Breckenridge Magazine Issue 10 2025

HOW WE GOT HERE & WHY WE STAYED

“I’ve cheered on the sidelines, hosted exchange students, and sold anything and everything to fundraise for the kids in our community — giving back from the heart matters to me.” I am Kim. I am a

Keep your active lifestyle going winter, spring, summer, and fall. At CommonSpirit Summit Orthopedics, our team of board-certified, fellowship-trained physicians can help you enjoy skiing, hiking, biking, or whatever it is you love to get out and do. And now’s the perfect time for joint replacement so you’ll be ready to hit the slopes when the snow flies.

Scan the QR code to learn more or schedule an appointment.

Whether you’re a Summit County resident or a visitor to our community, CommonSpirit St. Anthony Summit Hospital is here for all your health care needs.

As Summit County’s full-service hospital, we’re proud to offer a variety of services including: Birth Center Breast Care Services 24/7 Emergency Care  Heart and Vascular

S Park Ave, Breckenridge Copper Mountain

during ski season, 7 days a week (970) 968-2330

THE AVALANCHE FORECAST BEFORE SNOWSHOEING SNOWMOBILING HIKING A WINTER 14er BACKCOUNTRY SKIING SPLITBOARDING ICE CLIMBING

NORDIC SKIING

CHECK THE FREE DAILY DANGER RATING AT COLORADO GOV/AVALANCHE OR SEARCH “CAIC” ON YOUR PHONE’S APP STORE

Download THE B LIKE BRECKENRIDGE APP

Explore town with the expertise of the Breckenridge Welcome Center in your pocket. Enjoy easy GPS-enabled navigation, activity and trail recommendations, tips for your trip and more!

The Official Breckenridge Tourism O ce App for Visitors

I have always been interested in how people made their way to Breckenridge and Colorado’s mountain towns. There are a lot of similarities and a lot more fun, funky and weird narratives about how individuals have ended up in our beautiful community.

I myself am a transplant. I came from Garden City, New York in 1990 after trying out the ski bum life in the Catskill Mountains at Hunter Mountain. My husband and I had jut gotten married and felt that ski bumming would be more respectable on bigger pistes and in their communities. The seed was planted and the dream manifested after an opportunity to Ski Patrol at Keystone Resort came along. My husband packed up as much as he could and took off.

I followed, a month later, after packing up the rest of our stuff into a UHaul. Me, my crazy Malamute/ Wolf hybrid, and a shotgun departed the East and headed West for more adventures than I could have imagined.

It’s been 35 years since I escaped New York and I am now celebrating our 5-year Anniversary of Breckenridge Magazine. Crazily it was crafted during COVID and has grown into what you hold in your hands now. I thought it would be fun to interview a few local folks about how they got here and discover why they have stayed. I love all of their responses and I am sure you will too.

We also have great stories about entrepreneurs who have enhanced our community with their business know how, skills and creativity; Family activites; Restaurant reviews, Home & Real Estate stories and ideas, as well as a terrific photo essay about some of the amazing creatures that call Breckenridge home too.

I struck gold when I moved here. I was looking for fun and found a home complete with incredible friendships and a community of caring compassionate people. I have always believed you have to really want to live here in order to stay. Today I am proud to have a large Breckenridge family who are able to say this is their hometown - and born and raised Breck kids too.

Cheers to Breckenridge!

Holly Battista-Resignolo Founder & Publisher

Cover: Swan Mountain Pass heading South by Holly GoSpritely Media

From the Mountains to the Shore... Adventure

published by MTN Town Media Productions

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LIAM DORAN

Liam is a full-time professional photographer specializing in action sports, landscape, wildlife, and travel. He shoots commercial and editorial assignments around the world but is always happy to be home in Breckenridge with his friends and family. Follow Liam’s adventures at @liam_doran_ outdoors

LISA BLAKE

Lisa Blake is a freelance writer and children’s book author living in Breckenridge, specializing in food writing and ski resort and wellness content. She is happiest on her mountain bike, yoga mat, or in a raft with her husband, son, and pug. Her work has been featured in Purist, Yoga + Life, and 5280 Magazine. Find her at lisablakecreative.com.

ALYSSA PULLEKINES

Born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, Alyssa felt the call of the mountains in Colorado and has happily called Breckenridge home since 2020. Alyssa is the founder and owner of Folcland boutique in Main Street Station, an expression of her love for independent fashion that came to fruition after more than a decade working within the industry in New York City and Pittsburgh. She spends her free time enjoying endless outdoor activities, from downhill and cross-country skiing in the winter to SUP boarding and

JOHN KERNAGHAN

Born in New York, raised in Pennsylvania, but always finding his home in the mountains, John came to Breckenridge in 2019 to chase his passion for snowboarding. John is now a freelance graphic designer and our Design

ELAINE COLLINS

Elaine is a part time professional photographer who enjoys takeing and share photos of beautiful Breckenridge, Summit County, and the world. She loves our community, the events, people and wildlife. We always see her around town and out on the trails.

