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Greenwood’s brings Southern kick to Ridgway

More than 20 years before opening Greenwood’s in Ridgway, childhood friends Bill Greenwood and Marty Frank dreamed of owning a restaurant together. Th...

December 27, 2023

News

Post-pandemic, rentals still booming

While short-term listings in county have declined since 2019, bookings, revenue are upIn recent months, the state legislature and local governments ac...

December 27, 2023

Top stories of 2023: Fight over winter vehicle access ends at high court

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: END OF ROAD FOR COUNTY ROAD 5 BATTLE The five-year-long battle over winter vehicle access on County Road 5 ended in the Color...

December 27, 2023

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: PROPERTY VALUES SOAR Eye-popping property value increases hit Ouray County in 2023, driven by pricey pandemic-era purchases a...

December 27, 2023

Top stories of 2023: County closes MS Support, ending neighbors’ long battle

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: GROW FACILITY SHUTTERED Ouray County shut down a controversial marijuana grow facility in 2023 after four years of conflicts ...

December 27, 2023

News

Legislators zero in on water, ag issues

Simpson, Catlin preview legislative session, which starts Jan. 10With less than a month until Colorado’s 2024 legislative session kicks off, both of O...

December 27, 2023

News

Ridgway adopts Athletic Park plan

Final concept features high school baseball field, pickleball courts, new playground and bike parkFollowing months of public input and revisions, the ...

December 20, 2023

News

Colona coffee shop to change hands

Ladybird Bakery could reopen after board OKs permit transfer The former La Zona Colona coffee house and bakery could reopen with new ownership, after ...

December 13, 2023

News

Documentary, discussion highlight mental health in mountain towns

A documentary focused on mental health challenges in mountain towns is screening in Ridgway next week, with a goal of highlighting the problem and sta...

December 13, 2023

Feature

Burning questions: The curious past of Ouray’s red cliff door

For observant drivers traversing U.S. Highway 550, Ouray’s red door has been an oddity without rhyme or reason for years. Framed by the cliffs just so...

December 13, 2023

Main, News...

UPDATE: Pilot in fatal crash identified as Canadian man

Investigation underway to determine cause of crash at Silver Jack Reservoir

By Mike

July 13, 2026

The pilot who died when his aircraft went down in Silver Jack Reservoir Sunday was identified Monday as 56-year-old Nicholas Dale of Sooke, British Columbia. The Gunnison County Sheriff's Office confi...

News

Firefighting aircraft goes down in Silver Jack

Body of pilot recovered from crash scene by dive team late Sunday

By Plaindealer Staff

July 12, 2026

An aircraft fighting the Gold Mountain Fire went down in Silver Jack Reservoir in southwestern Gunnison County on Sunday night and the body of the pilot has been recovered from the crash. One person w...

Main, News...

Firefighters gain ground on Gold Mountain Fire

Sheriff allows some evacuees to return home; blaze shifts away from populated areas

By By Mike Wiggins, Erin McIntyre and Deb Hurley Brobst mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

July 8, 2026

Residents forced to flee the Gold Mountain Fire north of Ouray nearly two weeks ago returned to charred landscapes but fully intact homes Wednesday, an indication that authorities believe the threat h...

Main, News...

Despite fire, downsized Fourth celebration marches on

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

July 8, 2026

A scaled-back Fourth of July celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States and 150th birthday of Ouray attracted thousands to the city, despite the cancellation of fireworks, water fights and...

News

First fire, then floods? Leaders start planning for next potential emergency

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

July 8, 2026

Even though the Gold Mountain Fire is still burning, Ouray County officials are already thinking about flash flood risks in the burn scar as Colorado moves into monsoon season. “This is a predictable ...

Daniel Schmidt daniel@ouraynews.com

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines