The Crystal Valley Echo

05/05/2025

🔥🔥 SAVE THE DATE: May 10th 🔥🔥

04/11/2025

Pitkin County commissioners denied Boulevard Barrel's application for a new liquor license Wednesday after a tense public meeting filled with community conflict.

An update has been included on the link below, with the full article appearing in our May edition.

The picturesque mountain town of Redstone, Colo., known for its historic charm and tight-knit community, is not typically a place one would expect to find a high-stakes business drama regarding the application of a new liquor license, and a small business has found itself at the center of a heated l...

04/02/2025

The Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners moved forward with a resolution to deny Boulevard Barrel's new liquor license application. The discussion continues on April 9th; the resolution will be available to the public on Friday, and public comments may be submitted at any time at https://records.pitkincounty.com/Forms/Public-Comment.

Pick up your copy of our April issue for the article, or by following the link to our website.

The picturesque mountain town of Redstone, Colo., known for its historic charm and tight-knit community, is not typically a place one would expect to find a high-stakes business drama regarding the application of a new liquor license, and a small business has found itself at the center of a heated l...

04/01/2025

Courtesy of a new directive by President Trump to sell off public lands to boost revenues and solve the nationwide housing shortage, mixed-density condos and single-family homes are planned along the corridor between Maroon and Crater Lake. The development will include a mini golf course, arcade and communal open space adjacent to the existing amphitheater. Peter Landsgrab, a spokesperson for the project, said “We feel the base of the Maroon Bells are a perfect fit for this development, balancing existing human impacts with the massive need for workforce housing and the valley’s long-held desire for a high-altitude mini golf course.”

An open auction for waterfront properties lining the pristine alpine lake will kick things off next week and will be sure to attract the nation’s most notable real estate developers in a bidding war that will be live-streamed on social media. While bids are starting at $1, experts expect that the most desirable lots will reach seven or even eight-figure price tags. Landsgrab added that “If I can win some of these auctions within my budget I’m expecting the affordable workforce housing studios to fall in the 2.5-3 million dollar range. Given current rental prices and growing demand this should put monthly payments inline with valley-wide low income housing rates.”

Funds generated from this sale event are earmarked to fund oil and gas subsidies to promote development in protected areas. With public lands selling off to the highest bidder, these funds are expected to push the needle and allow for America to achieve the goals set forth by the administration’s Dominance of Energy Beginning Today program.

03/17/2025

📢 BIG NEWS: Colorado has officially passed SJR25-009, reaffirming our commitment to keeping public lands public! This resolution strengthens protections for the lands that contribute $17B annually to our economy and support outdoor recreation, clean air and clean water. Thank you to the sponsors, such as Representative McCluskie in the photo, and all who advocated for this resolution! 🌲🏔️ See the link below to read a wonderful op-ed on the resolution by Kathy Chandler-Henry, a former Eagle County Commissioner and current Board member of Wilderness Workshop.

https://www.vaildaily.com/opinion/we-need-to-keep-colorados-public-lands-in-public-hands/

03/10/2025

The Crystal River Caucus meets this Thursday, March 13, at the Church at Redstone starting at 7 p.m.; a Zoom link is provided below for anyone unable to attend in person.

On the agenda:
- A presentation on the Redstone South Bridge Replacement Project by Andrew Knapp, Pitkin County Engineer (you may also pick up a copy of our March edition for information and materials on this project);
- An update on The Redstone to McClure Pass Trail, by Gary Tennenbaum, Director, Pitkin County Open Space and Trails;
- A discussion of the Communications Project on the old McClure Pass Road, Kevin Warner, U.S. Forest Service;
- A discussion of the water/ice problem on CO133 near Swiss Village;
- And an update on Wild and Scenic discussions for the Crystal River.

Join on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81445400635?pwd=9UQSwOhORMXxMNQjTCkIbWb1YRwgOq.1

Meeting ID: 814 4540 0635
Passcode: 5WBDbC

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

03/02/2025

Press Release - For Immediate Release
Structure Fire at 128 Redstone Blvd., Redstone

Carbondale, Colo. - March 1, 2025 – At 1:59 p.m. today, Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District was dispatched for a report of a structure fire at 128 Redstone Blvd., Redstone at 1:59 p.m. today.

Upon arrival firefighters observed smoke coming from an exterior wall of a single family home. Crews made entry and discovered fire actively burning inside a kitchen wall. Firefighters initiated an interior and exterior attack, containing the fire before it could spread to the roof or cause further damage. To fully extinguish the fire and ensure the fire was extinguished, sections of the kitchen wall were removed.

“Carbondale Fire was paged to this structure fire while crews were already responding to a car accident on Missouri Heights and a medical emergency in the Town of Carbondale,” said Fire Chief Rob Goodwin. “Even with multiple emergencies occurring simultaneously across the fire district, our crews, in coordination with mutual aid partners, efficiently managed resources to staff all incidents and contain this fire, preventing further damage to the home.”

The residents have been temporarily displaced until the fire investigation is complete and necessary repairs made. The cause of the fire is under investigation by Carbondale Fire’s investigation team. The estimated loss is between $40,000 and $50,000. No injuries were reported to firefighters or civilians.

Carbondale Fire responded with two fires engines. Roaring Fork Fire Rescueresponded with an additional fire engine. Pitkin County Sheriff's Office and Holy Cross Energy also responded to this incident.

02/21/2025

Colorado's Forest Service, BLM and Park Service see hundreds of jobs slashed as part of federal workforce reduction by Trump administration

02/11/2025

Tune in to KDNK THIS Friday to hear our editor Gentrye Houghton performing during the Voices Radio hour. The show starts at 6 p.m.!

01/09/2025

The Crystal River Caucus will host their regular January meeting tonight starting at 7 p.m. Members may attend in person at the Church at Redstone or via Zoom (link below). The caucus is a Pitkin County advisory board, anyone who owns property or lives within the Pitkin County portion of the Crystal River watershed is considered a member.

The agenda includes a discussion on the potential benefits of incorporating Redstone and an emergency evacuation and communication plan for Redstone and the Crystal River Valley. It will also include updates on the Crystal River's Wild and Scenic designation and potential nearby wolf reintroduction.

Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88008063168?pwd=xt36ND1dLhb5imS3bZwweNzxQmIEkv.1

Meeting ID: 880 0806 3168
Passcode: 7iuiAD

Send a message to learn more

12/22/2024

Jake Marine is seeking snow removal volunteers. If you are interested in joining Ron's Rink volunteer team, please reach out to him at (563) 299-3268.

Ron’s Rink in Redstone is open for skating. Have fun, be safe, and hang up your skates.

12/02/2024

UPDATE FROM OUR EDITOR: Happy New Year!! I had every intention of following up with CPW after this posting to answer all your questions, but came down super sick and then traveled for the holidays. However, I was able to speak with CPW about a week ago, and have published an article in the January edition of The Crystal Valley Echo that focuses on bears in the CRV and how CPW approaches rehab and release. That issue is now on the stands, so grab your copy and start the new year with The Echo!

Thank you so much to ALL of our readers 💚

Original post: “This little guy should be in hibernation," said Colorado Parks and Wildlife District Wildlife Manager John Groves. Here, Groves holds a tranquilized male cub he chased behind The Echo's home office, just across from Ron's Rink.

This is a great reminder to Crystal Valley residents to remain diligent with their bear awareness this time of year. Groves said he's had calls about motherless cubs in three areas surrounding Redstone, and he's not sure if it's a single cub roaming around or multiple bears.

If you continue to have issues with bears around your property or see a motherless cub, please report them to CPW's Glenwood Springs office by calling (970) 947-2920.