The proposed Village at Wolf Creek has taken on another possible form, this time with a modification of the sought-after land exchange with the U.S. Forest Service. The current proposed land swap, for just under178 acres of Village-owned land around Alberta Park and the lower half of the waterfall area (an area of wetlands and skiable terrain) for the same amount of USFS land northeast of Alberta Park with U.S. 160 frontage, is a lesser amount than originally proposed.

Proprietor Clifford Aragon stand in front of the newly renovated 1911 Hotel and Shops in downtown Antonito. The building, which was Antonito's first bank, then post office, then jewelry factory and then abandoned for several years, was renovated by Aragon into a cozy hotel with a historic feel but filled with modern amenities. Large comfy beds accompany flat screen televisions, wi-fi, satellite television and jacuzzi hot tubs in the rooms. The thick brick walls of the historic building that was constructed in 1911, hence the name, tall ceilings and large windows give the hotel a special feel.



Laundry facilities are available for guests as well as suites with kitchens. The hotel is within walking distance of grocery stores, restaurants, bars, a water park, a clinic, the post office and an art gallery. Antonito is also home to the historic Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad and within a short drive from National Forest and Wilderness areas. Rooms range from $85 — $110 and the 1911 Hotel is located on Main Street in Antonito. Reservations can be made by visiting the hotel website or by calling 1-866-563-1222 or the office at 719-376-5300

The development group led by Texas businessman Red McCombs has scaled back its proposed Village at Wolf Creek in an effort to make it more palatable. The Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture had hoped to build a resort that would accommodate up to 10,000 people, but now the plans have been scaled back by 25 percent. Under this new proposal, Leavell-McCombs would return 207 acres to the Forest Service in exchange for a parcel of the same size that would abut U.S. 160.

Developers of the Village at Wolf Creek have asked the U.S. Forest Service for a land exchange near the top of Wolf Creek Pass, but they're not getting help from U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa.

Downtown revitalization efforts could get a boost following Monte Vista's inclusion in a state program designed to give communities more access to state expertise.

The status of the new Wolf Creek ski area development project remains undecided in the wake of a roundtable discussion on the issue organized by U.S. Rep. John Salazar. “Although no final decisions were made today, it was good to hear the different perspectives," Salazar, D-Manassa, said in a statement the discussion.

U.S. REP. John Salazar, D-Colo., is trying to find common ground with various interests regarding the proposed Village at Wolf Creek, a development that would be near the Wolf Creek Ski Area.

U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., spent much of Wednesday afternoon trying to determine if all sides in the debate over the proposed Village at Wolf Creek could live with the results of a complete environmental review of the proposal.

Rep. John Salazar is not ready to support a land exchange for the Village at Wolf Creek, but he hasn't ruled it out, either. “It's my opinion that there needs to be more consensus built on either side of the pass," said Salazar, D-Manassa, in a telephone interview.

The Mineral County Commissioners hosted an informational meeting on the controversial Village at Wolf Creek and its proposed land exchange plans Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the Creede Community Center. The development group headed by Texas billionaire B.J. Red McCombs hopes to sway county officials and local residents and, in turn, U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., into supporting a legislative land swap. The developers seek 207 acres with access to U.S. 160 near the base of the Wolf Creek Ski Area, while returning a nearby parcel of the same size with wetlands and skiable terrain to the Forest Service.

The developer who wants a land exchange for the Village at Wolf Creek is counting on his supporters to push the idea with Rep. John Salazar. Clint Jones went public last week with his idea for a 207-acre land exchange to swap a meadow at the base of Wolf Creek Ski Area for land closer to U.S. Highway 160. The meadow's owner, B.J. "Red" McCombs, has been trying without success to build a resort for as many as 10,000 people in the meadow.

A revised development plan from Village at Wolf Creek developers depicts a scaled back project — 2,172 units down to 491 units in phase one —and village point men say the revision, coupled with a proposed land exchange, will allow for development compatible with the ski area and a softer environmental impact on the Alberta Park area. They also say development, of some kind, is imminent.

Developers behind the proposed resort at the base of the Wolf Creek ski area are exploring a possible land exchange with the U.S. Forest Service that would steer construction away from wetlands and ski runs. They're also looking at scaling back the size of the development on the land owned by Texas billionaire Billy Joe "Red" McCombs, co-founder of media giant Clear Channel Communications.

The owner of a former Kmart building thinks it would be a dandy location for a new city hall, library and police station. City officials in Alamosa, Colo., have expressed doubts but haven't completely ruled it out. The developer is offering to sell 37,000 square feet or about 40 percent of the total Kmart building to the city for $2.6 million.

The Vega Commons, San Luis

This radio program discusses how a federal agency has assisted in the land stewardship goals of a local community. Features: Range Management Specialist Cindy Villa, USDA-NRCS (Alamosa County) on the science behind and practice of rotational grazing systems for livestock, as well as her assistance in Costilla County's Open Space program; Costilla County Commissioner Crestina Martinez on the county's progressive Open Space program, which acquires local property in order to preserve historic community uses and ecological functions of the land; Local acequia farmer Larry Mondragon explains the equitable vara strip land allotment system still in place in Costilla County and expresses concern about the effects of impending local over-development on acequia agriculture. Music by Luther Cole.

Download/Listen Links:
29:00 Open Space in Costilla County, Colo.
:30 Promo

The town of Antonito is still working on a municipal ordinance requiring a permit for construction and building trade contractors working inside city limits, while a plan to build a large propane bulk plant south of the city is still on hold.

As an objective of the Saguache Downtown Revitalization Project, a community effort to revitalize Saguache, the Saguache Chamber of Commerce is reforming and renewing its commitment to Saguache business owners.

Key figures in Conejos County economic development attended the Board of County Commissioners during the BOCC’s March monthly meeting. Julie Gallegos, Conejos County Economic Development Director, Val Finnegan, of CONCEPTS, and Donna Wehe, director of the San Luis Valley Small Business Development Center reported on economic development efforts around the County.

Automotive Experts, LLC is one of the newest auto repair shops in Monte Vista. Even though the business and location is new, doing auto repair isn’t new to experienced mechanic and owner, Raul Duran. Raul grew up in the Valley and left for the Phoenix Institute of Technology in 1988. After completing that program, he began working as a lube tech for an automotive shop in Dallas and worked his way up to manager.

He then moved back to the San Luis Valley, and after working for another local shop, he began working on vehicles at his home. When his business kept growing, he knew he needed to relocate. As he was purchasing the building in Monte Vista, he went to see Donna Wehe at the Small Business Development Center for assistance. He found the resources useful and timely and was able to open for business in December of 2008 at 1703 Grand Avenue. Raul is planning to add equipment to expand his services, and to lease space to other mechanics as well. He is accepting new customers as well as taking care of his former clients; and he may be contacted at 852-2526. If your small business is in need of free and confidential advice, contact Donna Wehe at 587-5151 at the SBDC office in downtown Alamosa in the Kavleys building.

The Saguache Town Trustees has unanimously supported the recommendations laid out in the Action Plan presented to them from the Planning Committee of the Saguache Downtown Revitalization Program.