It's Tourist Season In Idaho Springs

I drove up to Idaho Springs, Colorado from Denver yesterday afternoon to check out that mountain community and see what's new. Idaho Springs is a former mining town that was founded in 1859, after gold was discovered there. The mines are long gone, and these days the major industry is tourism. Unfortunately, Denver and the mountains recently received 14 straight days of rain, washing out all of Memorial Day Weekend, which is a major revenue generator for that town's shops, restaurants, and bars. This, of course, has all those business owners wondering if they can make up the difference over the remainder of the year. Definitely time to think up a dynamite idea to draw in those tourists. How about PruneFest 2025. It has a nice ring to it, right? Or perhaps not.

During tourist season, Miner Street, the main drag, and seen in the photograph on the right, is closed to traffic, allowing for more outdoor patio space for those restaurants and bars, including Tommyknocker Brewery and Pub, as well as Beau Jo's Idaho Springs, "the home of Colorado-style pizza." Beau Jo's is an especially popular stop during the winter for skiers returning from the slopes at Loveland, Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Copper Mountain, and Winter Park. I remember years ago my sister Susan, brother-in-law George, and George's cousin Richard were heading back to Denver from a day of skiing when a heavy snowstorm closed Interstate 70. They were forced to leave the highway and wound up spending most of the night at Beau Jo's, until the freeway finally reopened. I don't think any of them ever went there again. Go figure.

One very popular and historic spot in Idaho Springs is The Buffalo Restaurant and Bar, which started out in 1906 as John Rohner's Bar and Billiards. The bar there comes from Chicago and was built around 1880, although the place was renovated a number of years ago and joined forces with Westbound and Down Brewing Company, located next door, to modernize the bar drinking experience. Which to me is a good thing. I remember going to the upstairs bar at Denver's Buckhorn Exchange, established in 1893, years ago and finding out that they did not have beer on tap. An outrage. There are some historic traditions that definitely need to be retired, and so I salute The Buffalo for that upgrade.

Another issue up in Idaho Springs these days is affordability. There has been a 19.6% increase in its median home price over the past year, and the average home in Idaho Springs is selling for $625,000. According to one former resident now residing in Loveland, a lot of people there are living from paycheck to paycheck. There is a major housing project that will add 120 apartments to the site of the old Golddigger Stadium, and many locals who rent are anxiously waiting to see if those apartments will be affordable. I hate to say it, but my guess is a big no. If they want affordable, it is time to start thinking about building a log cabin up on the mountainside above town before winter sets in. Just sayin'.