Blue Moose Travern to Anchor Skyspace Park
Rick Langberg
The Green Mountain Falls’ historic marshal’s office is getting a huge facelift and will eventually sport the first official marijuana shop in the lower Ute Pass. Part of these plans at the old marshal digs also call for a tourist welcome spot, via funds by the state economic development office.
And one of the more iconic taverns in the entire region is facing demolition, as part of a new town-driven relocation bid to the Skyspace area to make room for a huge hiker-paid parking area and entertainment plaza.
Needless to say, the times are a changin’ in the quaint mountain town of Green Mountain Falls.
“We need to generate more revenue,” said GMF Town Manager Calebb Peterson, who has outlined a variety of possible future pursuits. “We have got to get a little more ambitious and creative in welcoming visitors,” said Trustee Don Walkman. “Otherwise, we will have to make significant budget cuts and possibly eliminate positions, such as the town manager job. We don’t want to do that. We want to increase services.”
“It is all about becoming more sustainable,” said Mayor Todd Dixie.
The rehab of the old marshal’s office has been on the planning blocks for some time. But to date, no realistic lease plans have occurred, until an 11th-hour proposal that rivaled original ideas for a corner store. A number of residents have inquired about a small cannabis outlet, combined with a tourism information office/gift shop to give visitors more detailed information regarding area hiking and outdoor trails and park amenities, in-person. The town is often saturated in the summer with wayward motorists, looking for accessible hiking trails and recreation spots, and equipped with updated GPS gadgets and smart phones, which are absolutely useless in GMF.
Recently, the town has succeeded in landing some significant grant dollars for the old marshal office rehab project from the state.
The prospects of turning the old marshal’s office into a useable facility has enthused community members. This was a concept frequently discussed during the town’s latest update for its master plan
And since assuming the reins of the town manager post, Peterson has cited economic development as a key component of future plans for GMF. “The town has a great comp plan; it’s time to turn some of these ideas into reality. This will come in handily as we put an issue on the ballot this November.”
In fact, in the next few months, residents will get a chance to have their say on future plans for GMF and a possible ballot issue this November.
Probably the most ambitious segment of these forthcoming plans call for the demolition of the Blue Moose Tavern to make room for a paid-hiking parking lot and entertainment plaza. Details on the plaza facility are still somewhat sketchy, but generating money for the town coffers is a prime objective.
As for the Blue Moose’s future, the iconic business will be relocated to the Skyspace area, now being called, Skyspace Park.
“Actually, this should work well for our patrons, who like they need a little exercise, especially those customers from TMC,” said local bar guru James Raynold,
No changes will occur in the atmosphere for the Blue Moose, which will feature a more updated facility, and a shuttle system to its new location. Regardless, it still will abound as a reputation as the best place for pizza and live music on The Mountain and a festive atmosphere. Transportation and possible a moving road, are being organized by Green Box.
“As long as this works for us and the town, it will be great,” said Blue Moose owner Catty Gradie.
Part of the digs for the Moose will feature a Memory Wall, consisting of lasting memories from the old bar-eatery, which a slew of different names, including Pine Gables, Silver Tongue Devil Saloon and more.
And there were some iconic memories, such as times when gun shots were once fired in the facility in a reported show-off maneuver, leading to one of the more colorful Board of Trustee meetings in decades.
“This is part of the charm of the Blue Moose. Everyone has their own Blue Moose story,” admitted Gradie. “If we can make use of the old marshal’s office, that is a big plus,” said current Town Marshal Sean Ivvas.
