The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Both towns want the big bang
The area around Crested Butte is known for many attributes such as wildflowers, mountain biking and skiing, but soon fireworks may be added to that list.
The fireworks shows of the last Fourth of July were apparently so successful in both communities that both Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte plan on pursuing separate fireworks shows again next year. The two towns paid approximately $25,000 for two impressive shows last month.
“We think it is incredibly important to the guest experience in Mt. Crested Butte to have fireworks after a concert on the Fourth of July up here,” said Mt. Crested Butte mayor William Buck. “We had 2,000 people up that night and it was incredible. It was packed. This is part of us trying to fulfill our business plan and vision.”
Down in Crested Butte, mayor Leah Williams said her constituents were willing to alternate launch sites between Crested Butte and the mountain every other year. “But people were not willing to give it up completely down here,” she said. “They wanted the opportunity to watch from their homes or from the parks in town or just walking around while the fireworks were launched. So we feel we need to have our own as well.
“Some people feel having two shows is great,” she added. “Last month’s show was great. It was better than some big cities so there could be some real benefits to this if we can get the word out.”
Funding for both shows is not yet set. Last July Fourth, Mt. Crested Butte and Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) paid for the mountain show. The downtown show was funded through the town and contributions from private citizens. Williams said Crested Butte will be looking for 2011 contributions but she didn’t want the burden to fall on local businesses. “I think we can look for different ways, whether it is something like the Soapbox Derby event, or jars on counters, to get people to put some money toward downtown fireworks,” Williams said. “I think we can make it work and be positive for residents and visitors alike.”
Buck said that while lodging in Mt. Crested Butte is off by about 50 percent for the year, lodging for the Fourth of July weekend in Mt. Crested Butte was up about 31 percent. “We think having the fireworks up here contributed to that,” he said. “That event is essential to what we’re trying to do.”
Buck did say that having both towns put on a show presented an opportunity. “We may be able to draw some more folks here,” he said.
Williams wanted to start coordinating with Mt. Crested Butte to make sure the shows don’t go off too late, “but we have plenty of time to talk about that now,” she said.
Is our future to be the Fireworks Capitol of Colorado? It just may turn out that way.
