Summit County prepares for a physically distanced Fourth of July weekend with no fireworks

The Fourth of July is going to look a bit different this year with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but organizations and towns around the county are working to provide a bit of festivity for locals. 

While typical Breckenridge Fourth of July events, such as the Independence Day parade, have been canceled, Breckenridge Creative Arts is putting together several home-based, family-friendly activities for the holiday.

Melany Beck, marketing manager for Breckenridge Creative Arts, said the organization knows creativity is important for mental health. 

 “Just because it’s not our traditional Fourth of July parade on Main Street, we thought it was still important to have creative offerings for our community,” Beck said. “So we just created a way to have offerings but in a socially distanced or at-home way.”

The organization will host the BreckCreate Chalk Art Competition. Participants of all ages can enter artwork by uploading a photo to Facebook or Instagram, tagging @breckcreate and using the hashtag #breckcreatestreetarts along with their name, age and title of the artwork, which should be 2 by 2 feet or smaller.  

In Dillon, the Nacho Men will perform on a PonTune, a pontoon boat that will float along the shoreline of Dillon Reservoir from the Tiki Bar to the beach behind the Dillon Amphitheater. The amphitheater will be open for concessions from 3-6 p.m. 

“Folks can bring takeout and/or grab a beer while enjoying the view of the Gore Range and Ten(mile),” Kerstin Anderson, marketing and events director for the town of Dillon, wrote in an email. 

Anderson added that physical distancing, masks and frequent hand-washing are required for participants.  

Vanessa Agee, marketing and communications director for the town of Frisco, said the town does not have any planned events for the Fourth of July due to group size limits, but she said the town has prepared a list of things people can do to celebrate the holiday, which includes ideas like picnics, biking, kite flying and hiking. 

In Silverthorne, a drive-in movie night is July 3 for First Friday. The event in partnership with Breck Film Fest will feature the movie “Cars.” The drive-in movie sold out June 25, shortly after the town announced the event. The town noted on its social media announcement that those who were not able to reserve tickets can tune in to radio station KSMT The Mountain to listen to the live performance of The Beau Thomas Band from 7:30-8:30 p.m. 

Keystone Resort: No plans to open Ranch golf course at this time

 Vail Resorts spokeswoman Sara Lococo said Friday there are currently no plans to open up the Keystone Ranch Golf Course.

Lococo added there is no damage to the course’s 18 holes due to ice forcing the closure. Rather, Keystone is “focusing operations on one course with the River Course for now.”

Along with the Keystone River Course, other golf courses currently open in Summit County include Breckenridge Golf Club and The Raven at Three Peaks. Copper Creek Golf Course’s 18 holes at Copper Mountain Resort opened last Friday.

Summit County’s adoptable pets for the week of June 28, 2020

Michael Yearout Photography

Call the shelter at 970-668-3230 with questions. The most recent list of animals available for adoption can be found via their website.

Note: The animal shelter is now open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please visit SummitCountyCo.gov/animalcontrol for physical distancing protocols. 

Cats

CEDRIC, 7 years, domestic mediumhair, white and gray tabby, neutered male  

FAYE, 2 years, domestic mediumhair, calico, spayed female

GYPSY, 6 years, domestic shorthair, gray and white, neutered male  

JANICE, 10 weeks, domestic shorthair, tortoiseshell, spayed female

LEONARD, 8 years, domestic shorthair mix, gray and gray tab, neutered male

ROSIE, 11 months, domestic shorthair, calico, spayed female

SHEBA, 7 years, domestic shorthair mix, brown tabby, spayed female

SNOWFLAKE, 2 years, domestic longhair, white, neutered male

WILLOW, 12 years, domestic mediumhair, gray and white, spayed female

Dogs

ALEXANDRIA, 5 years, pit bull terrier, blonde and white, spayed female

BESSIE, 4 years, English foxhound mix, red and white, spayed female

BLUEBEARD, 2 years, German shepherd mix, tan and black, neutered male

DILL, 1 year, Dachshund mix, black and tricolor, neutered male

GECKO, 2 years, pit bull terrier mix, black and white, neutered male

HONEY, 2 years, black mouth cur and Brittany mix, tan and white, spayed female

Breckenridge Town Council plans to seek outside advice for Social Equity Advisory Commission

Michael Yearout Photography

Breckenridge Town Council has decided to seek advice for the Social Equity Advisory Commission before moving forward. Council discussed the commission at their Tuesday work session meeting. Council Member Dick Carleton, who has been one of the leaders of the commission, said the initial step was for members of council and staff to get together to develop a draft of the application. 

