September 2016
How is Crestone changing?
Lynda Kucin
Well, to start with, you could say I like change – as long as it’s change for the good! We came in 1992 and started the Sage, with only 300 people here, kinda crazy to start in the first place. But it grew, and in 2-3 years, we built the popular sunroom. Then I remember the Roadkill Café burning – now the Sangre De Cristo building. It could’ve been an eyesore for years, but Katie Snyder rebuilt it, along with Melanie and Alan. We also watched the new Post Office being built – that was fun.
When the town decided they would work on getting the grant for the streets and sidewalks, I was all for it – I believe it’s going to be good for the town. The other day, Kizzen and I walked around looking at the places where they’re going to place nice, big trees. People can adopt spots to plant flowers, and I only see that as a positive thing.
I think the current changes we’re going through are going to be OK. People are led to Crestone for some reason or other, so let’s give everybody a chance and see how it all works out. Keep an open mind, smile a lot, and wave at people. If you’re friendly, I think you’ll notice that so are they. What I really do appreciate about living here all these years is the quiet and the lack of artificial light, and I would like that not to change. I hope new people will love it, too, and honor that.
Elaine Johnson
For me personally, it’s changed because I’ve lost so many people here, like my grandparents, my father, my aunts and my uncles and they’re all gone. That’s a big change for me, that everyone who went before is gone. The town and the community itself, has really not changed very much – the reasons why people come and why people stay – they’re all the same. And I think the better question is “How should we change?” Crestone is so small that it has such potential.
The change I think should happen, that hasn’t happened – it’s not about the number of people here, or whether we bring business or don’t bring business – It is that the people here need to change their mindsets. They need to be thinking about and working towards the greater good as opposed to meeting their individual personal needs. Even going beyond your spiritual growth and your interactions with family – I’m talking about really looking at this community and what meets the needs of the greater number of people, and if we all start focusing on that, this community could be… limitless!
Meryl Ennis
My husband and I moved here in 1997, and the biggest change we see is the growth – and fewer people waving! More people, more houses, more things happening, more businesses. The Post Office used to be a single-wide trailer and didn’t have enough boxes so you had to go during open hours. Monte, the Postmaster would look at you and go get your mail, “Here’s your mail, dear.” Now, we have a nice big Post Office and Credit Union – instead of driving to Moffat to get money or do banking. The Music Festival has grown. Debbie Morley had this great idea of music out on the golf course. Six of us put that together the first year, and look how it’s grown to be a multi-state event – the biggest party in town!
Regarding all the new concrete in town, I’m not particularly crazy about all these giant curves. Sidewalks are nice, but not the big walls in front of business entrances.
What continues to make Crestone a wonderful community – despite the whirlwind of differences of opinion – is everybody’s commitment to come together when people are in need, whether on an individual basis or through Neighbors Helping Neighbors, which I’ve been a part of and have seen the remarkable amount of giving. They don’t have that in the city. We have that here, and that’s what’s just totally awesome.
Hanne Strong
When I got here in 1977, there were 79 people. The biggest change for me is there were almost no children here. I could count on one hand – Scott Johnson had some children; one of the cowboys had a couple of children. The ranch was operating a regular cow operation, and there were all the cowboys and thousands of cattle and we even had a rodeo ground up by the POA – that they sold – without telling anybody! (laughing) So, it was the cowboys, the old-timers, and the development was supposed to be a village for elderly people – so the people that had bought lots here were all old people. And when we came in, people were astounded – all of a sudden they saw Shamans, Hindu Gurus, Tibetans and people from the Aspen Institute – this whole new crowd of people came in and it was like a shockwave going through town. The New York Times came in and did an interview with the old mayor of Crestone, and the question was, “What do you think of all these changes? All these new people coming in? Tibetans, and this and that.." And the old man, Jack Harlan said, “Well, I’d rather see people from Tibet here than people from New York!” (laughing)
We’ve got the Charter School and the Moffat School – so, all of a sudden, we have all these beautiful children here. And to me, that’s the biggest change from back when you never saw a child. We had all the old-timers in Crestone – but no kids. So anyway, that was the biggest change.
Nick Drake
I think it’s changing for the better, and all the improvements – the sidewalks and the parking areas and everything – have really defined the spaces downtown, so when people visit, they get an idea of where to go. It’s nice having 2 separate grocery stores, a nice hardware & lumber yard, our own ice cream shop & brewery –how exciting is that?! I think it really is changing for the better, but it still has that hometown feel, and we still have our Freebox & things like that as attractions.
When the 21st Amendment Liquor Store was here, you’d go there on a hot summer day and there’d be a mule – we called him “Mulie” – who you’d have to push out of the way to get in to the store, and there's Katie Snyder, who could tell you what kind of beer the friend's you were going to visit were having. And the Roadkill Café had big band music playing from speakers on their little patio where they served food with edible flowers – it was so nice – ya just didn’t wanna leave.
There’s new energy now for sure. When I came in 1994, it seemed a lot of people were moving from Santa Fe and Boulder and building, and I’m seeing a resurgence of this – so it’s still a nice, small community, which is progressing, I think, for the better.
Roy Gould
I’ve seen much good change come to Crestone over my 30 years here – cultural, arts, music, merchants, school, and town development, as the much needed sidewalks. I was hoping for more Eco friendly sidewalks, not massive concert – bad energetic. Maybe boardwalk, from recycle and keep the village-like feeling, or could’ve paved all the roads in town for the same amount money. I’ve envisioned this town as being more alternative, progressive, and self-sufficient. How about a grant to solar power the town and make income from the investment - be self-sufficient. Crestone is an international community, which gives us great diversity. I see good things for the progress and direction of the town if we look towards the future and be progressive in real needs, not the mascara of old.
