Small Mountain Town Fueling Station
Donation protected
Welcome to Red Feather Lakes, CO. Located 60 miles west of Fort Collins, and 3000 ft straight up the Rocky Mtns. Situated half way to nowhere, but smack dab in the middle of some of the most pristine mountain forest land in the world.
Red Feather is a small mountain town, with a winter population of just 500 people, but a summer crowd of 8000. It is a popular destination site for thousands of fishing & game enthusiasts, mountain hikers, ATV riders, and campers. It's scenary is much like Estes Park's, but it's wildlife is still wild. It is home to Elk, Deer, Moose, Mountain Lions, Bobcats, Bears and Bald Eagles. No wonder so many people want to come here, often times for weeks and months at a time, for the serenity is uncomparable.
The community as whole cherishes this beautiful mountain, and it's many lakes, and wish to preserve it's natural state long into the future. However, that is getting more & more difficult over the years. While Red Feather Lakes prefers to maintain it's historic and quaint environment, some modern features are required to do so.
Take for instance the fueling operations at the Red Feather Trading Post, a store that has been in constant operation, in the middle of Main Street since 1924. Recently a state inspection revealed that there were issues that could result in contamination of its grounds and subsequently the water ways that pass just 50 feet behind it. Additionally, the issues could lead to fire and/or other long term disasters that could harm the community.
Rather than risk such contamination or disaster, the new owners decided to shut the antiquated fueling system down until they could afford the needed yet costly upgrades to prevent such problems. They did not want to risk contaminating or damaging the town or it's waterways, which so many people enjoy and which is the primary source of the town's economic infrastructure.
Sure, it comes at great cost to them personally, for in the fueling industry there is little profit. Fueling operations are primarily a draw, it brings in customers that ordinarily would not stop by. So aside from the loss of fuel sales, there is also a substantial loss of customer traffic.
Well, you might think, that's their problem. Sure it's sad for them, but how does it affect the town?
Recently, a forest fire broke out just 3 miles up the only through road into the mountains. As it was late in the evening there was little warning, and thus little preparation that could be made by the residents, and thousands of visitors. Soon, flames were seen from miles around, flames that reached heights of 40 to 50 ft, and as the wind blew, and the fire traveled quickly up the box canyon where it started, the night sky filled with smoke and the red glow of impending danger. The fire raced toward the main road, the only road that could lead thousands of people safely away, and allow emergency crews access to the hot spot,
Still, there was another problem. As the fire progressed through out the night it became clear that there was a vital need. Since the Trading Post was one of only two fueling systems in town, and it was the only one that allowed fueling 24 hours a day, where were the evacuees and the emergency crews going to get gas? The next closest 24 hour fueling system was over 45 miles away, over a two hour trip through windy mountain roads. Fortunately there was another store with fuel, and they were able to be reached after some time. To their credit, they came back into work until the crisis was averted. That's the way mountain towns work!
But, consider the whole picture. What if they couldn't be reached? What if the amount of fuel in their storage tanks was insufficient, the Trading Post had 60% of the towns fuel capacity before they shut down. What if the the fire was bigger, or faster? What if there were more evacuees and emergency trucks in the area?
Sadly, for the Trading Post and by extention the town, The new owners have only been in business for 10 months. This has raised some problems in financing this needed project. No bank wants to loan $97,000.00 to a start up business, or they don't want to loan on gas fueling operations, and if they did the interest rate would be so high that it would threaten them with going into bankruptcy, ( they did receive one offer for the whole amount, but it had to be paid back to the bank at $320/day; almost $9,000.00 a month). Why don't they want to loan the money? Well essentially, despite their good credit, good earnings and reputation, the lenders can't repossess fuel tanks.
That's why WE are reaching out to YOU. To help our small village, it's beautiful surroundings and wildlife, it's emergency crews, and the thousands of visitors that have made this town a family destination for decades.
The funding will be used to replace the antiquated single wall storage tanks with new fire rated double wall tanks that are safer, more secure and fitted to find and prevent leaks. It will replace the cracking and leaking containment dike with a new foundation. It will keep 24/7 fueling operations here in town instead of having to go 45 miles one way to the next available pump. It will provide greater storage for emergency crews, who don't even need a credit card as they have an open account with the Trading Post. It will provide an emergency phone that the community as a whole can use, ( very poor cell reception up here, and no payphone in the whole town). None of the funds will be used for profit, if we make our goal and if there is any funds left over, it will be donated to the local elementary school.
