County OKs permit for Colona restaurant expansion

Jason Beck addresses Ouray County commissioners during a meeting Tuesday in which the board approved a special use permit to expand a restaurant at 35 Hotchkiss Ave. in Colona. Beck and his wife, Jane, plan to open a barbecue restaurant at the location. Photo by James Hanlon | Ouray County Plaindealer

News

By James Hanlon on September 23, 2026

New owners of old roadhouse plan to open barbecue eatery

Ouray County commissioners approved a special use permit Tuesday for a restaurant expansion at the old roadhouse in Colona, which is expected to reopen as a barbecue eatery.

Main, News...

Popular trail needs new steward

Uncompahgre Riverway Trail founder, longtime volunteer ready to step down

By James Hanlon

September 23, 2026

Chip Marlow, the man who spearheaded the construction of the Uncompahgre Riverway Trail from Ridgway to Ridgway State Park, has maintained the multiuse path largely by himself for many years. Now 80 y...

Main, News...

‘Super El Niño’ won’t be savior for West Slope

Officials: Warming Pacific temps may bring more snow but won't wipe out drought or fill reservoirs

By Chart Riggall

September 23, 2026

GRAND JUNCTION — Amid a stream of bad news for Western Slope water stakeholders last week, Russ Schumacher had the pleasure of opening the sluice. Nearly on the far side of the state’s worst drought y...

Main, News...

Judge to hotel: End workforce housing

Injunction prohibits MTN Lodge from housing resort construction workers

By James Hanlon

September 23, 2026

A district court judge has ordered Ridgway's largest hotel to stop housing construction workers who are building a new Four Seasons in Mountain Village. In a preliminary injunction filed Sept. 16, the...

Main, News...

Investigators close case on mine shaft death

Nearly a year later, authorities conclude Ridgway resident Jennifer Nelson accidentally drowned

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

September 23, 2026

Eleven months after rescue volunteers found Jennifer Nelson's body in a water-filled mine shaft on Red Mountain Pass, investigators are left wondering what her final moments looked like. Their case, w...

News

City ready to cut losses with building

More than a year after purchase, council tells staff to sell empty Sixth Avenue property for reduced price

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

September 23, 2026

When the two-story building across the street from Ouray City Hall went up for sale last spring, Ouray city leaders scrambled to buy it, envisioning a top-tobottom renovation culminating in a new, lar...

News

Board recommends denial of Pleasant Valley subdivision for teacher housing donation

By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com

September 23, 2026

An attempted act of generosity began to fall apart when the Ouray County Planning Commission recommended Ouray County commissioners deny a request to subdivide a parcel of land in Pleasant Valley that...

News

Ouray to evaluate cost of fixing bathhouse

Contractor will be paid $85K to assess facility condition

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

September 23, 2026

The city of Ouray will spend up to $85,000 to evaluate the condition of the Ouray Hot Springs Pool bathhouse and determine what it would cost to remodel the facility. A divided Ouray City Council info...

News

County widens search for more disaster aid

Feds den y grant request to protect public infrastructure

By Chart Riggall

September 23, 2026

Ouray County officials must renew their search for additional disaster aid after the federal government dashed their hopes for another significant potential funding source this week. Despite previousl...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

With inflated spending, commissioners break faith of voters, staff

By J Gary Dunn

September 23, 2026

Dear Editor: It is not surprising that Ouray County finds itself in a financial bind because of profligate spending. The pandemic greatly increased visitation to Ouray County and sales tax revenue has...

Letters, Opinion...

Areas beyond Blue Lakes deserving of protection

By Kim Shinew

September 23, 2026

Dear Editor: I would like to thank the previous contributors for sharing their thoughts regarding the use of off-road/off-highway vehicles (ORVs/OHVs) in the backcountry, specifically around Camp Bird...

Feature

Looking Back

September 23, 2026

Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago September 22, 1966 Lady Bird, the tiny mule colt foaled by a Shetland pony, is dead, ...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines