecdotal, drawing on 34 years of married life and raising four kids, and having seven dogs, “and a mean wife,” teases Warburton.

“She’s actually very supportive and quite wonderful, but nobody wants to hear anybody get up on stage and talk about how great their life is. It’s all about bitch and moaning and complaining, and I do plenty of that.”

Warburton’s show is promoted by Estes Park resident Marcia Rothschild of Six Wolves, an international casting company.

The Rocky Mountain Madness continues Saturday night, with Adam Cayton Holland, a standup comedian from Denver who will perform at The Barrell at 8 p.m.

The father of two young boys ages 6 and 3, Cayton Holland describes himself as a fulltime comedian and “writes what you know.”

He also draws from a deep well marked by his sister’s suicide and the need to face his own demons. He chronicled this in “Tragedy Plus Time: A Tragi-comic Memoir,” an honest, unsentimental book that takes a reader into some dark places with a combination of wit, wisdom, grief, and laughter.

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Story by Patti Brown

After 20 years of owning the Snowy Peaks Winery in Estes Park, Candice and Erik Mohr sold the business to Rockscar Hospitality, a limited liability company registered in Florida and owned by Albert Schmurr, for $1.7 million in March.

The winery hosted an open house Sunday afternoon to honor the Mohrs and to mark the transition.

Over the past two decades, the winery has crafted award-winning wines made with Colorado grapes, including cabernets, merlots, malbecs, Rieslings, syrahs, and viogniers. They have also sold wines from other Colorado vintners, along with cheeses, meats, crackers, and jams in their tasting rooms and patios.

Ten years ago, to celebrate a decade in business, the winery organized SnowyGrass, a bluegrass concert. After the first year, Nadine Sekerez took over the concert organization, but the winery has continued to be a sponsor, said Candice in an interview with the Estes Valley Voice. This year’s festival will take place Aug. 21-24 in Stanley Park.

Schmurr, a Colorado native who went to high school in Highlands Ranch and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado, returned to the Centennial State a year ago after serving in the military in Guantanamo Bay and Iraq and then living in Missouri and Maine where he owned the Pilgrim’s Inn, a historic inn and tavern.

While some things will stay the same, at least for now, Schmurr has already made one big change. A former storage and break room has been remodeled into a new private tasting room featuring an arched window opening.

Another change coming will be a Snowy Peaks-branded food truck that will serve small plates and daily specials, including rosé and ribs on Saturdays and sangria and paella on Sundays. “I went to cooking school in Valencia, Spain for paellas,” said Schmurr.

The Mohrs will continue to live in Estes but plan to enjoy traveling in their retirement, said Candice.

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Estes Valley Obituaries

Alex Lloyd Gibson, known for his infectious laugh and calm, gentle demeanor, passed away peacefully at his home in Estes Park, Colo., on April 21, 2025, at the age of 72.

Born on January 19, 1953, in Tecumseh, Mich., Alex spent his life embracing love, adventure, and family. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Deborah. He was a part of the Estes Park Community for 46 years.

In 1979, Alex met the love of his life, Deborah (Normali) Gibson, at The Stanley Hotel, owned at the time by her parents, Frank and Judith Normali. Their connection was instant, profound, and enduring, leading to an extraordinary life together beginning with their wedding on September 25, 1982.

For 43 years, they were inseparable in love and spirit. Alex often joked that they should get double credit, because they did literally everything together as a couple, sharing married, family, and professional lives.

Family was the cornerstone of Alex’s life. Alex was a proud father to his daughter, Michelle, whom he chose on June 1, 1983. His joy only grew as he welcomed his son-in-law, Timothy Hastie, into the family in September 2006.

The delight of being a grandfather was a cherished role for Alex. He celebrated the birth of his first grandchild and namesake, Alexis, in August 2013. Granddaughter Mackenzie arrived in April 2019, and Liam in January 2024.

In August 1990, Alex embarked on one of his proudest achievements, the development of the Rams Horn Village Resort, which became a testament to his vision and dedication.

Over 35 years, he and his partner Deborah have welcomed over 750 families as permanent vacation homeowners, some now into their third generation. He was proud to have left a lasting impact on these families who return annually to the Estes Park community.

Despite never learning to swim, Alex achieved his 1000th dive in April 2024, a testament to his adventurous spirit and devotion to Deborah, who encouraged him to take the plunge with her.

This accomplishment was truly a tribute to his love for his wife, as he humorously admitted to fearing death every time he entered the water.

Alex and Deborah traveled annually to the Caribbean for more than 25 years, most often to the second homes of their hearts in Dominica, Tobago, and St. Lucia.

At the time of his death, they had just returned home to Estes Park after ten weeks together in their most special places spending time with friends there. During this trip, Alex enjoyed five last dives in Dominica.

