Members of the Ouray Ice Park board of directors and an owner of a local guiding company are concerned about the effect an extended closure of County Road 361 is having on the Ice Park and the local economy more broadly.

Frank Robertson, Ouray Ice Park board member, said when the road is closed for avalanche mitigation on behalf of Ouray Silver Mines and people cannot access the backcountry ice, they instead use the Ice Park. That results in overcrowding in the park, which can comfortably handle ...