Building Ute Pass Community
Building Ute Pass Community (BUPC) has officially kicked off as a tax-exempt organization dedicated to uniting Ute Pass by providing meaningful cultural, social and historical events.
The non-profit is an outgrowth of Bronc Day, one of Colorado’s longest running festivals, in Green Mountain Falls (GMF). The event’s organizers wanted to extend the festival’s reach to all Ute Pass communities. To make that happen, they created BUPC, a non-profit that can promote events to benefit the community.
“Last year’s Bronc Day was an amazing success!” BUPC president Lisa Bonwell said. “People from all over Ute Pass and the Springs came to Green Mountain Falls to celebrate history. So many people from all ages came together. We discovered how vital and vibrant Ute Pass can be.”
BUPC’s other board members include: Nancy Dixon, Luzia Galosi, Lisa Huizenga, Darlene Jensen, Jamie Krall and Shelly Scott-Nash, all of GMF, and Margaret Morris, Colorado Springs.
The group’s first undertaking will be sponsorship of the 86th Annual Bronc Day Festival Saturday, July 27, in Green Mountain Falls. This year’s theme – “All Aboard for Ute Pass!” – pays homage to the narrow-gauge train that connected Colorado Springs to communities in Ute Pass and beyond beginning in the late 1800s. The track‘s path and a tunnel are still visible in Ute Pass from Highway 24.
Passengers on the narrow-gauge included Coloradans, tourists and “summer people” from neighboring states who built vacation homes in Green Mountain Falls, Chipita Park and Cascade. BUPC president Bonwell’s grandparents were summer residents in GMF. She and her husband live full-time in GMF.
“In the 1800s, we were connected by the train…now we are connecting our Ute Pass neighbors through events,” Bonwell added. “Why stop at Bronc Day?”
For more information on becoming involved with BUPC or Bronc Day as a donor, volunteer, sponsor, or partner see our website: broncdayfestival.org.
CONTACT: BUPC@buildingutepasscommunity.