His daughter Michelle, son-in-law Timothy Hastie and his three grandchildren joined Alex and Deborah towards the end of their trip to Tobago. What a blessing that they had this last time together as a family.

Alex’s life was filled with remarkable moments, including a hole-in-one at the Estes Park Golf Course and walking to Grand Lake four times.

He was a gentle giant of a man, a source of strength, love, and comfort to all who knew him. His integrity, honesty, and loyalty were unwavering, and his wry sense of humor, complete with an infectious laugh, was a hallmark of his personality.

Alex never met a stranger and had an extraordinary ability to remember names, making everyone he met feel seen and valued. Alex had a love for all living things, especially his many Irish setters over the years and the hummingbirds that visited every summer at home and at Rams Horn Village.

Alex was the cherished younger brother of Barbara Dicks and Gordie (Cheryl) Gibson; beloved uncle to nieces Heather (David) Jones, Shannon (Kenneth) Roznay, Katie (Greg) Gresh, Nisa Michener, Kera (Jim) Connour, Loren (Viki) Michener, Iliana (Derek) Normali, Marri (Ayden) Parks, and nephews Jeremy (Gina) Dicks, Jack Gibson, Robert Normali, and Michael Michener. He was a great uncle to fourteen nieces and nephews.

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Story by Patti Brown

A grey wolf died in Rocky Mountain National Park this past week, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the National Park Service. The exact location of the death was not made public.

The female wolf, identified as 2514-BC, was one of the 15 wolves translocated to Colorado from British Columbia in January.

The wolf, which wore a satellite GPS collar, is the third wolf from this group to have died. The cause of death has not been released, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating.

According to Travis Duncan, the public information officer for CPW, the average lifespan of a gray wolf in the Rocky Mountains is 3 to 4 years.

Twenty-five wolves have been reintroduced since December 2023 after Colorado voters approved Proposition 114, now Colorado Revised Statutes 33-2-105.8, in 2020. Ten wolves from Oregon were released in Grand and Summit Counties in 2023, followed by 15 from Canada in Eagle and Pitkin Counties.

The goal of the legislation is to release between 30 and 50 wolves over a three- to five-year period to reestablish a self-sustaining wolf population.

“CPW has not seen evidence of gray wolf reproduction yet in 2025,” said Duncan.

Wolves were an important part of the Colorado wildlife ecosystem before being eradicated in the mid-1940s. Considered an apex predator, wolves prey on large animals such as elk, deer, and moose, naturally regulating populations.

In 1967, grey wolves – Canis lupus – were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966. At that time, there were fewer than 1,000 grey wolves in the lower 48 states. In 1978, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, responsible for determining whether an animal or plant should be protected, classified the gray wolf as endangered in Minnesota and as threatened in the contiguous United States and Mexico.

Following the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park in 1995, there were 19 confirmed sightings of lone wolves in Colorado between 2007 and 2021.

Between 2011 and 2020 as wolf populations recovered, the EPS protections were removed but then restored by court order in 2022 with the exception of the Northern Rockies region.

Earlier this month the Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025, co-sponsored by Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Wisconsin Rep. Tom Tiffany along with 30 other legislators, passed by the House Natural Resources Committee in a 24-17 vote. If enacted, the bill would not only remove gray wolves from the EPS but prevent judicial review of the legislation.

Human-livestock-wolf interface

With the reintroduction of wolves in the Centennial State, the chance to encounter a wolf in the wild is a possibility but with fewer than 30 wolves, sighting one would be a rare opportunity.

“Wolves are shy, calm, elusive and tend to avoid humans, however, wolf sightings or encounters could occur in Rocky Mountain National Park, particularly during elk viewing activities or where elk are present,” says Kyle Patterson, public information officer for RMNP.

Patterson cautions that Park visitors should always keep a safe distance when viewing any wildlife, “Whether someone is in their vehicle or on foot, the park recommends maintaining a distance of at least 300 feet or 91 meters from wolves.”

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Story by Elisabeth Sherwin

It’s not often that someone can say they’ve had two successful careers –  in opposite fields – in one lifetime.

Linnea Tanner, 75, started off her career as a chemist. She earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Colorado, Bouder, and worked for many years as a regulator.

“I was on the regulatory side,” she said in a recent interview. “I worked with scientific groups to provide documentation for clinical trials (for medicines).”

But something was not quite right.

“It’s always been in the back of my mind,” she said. “I wanted to be an author.”

The Fort Collins resident left the world of pharmaceuticals in 2010 and started writing fiction.

The result? She is finishing up the fifth and final book in a historical fiction series called “Curse of Clansmen and Kings.”

