The Crystal Valley Echo

11/27/2025

A follow-up in regards to the development proposal in Crystal City. Gunnison County's Planning Commission will vote on the issue on Wednesday, December 4th and is accepting public comments through December 3rd. Robert Anderson's OpEd will appear in The Echo's December issue, on the stands on the 1st, but we thought our readers might like a sneak peak. If you'd like to make a comment regarding this development proposal, please send a letter to [email protected].

Crystal is one of those rare places that still feels untouched by time. Tucked high in the West Elk Mountains at the headwaters of the Crystal River, the town has remained virtually unchanged for generations. Its rugged access road, isolation, and five-hour distance from Gunnison have acted as a nat...

11/12/2025

Re: Town of Crystal Development Land Use Change

**note: The Echo has received a Letter to the Editor that we are unable to print in the December edition due to a timeliness issue. However, we felt that the issue may be of interest to our readers and are supplying it below.

Dear Editor,

I’m writing to inform our community about proposed developments in the historic town of Crystal. As many know, Crystal—home to the iconic Crystal Mill—is one of the most beloved and frequently visited sites in our region. Its beauty, remoteness, and history make it a treasure that deserves careful protection.

A few years ago, the 700-acre property surrounding Crystal was purchased by new owners. They have since announced plans to develop a private resort community on the site of the old mining town.

The developers are seeking a land use change from Gunnison County. Their application includes building four “guest” structures in the town of Crystal, along with a 5000 square foot storage structure to house more than a million dollars’ worth of heavy equipment.Future phases of development include installing a private ski area on Bear Mountain, completion of a hot spring spa, a restaurant for guests only and construction of additional high end homes.

This project has already encountered challenges, including a cease-and- desist order from Gunnison County for building roads without proper permits—a violation that resulted in a $12,000 fine.

The purpose of this letter is to urge our community to voice opposition to this development. The Gunnison County Planning Commission will be holding a public hearing on the land use application November 20, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. and now is the time to speak up. Please take a moment to submit written comments to Gunnison County and share your concerns. Please send your comments to: [email protected] The deadline to receive written public comments is November 19 at 5:00 p.m.
To attend the meeting via ZOOM and hear public comments go to the online meetings tab at https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/144/Community-and-Economic-Development

The Gunnison County Land Use Development guidelines require that proposed developments be compatible with community character. This proposed exclusive resort for the wealthy is certainly not.

Please consider mentioning tangible issues such as avalanche risk, wildfire danger, and the strain that such a development could place on this fragile and precious environment. The town of Crystal is one of the last untouched spaces in the Crystal River Valley—an irreplaceable piece of our shared heritage. Let’s ensure that it remains protected for future generations.
Rob Anderson

Send a message to learn more

09/20/2025

We are aware of a few trees that are smoking south of Filoha Meadows near the Three Sisters Waterfall.

There are no evacuations needed, nor are any structures threatened. The fire is in a location that is difficult to access, so you may see a helicopter in the area dropping water on the fire.
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Sabemos que hay humo justo al sur de Filoha Meadows, cerca de la cascada Three Sisters. Hay algunos árboles que están echando humo.

No hace falta evacuar ni hay edificios en peligro. El fuego está en un lugar al que es difícil llegar, así que puede que veas un helicóptero en la zona echando agua sobre el fuego.

09/09/2025

The Crystal River Caucus holds their regular meeting on Thursday, September 11th starting at 7 p.m. at the Church at Redstone; the meeting can also be attended on zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84067076008?pwd=OP46OLigv4QORIU6d2weyhPfS3R9z8.1

09/08/2025

If you live in or around Marble, you're not going to want to miss this presentation. Thursday, September 11 at the Marble Fire Station, 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

07/23/2025

Wildfire meeting next week in Marble!

07/11/2025

Pitkin County Library's Program hours at the Redstone Inn have changed to FRIDAYs (instead of Sundays) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

06/29/2025

Pitkin County, USFS, and BLM are now all under stage 1 restrictions as well.

Stage 1 restrictions are in place.

06/16/2025

The Open House is this Friday, June 20, 2025.

06/12/2025

PUBLIC ACCESS RESTORED AFTER SIX YEAR ROAD DISPUTE

Public access will be restored following a settlement between Pitkin County and the Rock Creek Association, ending a six-year dispute over County Road 3B, which is more commonly known as Dorais Way.

Property owners closed the road in 2019, claiming it was private. The County sued in 2020, arguing the road had been in public use since the 1880s

The road will reopen to non-motorized public use year-round, from 30 minutes before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Leashed dogs will be allowed on the road but not inside the Filoha Meadows preserve.

Filoha Meadows opens July 1 and is accessible through Sept. 30. Once inside, visitors must stay on the two-track trail, leave bikes at the entrance, and follow seasonal access rules to protect wildlife.

County commissioners gave preliminary approval to the agreement on today, with final approval expected June 25. Further details will be included in the July edition of 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...