Your help is greatly appreciated. We thank you, and the whole town thanks you.
Red Feather is a small mountain town, with a winter population of just 500 people, but a summer crowd of 8000. It is a popular destination site for thousands of fishing & game enthusiasts, mountain hikers, ATV riders, and campers. It's scenary is much like Estes Park's, but it's wildlife is still wild. It is home to Elk, Deer, Moose, Mountain Lions, Bobcats, Bears and Bald Eagles. No wonder so many people want to come here, often times for weeks and months at a time, for the serenity is uncomparable.
The community as whole cherishes this beautiful mountain, and it's many lakes, and wish to preserve it's natural state long into the future. However, that is getting more & more difficult over the years. While Red Feather Lakes prefers to maintain it's historic and quaint environment, some modern features are required to do so.
Take for instance the fueling operations at the Red Feather Trading Post, a store that has been in constant operation, in the middle of Main Street since 1924. Recently a state inspection revealed that there were issues that could result in contamination of its grounds and subsequently the water ways that pass just 50 feet behind it. Additionally, the issues could lead to fire and/or other long term disasters that could harm the community.
Rather than risk such contamination or disaster, the new owners decided to shut the antiquated fueling system down until they could afford the needed yet costly upgrades to prevent such problems. They did not want to risk contaminating or damaging the town or it's waterways, which so many people enjoy and which is the primary source of the town's economic infrastructure.
Sure, it comes at great cost to them personally, for in the fueling industry there is little profit. Fueling operations are primarily a draw, it brings in customers that ordinarily would not stop by. So aside from the loss of fuel sales, there is also a substantial loss of customer traffic.
Well, you might think, that's their problem. Sure it's sad for them, but how does it affect the town?
Recently, a forest fire broke out just 3 miles up the only through road into the mountains. As it was late in the evening there was little warning, and thus little preparation that could be made by the residents, and thousands of visitors. Soon, flames were seen from miles around, flames that reached heights of 40 to 50 ft, and as the wind blew, and the fire traveled quickly up the box canyon where it started, the night sky filled with smoke and the red glow of impending danger. The fire raced toward the main road, the only road that could lead thousands of people safely away, and allow emergency crews access to the hot spot,
Still, there was another problem. As the fire progressed through out the night it became clear that there was a vital need. Since the Trading Post was one of only two fueling systems in town, and it was the only one that allowed fueling 24 hours a day, where were the evacuees and the emergency crews going to get gas? The next closest 24 hour fueling system was over 45 miles away, over a two hour trip through windy mountain roads. Fortunately there was another store with fuel, and they were able to be reached after some time. To their credit, they came back into work until the crisis was averted. That's the way mountain towns work!
But, consider the whole picture. What if they couldn't be reached? What if the amount of fuel in their storage tanks was insufficient, the Trading Post had 60% of the towns fuel capacity before they shut down. What if the the fire was bigger, or faster? What if there were more evacuees and emergency trucks in the area?
Sadly, for the Trading Post and by extention the town, The new owners have only been in business for 10 months. This has raised some problems in financing this needed project. No bank wants to loan $97,000.00 to a start up business, or they don't want to loan on gas fueling operations, and if they did the interest rate would be so high that it would threaten them with going into bankruptcy, ( they did receive one offer for the whole amount, but it had to be paid back to the bank at $320/day; almost $9,000.00 a month). Why don't they want to loan the money? Well essentially, despite their good credit, good earnings and reputation, the lenders can't repossess fuel tanks.
That's why WE are reaching out to YOU. To help our small village, it's beautiful surroundings and wildlife, it's emergency crews, and the thousands of visitors that have made this town a family destination for decades.
The funding will be used to replace the antiquated single wall storage tanks with new fire rated double wall tanks that are safer, more secure and fitted to find and prevent leaks. It will replace the cracking and leaking containment dike with a new foundation. It will keep 24/7 fueling operations here in town instead of having to go 45 miles one way to the next available pump. It will provide greater storage for emergency crews, who don't even need a credit card as they have an open account with the Trading Post. It will provide an emergency phone that the community as a whole can use, ( very poor cell reception up here, and no payphone in the whole town). None of the funds will be used for profit, if we make our goal and if there is any funds left over, it will be donated to the local elementary school.
Your help is greatly appreciated. We thank you, and the whole town thanks you.
Organizer
Scott A Porciuncula
Organizer
Red Feather Lakes, CO