The first book in the series is “Apollo’s Raven,” is described as “an epic Celtic tale of forbidden love, mythological adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia.”

But like most would-be authors, success did not come easily. Tanner describes her first attempt in 2010 as “an ugly first draft.”

Her husband, Thomas Tanner, is a retired English teacher.  She asked him to read the draft. This could have been a very tentative time in their long marriage.

“It needs a lot of work,” he said. Fortunately, she agreed. And they had a friend who was an editor and helped her focus on her writing.

“I started taking writing workshops and paying editors for advice on how to improve,” she said.

Tanner recalled meeting with one editor who was very tough and   condescending and left her feeling discouraged. But another editor said “Apollo’s Raven” had potential and was marketable.

“Constructive criticism helps the most,” she said.

Then, after she had a solid draft, she had to look for an agent. Tanner did that for a few years without success.

“But I got to the point where I thought I could publish it myself.”

So, she did.

“Apollo’s Raven” came out in 2017.

“I’m an independent publisher,” she said. “It’s a business, publishing and marketing. Writing was easier.”

Tanner said she still tries to write every day as she finishes up “Dragon’s Anvil,” which will be the final book in the series.

She also loves to research that period in history, basically the first century, and has traveled extensively to the United Kingdom and France where her fictional events take place.

“Then I’m going to do a prequel to the series and a stand-alone young adult novel,” she said.

So, in 15 years she has gone from a successful profession in science to a successful profession in the arts. Not many people can say that.

“I followed my heart and don’t regret it at all,” she said. “I feel good about what I’ve achieved.”

Tanner said the financial rewards have not been great.

“I’ve probably spent more than I’ve made, but it’s a passion.”

You can follow Tanner at her website, or email her.

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Story by Barb Boyer Buck

Visions of carousel horses, BBQ, and making chocolate bars swirled through Town Hall Tuesday night while John Cullen, doing business as JWC Elevations, LLC, was granted both the legal right to build an indoor carousel at the Stanley Chocolate Factory downtown and a liquor license.

There was also a surprise announcement: Wes Moore, owner and chef of the popular WesTex BBQ food truck in Estes Park, will open a barbecue restaurant within the chocolate factory complex that will also house a vintage carousel from France. The town’s Development Code now explicitly allows for the carousel as a legal “indoor recreation” within the downtown Estes Park corridor.

At the April 22 Town Board meeting, Section 13.3.2 was amended to say: “Limited Commercial Recreation or Entertainment Establishments, Indoor: Limited to the following indoor entertainment establishments only: Indoor movie theaters and theatrical space for dramatic, musical or live performances; indoor billiards, pool and other table games; and indoor carousels, but only as an accessory use to a retail establishment or food/beverage sales and only in compliance with all accessory use standards. For the purposes of this definition, “indoor” means within a permanent, fully enclosed structure, allowing for fully closable windows and doors.” 

Since Cullen first purchased The Stanley Hotel and came to Estes Park 30 years ago, “The Stanley has gone from $1 million a year to now $44 million a year” in revenue, said Cullen during his presentation in the liquor license hearing.

When he first flew into Colorado, he landed at Stapleton Airport. A short while later, he flew out of Denver International Airport.

“And I said, ‘this is really crazy, because why would anybody take a perfectly good airport and put it out in the middle of Saskatchewan, who’s ever going to come to this airport?’” he asked rhetorically.

There will be a rooftop restaurant at the chocolate factory complex, along with trains running along the ceiling, a coffee shop, and more, said Cullen, all designed to make it a magical, memorable, and immersive experience for families in downtown Estes Park.

Cullen told the Town Board that the Stanley Chocolate Factory will open on July 4. “F. O. Stanley always opened his buildings on July 4,” he said, citing that patriotic imagery of picnic tables and barbeque, open-air seating with no amplified music from the rooftop will make it like “July 4 every day.”

No one from the public was on hand to provide support or opposition to granting the liquor license or amending the development code.

One letter of opposition was received before the Town Board meeting. “This development risks undermining the unique character and natural allure of Estes Park,” said John Howell of Estes Park in his letter.

“Estes Valley is already saturated with amusement park-style attractions, including slides, rollercoasters, and go-kart tracks. These offerings, while popular with some visitors, have already shifted our town’s identity away from its roots as a serene mountain gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.”

Ordinance 05-25, which added language to the downtown corridor development code to allow indoor carousels, and the liquor license application were both approved unanimously by the Town Board.

“And it’s now the sixth busiest airport in the world.” Cullen used this analogy to explain why The Stanley Hotel brand needed another location in Estes Park.

“People will come to The Chocolate Factory, much like The Stanley, it has a magnetic appeal that people will come to have a full family experience,” said Cullen.

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