Going Green in Gunnison, Colorado
City of Gunnison, lodging, events and tourism businesses embrace sustainable practices.
With approximately 85 percent of Gunnison County being public land and many acres of additional open space protected from development, it is natural that the Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley is interested in keeping its slice of paradise pristine. The tourism industry is expanding its green practices, and the local Office of Resource Efficiency (ORE) is working hand-in-hand with businesses, residents and events to help make it happen. www.resourceefficiency.org for more details.
Approximately 70 businesses participate in the 1% for Open Space valleywide, which allows customers to donate an additional 1 percent of their purchases to preserving land in the area. The program has raised more than $1 million to save in excess of 4,000 acres. Signs are posted in participating businesses.
Eco-Friendly Lodging
Island Acres Resort in Gunnison continues to preserve its historic structures instead of building new. A recent office remodel and the addition of a porch on a 1920s building used nearly all recycled items. The limbs and branches trimmed from the property's large trees are stacked for guest firewood, all appliances are being replaced with ENERGY STAR models, and recycling stations are available for visitors and staff. Guests who make multiple trips to Gunnison for water recreation are encouraged to leave their boats at the property free of charge to save fuel. Call 970.641.1442 or visit www.islandacresesort.com
Events
In the past year the Gunnison Car Show has gone green!
Gunnison Car Show is the first car show in the nation to be carbon free. Organizers determined the event's carbon impact and purchased carbon-offset credits. The club also is working to reduce solid waste. For example, food vendors must recycle, use compostable paper products and provide a written plan about how they will reduce their solid waste impact. www.gunnisoncarclub.com
Transportation
As one of the birthplaces of mountain biking, the Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley is a two-wheeling mecca. Not only will you see numerous one-speed townies and fat-tire bikes parked in front of coffee houses, restaurants and bars, free public buses are equipped to carry both bikes and people. RTA (Gunnison Valley Rural Transportation Authority) buses run regularly, year-round between Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte. For bus schedules, go to www.gunnisonvalleyrta.org
Business
In Gunnison, Pat's Screen Printing offers organic shirts and generates a portion of its power from a photovoltaic solar system.
To find out more about Gunnison County or to book personalized vacation packages, call the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association's toll-free line, (800) 814-8893, or visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com The Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is served year-round by United Airlines with flights from Denver and during the winter season by American Airlines with direct flights from Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago and Delta Air Lines with direct flights from Salt Lake City and Atlanta.
About Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado
Gunnison-Crested Butte is nestled among almost two million acres of pristine wilderness in southwest Colorado. Winter sports enthusiasts know the area for its world-class alpine skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing.
Gunnison-Crested Butte is also a haven for outdoor summer activities. In the warmer months, visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly-fishing, camping and horseback riding. Year-round visitors enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops and stimulating cultural opportunities, and have a wide range of lodging options - from rustic inns to guest cabins and bed-and-breakfasts to full-service resort hotels.
Recognized as the "Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado" by the Colorado Legislature and one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" in 2008, Crested Butte is the site of rich mining, ranching and skiing heritage and home to the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Only three miles up the road is the resort village of Mt. Crested Butte, home to the ski area, an active base area, the area's conference center, and outstanding hiking and biking trails.
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Going Green
Gunnison, a real western town located 28 miles from Crested Butte, is home to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, Gunnison Whitewater Park, Gunnison Valley Observatory, Pioneer Museum and Western State College, a four-year institution offering majors in the liberal arts and sciences and professional fields. Both Crested Butte and Gunnison have thriving historic central business districts packed with shopping and dining opportunities.
In Gunnison County, visitors will find the Curecanti National Recreation Area, where dinosaur fossils were recently discovered; the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water and home to the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States; and The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of our country's newest national parks. Gunnison County includes the quaint and historic towns of Pitkin, Gothic, Tin Cup, Marble, Powderhorn, Almont and Crystal, plus the better-known communities of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte. Gunnison County is part of the West Elk Loop and Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byways.