Carleton noted that he wants the town to continue to put out information about the commission to get people excited and stressed that the town should make sure everyone feels safe in the process of forming and running the commission. Council Member Erin Gigliello said she doesn’t think the town should make any assumptions while laying the groundwork for the commission. 

“I think that we make a misstep when we start defining the problems. I think our community  needs to address how they’re feeling because this is all about perception … here, it’s community based and it’s the community’s perception that is important,” Gigliello said.  

Gigliello said there should be a forum to ask the community to contribute first and express how they’re feeling before the town acts. Mayor Eric Mamula said he thinks the town should ask for written comments but that a forum can be intimidating so comments should be provided differently, such as via email. He said that Carleton and Gigliello should be the ones to interview people for the commission and that the commission should write its own mission statement.

“I see this as extremely important, this is going to be a marathon, it’s not going to be a sprint. … I believe there are groups out there that have addressed issues like this and have a history, have a track record and I’m just wondering would it make sense as we begin to get going here that we have some conversations with some folks … to really help us come up with the appropriate guidelines,” Council Member Gary Gallagher said, noting the council should look beyond Summit County.  

Council agreed to seek advice for the commission and to let Gigliello and Carleton lead council’s efforts.

Breckenridge, Silverthorne recreation centers reflect on reopening, plan expansions

More than a week-and-a-half into their reopenings, the Breckenridge and Silverthorne recreation centers are planning on tweaking operations to accommodate more recreators and to provide more offerings amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking Wednesday morning, June 24, town of Breckenridge Recreation Director Scott Reid said since the public rec center’s reopening on June 10, operations have gone very smoothly, with recreators showing up ready to workout in the center’s 75-minute time blocks after pre-registering.

Starting next week, on Wednesday, July 1, Reid said the recreation center will bump up daily opening hours by 90 minutes, to 5:30 a.m., in turn offering one more 75-minute workout slot per day. With the change, Reid said, the center will make a slight change to its cleaning approach to serve more guests throughout the day. 

 Also, come July 1, the recreation center will begin selling passes again. That means those recreators who are not existing passholders for the first time will be able to use the facility if they purchase new passes. Reid said that goes for anyone, whether they be Summit County locals, seasonal residents or visitors. Walk-in guests will not be permitted.

As of Wednesday, Reid said, the recreation center is still requiring recreators to wear a mask while working out indoors. He said this is pursuant to the town of Breckenridge’s ordinance.  

“There’s been really good compliance,” he said. “I know the mask thing has been an issue for some, but that’s our stance currently until some other things change. … Once the town’s ordinance changes, we’d be open to that (change), but we are not going to be the ones setting the policy.

“As a community, masks are so important in our town because we welcome the world,” Reid added. “We bring people from all over. And the only way to remain open, for the community to function, we have to prevent spread, if that’s the best way to do it we’re all about it.”

Summit County plans to extend safer-at-home order

Summit County officials are leaning towards extending the local safer-at-home public health order, a move that would keep the county-wide face covering requirement. 

The county’s safer-at-home order expires on June 30. Much of the order falls in line with recommendations and mandates from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Summit County’s order requires that members of the public wear face coverings, or masks, in buildings open to the public and outside when a 6-foot distance from others isn’t possible.  The state order only “urges” people to wear face coverings in public. However, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has emphasized the importance of face coverings in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus in both social media posts and new conferences. 

“Our progress in Colorado is testament to the people of the state continuing to wear a mask, keep distance whenever possible and all of the additional protections around many of our older Coloradans, who are still staying home whenever they can,” Polis said at a news conference Wednesday.  At a joint meeting Tuesday, members of the county’s board of health and board of county commissioners expressed concern that letting the order expire would send a message that the county no longer cares about the mask rule. 

“I do see significant value in the mask component being a mandate,” County Manager Scott Vargo said. “My big fear is that, if we turn it off, it will give folks this indication that, perhaps, the county no longer thinks there is a value to mask-wearing and I think we will see a dramatic decrease in the amount of folks wearing masks locally.”

Public Health Director Amy Wineland and county commissioners Elisabeth Lawrence and Thomas Davidson agreed with Vargo. 

“I personally think the face masks are a key component of the non-pharmaceutical arsenal that we have to fight this illness,” Wineland said.

Local ski areas gear up for opening of summer activities

After months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Breckenridge Ski Resort, Keystone Resort and Copper Mountain have all set dates to open for summer operations in upcoming weeks. Arapahoe Basin Ski Area plans to reopen as well although a date has not yet been set. 

First to open will be Keystone on Friday, June 26. While the Keystone River Course and outdoor play at the Keystone Tennis Center are already operating, rides on the River Run Gondola, hiking trails and prepackaged food and drink options at the Summit House will become available on Friday.  

The Keystone Bike Park will remain closed. Keystone Communications Manager Loryn Roberson said running the bike park “would require significant adjustments to operating protocols and our priority during this period of recovery is getting the basic planning and execution right.”

Keystone will operate Fridays through Sundays throughout the summer.  Breckenridge will open July 4 with rides on the BreckConnect Gondola, scenic chairlift rides on the Colorado SuperChair, hiking trails, the Alpine slides, the Gold Runner Coaster and prepackaged food and drink options will be available at Ski Hill Grill.  With certain activities like the golf course open again, Roberson said things are so far going well and that everyone seems to be happy to be outside doing the activities they love. She said the resorts have asked guests and employees to “take on an additional level of personal accountability to ensure the safety of our mountain communities,” similar to the Skier Responsibility Code.

Roberson said that while it is difficult to speculate what kind of demand the resorts will receive, the resorts are confident they can “accommodate all visitors this summer” given the expansive outdoor settings.

“We think that guests are looking forward to getting outside and enjoying the resorts again. We’re fortunate that our resorts provide outdoor settings to experience nature and practice physical distancing so that our guests can return to the activities they love,” Roberson said in an email. 

Both Breckenridge and Copper will open for summer activities on July 4. At Copper, Copper Creek Golf Course will open on July 3 for 18 holes of golf. On July 4, the mountain will offer hiking, mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, the Rocky Mountain Coaster, weekend yoga and limited dining options. On-snow lessons in Woodward’s Central Park begin July 5 and will serve as sport-specific day lessons rather than the usual residential summer camp. Lift-served mountain biking off of Woodward Express, which was first available last summer, will continue again this year.

Colorado releases amended public health order, opening bars and expanding capacity at large restaurants

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has amended its safer-at-home order for the seventh time, opening nearly all businesses including bars. 

Summit County’s current public health order defers to the state’s guidance on all regulations. The county plans to fall in line with the state guidelines, Summit County Commissioner Karn Stiegelmeier said.

“We have seen good progress, our numbers are at the level where we want to them to be,” she said. “Of course we’d like to see no cases, but we’ve had very few additional cases.”  Businesses that are able to reopen in Summit County will be required to fill out a physical distancing protocol form. The county is also keeping its face-covering requirement for people who are in a building open to the public or outside where a 6-foot distance isn’t possible.

The state’s amended order, which went into effect Thursday and was released Friday, allows bars to open at 25% capacity or with up to 50 people at a time, whichever is fewer. Regulations for bars are very similar to the guidelines that have been used for restaurants since they opened May 27. There is a limit of eight people per group, and customers in different parties have to remain 6 feet apart.  The ability to open bars will be great for the county’s economy, Stiegelmeier said. 

“Of course the concern there is, it’s all about socializing,” she said. “So hopefully we will have people socializing in safe ways.”

The state health department also released official guidance on indoor activities, outdoor activities and residential camps. The new guidance on indoor and outdoor activities allows for theaters and malls to open. It also gives the OK to trade shows, auctions, parades, festivals, receptions and fairs. 

However, there are capacity limitations based on the size of each venue. Both outdoor and indoor venues can use the state’s social distancing space calculator to determine how many people are allowed at the venue. The maximum number of people for an outdoor venue is 175 while the maximum for an indoor venue is 100. 

Under the new guidance for indoor venues, extra-large businesses and organizations (more than 7,200 square feet) that had already opened, like restaurants and houses of worship, are allowed to have up to 100 people at a time. Previously, all restaurants were allowed a maximum of 50 people or 50% capacity, whichever was fewer. Tables and groups at restaurants are still limited to eight people and groups must be 6 feet apart.

The order also requires employees at all venues to wear face coverings and be screened for symptoms at the start of their shifts.

Residential camps are allowed to open under the amended order, as well. Groups are limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. 

The order continues to ban “establishments primarily based on smoking,” which includes cigar bars, hookah lounges and companies with cannabis social-use licenses. Casinos, amusement parks and arcades also remain closed, and bounce houses and ball pits are prohibited at any public or commercial venue.

The amended safer-at-home order is separate from the protect-our-neighbors phase of reopening, which Polis announced Monday along with the changes to the order. The new phase will open everything at 50% capacity or up to 500 people, whichever is fewer. 

That phase is not yet finalized, and the state has released only a draft framework of what it will look like. The department expects the final framework to be released in late June or early July.

Once the state transitions to the protect-our-neighbors phase, it will be available only to counties that meet certain thresholds. The state health department will approve counties that can prove a commitment to contact tracing, isolation, quarantine, community testing and targeted public health orders. 

The state has not yet established the specific criteria the counties will have to meet to move into the phase, so it’s difficult for Summit County officials to know when the county will be able to loosen its restrictions. 

Lodging business is making an overall slow recovery in Summit County

Lodging is open in Summit County, but while some lodging businesses are bouncing back quickly, others are waiting on further loosening of restrictions to bring back core business.

Lodging opened across Summit County on June 1 after months of empty hotels, condos and short-term rentals. Now nearing the end of the first month open after the shutdown, occupancy in Summit County is still low compared to typical June numbers, but it is no longer nonexistent.  

“April and May were basically unoccupied due to the Summit County Public Health Order — essential workers made up what little occupancy there was in town. As of May 31, Inntopia’s Destimetrics reported that Breckenridge’s June occupancy is down 77% (year over year),”  Breckenridge Tourism Office Public Relations Director Austyn Dineen said in an email.  Breckenridge Lodging Association President Toby Babich said that while things aren’t “back to normal,” people are excited to be open in any capacity.  

“People are excited to open. It’s just nice to be able to function again and actually feel like we’re back in business but in terms of the business levels, we’re not seeing any dramatic spikes in demand,” Babich said. 

Babich reported DestiMetrics industry numbers for Breckenridge, which show, in addition to June occupancy being down nearly 80%, July is anticipated to be about 50% down with August down about 30%. The overall aggregate summer total is down about 50% in occupancy. Babich said that while “it’s nice to be open,” the lodging industry is still really struggling.

Summit County’s adoptable pets for the week of June 21, 2020

Call the shelter at 970-668-3230 with questions. The most recent list of animals available for adoption can be found via their website.

Note: The animal shelter is now open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please visit SummitCountyCo.gov/animalcontrol for physical distancing protocols.  

Cats

CARMELA, 9 weeks, domestic shorthair, tortoiseshell, spayed female  CEDRIC, no age, domestic mediumhair, white and gray tabby, neutered male

GYPSY, 6 years, domestic shorthair, gray and white, neutered male  JANICE, 9 weeks, domestic shorthair, tortoiseshell, spayed female

MITZIE, 4 years, domestic shorthair, brown and white tabby, spayed female

PUFFIN, 1 year 6 months, domestic shorthair, black and white, neutered male

ROSIE, 6 months, domestic shorthair, calico, spayed female

TONY, 9 weeks, domestic shorthair, black, neutered male

YODI, 4 years, Maine coon and Russian blue mix, gray, neutered male

Dogs

ALEXANDRIA, 5 years, pit bull terrier, blonde and white, spayed female

ALFIE, 2 years, pit bull terrier and Labrador retriever mix, blonde, neutered male