DANIEL DUNN

Breckenridge ski bum, mountain lover, diabetic. I have fallen in love with being outside a thousand different ways. Love moves quickly, don’t miss it.

CARL SCOFIELD

Carl Scofield lives in Breckenridge, CO where for over twenty-five years he has created a successful career as a full-time freelance photographer. His work has been published both nationally and internationally in many books and magazines including Ski, Skiing, Powder, Outside, Sunset, and many

SHAUNA FARNELL

A Colorado native, Shauna Farnell loves every self-powered means of mountain exploration. She launched her journalism career at the Summit Daily Newspaper in 2000 and after traveling the world as a media correspondent for the International Ski Federation, plus a few years in New York City and Denver, is thrilled to be back in Breckenridge full time.

ELLEN HOLLINSHEAD

A fixture in Breckenridge since 1985, Ellen along with her husband, local character, and town councilman Jeffrey Bergeron have found a way to spend almost every day on skis during the winter, which she defines as generously as possible. “I usually start skiing the minute the snow flies, about the start of October, and I’ll ski six days a week through mid-April.”

LEIGH GIRVIN

Leigh Girvin moved to Breckenridge with her family in the early 1970s when the streets were dirt and the rock piles left by dredge boat mining towered over town. As a child, she attended Breckenridge Elementary and graduated from Summit High School. Seeing dramatic changes over the decades, Leigh dedicated her adulthood to the protection of trails and open space, and later to historical preservation. Leigh’s particular interest is in Breckenridge’s modern history, from the economic decline of the early-20th Century through resurgence as a ski town.

Ellen Reid Joins The Summit Foundation

Ellen Reid joins The Summit Foundation as their Executive Director

The Summit Foundation is pleased to announce that Ellen Reid has officially begun her role as the organization’s new Executive Director.

Ellen brings to the Foundation a wealth of nonprofit leadership experience and a personal commitment to the Summit County community. She joins the Summit Foundation from her role as Director of Community Impact at Breckenridge Grand Vacations and is widely recognized for her 16 years as the Executive Director of the Keystone Science School, where her leadership and passion for education were instrumental in transforming the organization’s impact. During her tenure, she demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication to youth education, and a passion for the community.

Ellen’s background also includes teaching middle school math and science, where she fostered a love for learning in students and created engaging classroom environments. This teaching experience, combined with her work in outdoor education, has shaped her belief in the power of hands-on learning and community engagement as essential tools for making lasting positive change.

“Ellen’s extensive background in education, community-building, and nonprofit leadership makes her the perfect fit for this role,” said Summit Foundation Board President, Barb Rankin. “Her deep understanding of our community’s needs, combined with her proven ability to lead and inspire, will help the Summit Foundation continue to thrive and serve our community.”

Beyond her professional achievements, Ellen is a familiar face in the community. Whether trail running with her dogs, coaching swimming, or spending time with her husband and two children, Ellen’s personal investment in Summit County is clear.

“I am honored to step into this role and join an organization that has such a profound impact on our community,” said Ellen Reid. “I’m excited to work alongside the Board, staff, and our incredible supporters to build upon the Foundation’s legacy and explore new opportunities to address the evolving needs of Summit County.”

Ellen has hit the ground running, immersing herself in the Foundation’s work and connecting with the many individuals and organizations that make its impact possible. As she begins to chart a path forward,

en is focused on advancing the Foundation’s mission, fostering collaboration, and ensuring the organization’s continued growth and sustainability.Looking ahead, the Summit Foundation is excited to work with Ellen to build on its strong foundation and expand its positive impact across Summit County and beyond. Community members are encouraged to stop by and meet Ellen as she leads the Foundation into this exciting new chapter.

Learn More: www.thesummitfoundation.org

Explore the Outdoors with Colorado Mountain College

Founded nearly 60 years ago, Colorado Mountain College, with 11 campuses scattered among the state’s mountain resort region, offers a wide range of non-credit community classes to fully accredited bachelor’s degrees. Among those programs are a vast array of outdoor education courses sure to pique the interest of any outdoor enthusiast.

Whether you’re looking to boost your backcountry skills or pursue a career in the outdoors, CMC offers multiple options.

At the Breckenridge and Dillon campuses in Summit County, community members can take hands-on, seasonal classes in wilderness medicine, avalanche safety

and more — perfect for locals and visitors alike who want to deepen their mountain know-how. These courses offer practical skills for exploring Colorado’s high country safely and confidently.

For those looking to turn a passion for the outdoors into a profession, CMC offers college degrees in outdoor education, outdoor recreation leadership and environmental science. These immersive programs blend classroom learning with field expeditions in leadership, risk management, group facilitation and sustainability.

With campuses located in the heart of the Rockies, CMC’s outdoor programs are deeply rooted in place-based education.

Students and community members alike benefit from real-world training in one of the most stunning natural classrooms in the country.

CMC Breckenridge is at 107 Denison Placer Road, 970-453-6757 and CMC Dillon is at 333 Fiedler Ave, 970-468-5989. Nearby campuses include Leadville, Vail Valley at Edwards and Steamboat Springs, plus six more through Colorado’s central mountains.

To learn more or to sign up for a class visit: www.coloradomtn.edu

BY

PHOTO

JOE KUSUMOTO

BY EDDIE

The 2025 Breck Epic spreads its Wings Downtown this Summer

Get ready for the multi-day mountain bike stage race, plus a week-long Breckenridge festival

By Shauna Farnell

Every August, hundreds of the world’s most rugged mountain bikers pedal from downtown Breckenridge to the most stunning and difficult trails in the area for a long day in the saddle. They do this for six days in a row. They often cross the finish line mud-splattered, sometimes wet and bloody, but almost always smiling.

After 15 years, the Breck Epic has morphed from a hardcore, multi-day bike race to a full-blown festival of bike love. Landing Aug. 10-15, this six-day stage race is one of the world’s most challenging feats on fat tires. Riders tackle the most scenic, iconic singletrack in and around Breckenridge. Stage distances range from 25 to 42 miles and tackle a (literally) breathtaking 3,700 to 7,000 feet of climbing per day. You’re a hero if you can do the whole race solo, but there’s also a duo category (suffer with a friend!), relay and three-day solo categories. Yes, there’s hardened pros that

win the thing, but also a strong contingent of hard-charging and hard-partying recreational riders. The event is capped at 500-700 riders (sorry, no e-bikes) and the camaraderie is off the chain. Registration is available right up until race start, but the 2025 race is close to being sold out. The event always welcomes volunteers (another way to partake in the camaraderie and land some swag).

This summer, the Epic partners with the Town of Breckenridge for a week-long downtown bike expo.

“There’s a little something for everyone, not just the competitors,” says Breck Epic founder and mastermind Mike McCormack. “Attendees can demo bikes, watch the 2025 Ritual MTB Film Tour, hang out in the Shredly Women’s Lounge, participate in a tech or skills clinic, or take a tour of Breck’s best during any one of a huge number of group rides. And that’s just the short list.”

For more details, visit: www.breckepic.com

PHOTO

GoBreck App

Discover Breckenridge with the ultimate guide to our community with the B Like Breckenridge App!

Using a GPS-powered map, this app provides information and resources for bus stops, restrooms, and water refill stations.

Learn what’s happening around town and find tips for embracing Breckenridge’s adventurous spirit with directions to bus-accessible snowshoe and cross-country skiing trails. The app points you to trailheads that are easy to reach. Adventure, convenience, and sustainability—all in one app! You will definitely want to download this one!

Head to your app store or Gobreck.com

Nonprofit Nook

TLC Acupuncture & Natural Medicine

by Lisa Blake

Dr. Tami Clark invites us to get to the root cause of our ailments. Using acupuncture and natural medicine modalities that include Western herbalism, traditional Chinese medicine and reiki, she has helped patients get back on their feet and solve debilitating pain and anxiety.

Acupuncture works through 12 meridians that run throughout the body. Our chi or energy can get stuck or stagnate in these channels. With needle placement along those meridians or trigger points, balance can be returned to the body.

This spring, a woman came to Dr. Tami with a cyst near her eye. Her optometrist had recommended surgery to remove it. After a trio of acupuncture sessions, the cyst was gone. Following an MRI, another woman came to Dr. Tami’s office with a gallbladder full of gallstones and a desire to forgo the surgical route.

“We did some acupuncture and I put her on some Chinese medicine and, after several months, her gallstones were down to a third of the amount,” Dr. Tami says. “She’s been able to avoid surgery completely.”

Another gentleman with back pain had tried chiropractic care and massage for two years to no avail. After the first

Plastic Free Breckenridge

On July 1st, 2024, a Breckenridge ordinance banned the sale of single-use plastic water bottles of less than one gallon. The ordinance is part of the Town of Breckenridge effort to reduce municipal solid waste by 20%. