Time Machine: 25 years ago, Vail looks to crack down on July 4 crowds

25 years ago

April 27, 2001

The Vail Police Chief was seeking help from outside agencies in dealing with massive crowds in town ahead of the Independence Day holiday which had, in recent years, grown to attract massive crowds, along with the New Year’s Eve holiday in town.

The Vail Trail reported that “Celebratory crowds have clogged Vail’s Bridge Street for decades on the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve, but difficulty dealing with dangerously dense pile-ups of people in recent years is prompting Vail’s chief law enforcer to seek advice from the community and outside police agencies.”

Vail Police Chief Greg Morrison was consulting with visiting police representatives from Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Palm Springs, California; and Boulder.

“Morrison’s goal is to come up with strategies to head off the increasing likelihood of injuries and vandalism, which are starting to become synonymous with Vail during the two major holidays and are threatening to hurt the town’s image as a safe family resort,” the Trail reported. “Bridge Street, leading into the heart of the Vail Village, has become an increasingly popular gathering place for young revelers welcoming the new year or celebrating the nation’s independence. Problems came to a head this past New Year’s Eve, when the crowd grew to more than 7,000 and several young revelers were injured in falls beneath the shifting crowd.”

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Because the crowd was so tightly packed into the narrow street, police officers, firefighters and paramedics were hindered in their efforts to reach the injured and otherwise control the crowds, the Trail reported.

“Additionally, Bridge Street property owners complained of vandalism and incidents where porches and balconies became public bathrooms,” the Trail reported.

50 years ago

April 30, 1976

A resident of Gunnison filed an appeal of the proposed Beaver Creek ski area with the Forest Service, saying the recreation permit that would allow for the development of the new ski area was not properly put out to bid and instead given directly to Vail Associates, the Vail Trail reported.

“It is apparent and obvious that the receiver of the site permit was selected even before it was determined that there would be a site,” according to the appeal.

Supervisory forester Paul Hauk said that because the special-use permit involved necessary private lands that were controlled by the applicant, and the development won’t be located entirely on National Forest lands.

“Hauk explained that Beaver Creek comes under such an exception because most of the base land is owned by Vail Associates,” the Trail reported.

The appellant also raised the question of whether or not antitrust laws were violated, saying Vail Associates should not eligible to receive the permit because it already owns a nearby ski area which can serve about 12,000 skiers per day.

“Whether or not we’ll even answer that remains to be seen,” Hauk replied.

75 years ago

April 27, 1951

The Eagle River Hotel in Minturn had been sold by Mr. and Mrs. B. D. Price, to Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Wilson, of Denver, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.

The hotel “has long been a favorite of Colorado’s many fishermen,” the Enterprise reported. “Built in 1914 by a Mr. Grant, it was bought by Mrs. Amelia Koch, mother of Mrs. Price, a year later. While Mrs. Koch catered to railroad business, it wasn’t long until fishermen from out over the state discovered it as a headquarters in the heart of Western Colorado’s best trout fishing.”

100 years ago

April 30, 1926

The town of Eagle passed resolutions opposing the creation of bus service in Eagle County and Colorado’s Western Slope, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.

“The sentiment was nearly unanimous in opposition to the granting of the application of auto bus lines in competition with the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, now pending before the Colorado Utilities commission,” the Eagle Valley Enterpriser reported.

One application sought to operate busses from Wolcott to Glenwood Springs and from Glenwood Springs to Grand Junction; another application sought to operate busses between Grand Junction and Dotsero, and another application sought to operate busses between Grand Junction and Colorado Springs, via Glenwood Springs, Leadville and Buena Vista.

According to the resolution, “in the opinion of the Town Council of Eagle, Colorado, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad covers in a reasonable way the field desired to be covered by the said applicants,” and “the development of the railroad and the development of the Town of Eagle and surrounding territories are interdependent and will mean increased prosperity for the Town of Eagle and surrounding territory.”

125 years ago

April 25, 1901

A new newspaper was set to debut in the town of Eagle, the Red Cliff-based Eagle County Blade reported.

“It will be started through the public-spiritedness of our people of all political denominations, and it will be absolutely independent politically,” the Blade reported. “Our folks want a paper and are willing to give the proper support to one conducted upon liberal lines and in behalf of the welfare of the town and valley.”