DEXTER, 8 years, German shepherd, black and tan, neutered male

FRANK, 2 years, Labrador retriever mix, black and white, neutered male

GECKO, 2 years, pit bull terrier mix, black and white, neutered male

GINGER, 1 year 6 months, German shepherd, black and tan, spayed female

MARS, 1 year, Siberian husky and pit bull terrier mix, black and white, neutered male

MAX-A-MILLION, 2 years, Plott hound mix, brindle, neutered male

MILLIE, 6 months, German shepherd mix, black, spayed female

WHITEY, 1 year, Labrador retriever mix, black and white, neutered male

June 2020 Market Update

The Real Estate Market Breckenridge  Frisco  Silverthorne  Dillon  Keystone  Copper   Happy Fathers' Day ! The Resort Market Today The COVID-19 shutdown of course resulted in fewer sales in May, just as it did in April. Those fewer sales have reduced the total number of sales throughout the County substantially. That said, the number of property showings in May surpassed last May by 40% and June property showings look be up even more so.  So interest is picking up, buyers are buying and some properties are even receiving multiple offers!   ​May looks like we could have hit the bottom of the COVID-19 real estate disruption as June is showing promise of further increased sales over May.  And, the increase in activity couldn't happen at a better time as our big summer selling season typically kicks off around the 4th of July. Just the Stats The first five months of 2020: Sales are down 20%, Average Sold Price is up 7%, it takes an average of 70 days (8 days more than last year) to sell a property, and they are selling at 97.7% of list price. The average price of residential property in Summit County in 2019, so far, is $844,462. Home Sales Single-family homes have had an average sold price of $1,320,261. It takes 78 days to sell a home (fewer days than in 2019) and they are selling at 97% of list price. Condominium Sales ​Condos have sold at an average price of $517,553 (up 6%). It takes 67 days to sell (24 more days than 2019) and they are selling at 98% of list price. Active Listings​- Here's an interesting chart on the active listings in Summit County. If the increase in new listings continues, we should, in the county, have anywhere from 100 to 300 additional properties for sale during our peak of the year - sometime late August. ​2020 YTD (1/1 - 5/31) Graphs, Charts and Stats: Condo Sales by Town, Home Sales by Town, Residential Sales by Town, Historic Sales 2000 - 2020, Inventory, Sales by Town, Sales by Month. ​ Nancy Yearout Broker Associate RE/MAX Properties of the Summit 970-485-0293 nyearout@colorado.net https://www.realestate-breckenridge.net Get my Mobile App: getmobile.remax.com/nancyyearout "And I'm Never ever too busy for all referrals you can send my Way!"  Source: Sold Data from SAR MLS.  Stats pulled on 6/6/20. *SAR MLS Data  Annual sales 1/1 through 5/31. *Residential Sales (home, Condo, Townhome & Duplex),  Change is Year over Year or 2020 vs 2019. **The information contained herein is based on information provided by others. Accordingly, we make no guarantee of its accuracy and suggest you make an independent inquiry of any matters you regard as important.

Breckenridge breaks ground on new parking structure

The town of Breckenridge and Vail Resorts announced that they have broken ground on the new South Gondola Lot parking structure. The work is expected to be completed in November 2021, according to a release from the town.

During construction, the town is encouraging people to park at the free Airport Lot, which has about 700 spots. From there, visitors can walk or bike along the Blue River recpath or use the Breckenridge Free Ride service. The North Gondola Lot and the Ice Rink Lot will remain open, as well.

The parking structure will add about 400 new parking spaces to the area at a cost of $43 million, including pedestrian improvements along the eastern corridor. Architectural details include wooden siding, stone accents, an enclosed elevator and landscaping. The structure also will include heated sidewalks, a restroom facility and solar panels on the south- and west-facing portion of the roof. The structure will have 20 electric vehicle chargers and electrical capacity for an additional 24 vehicle charging stations, according to the release.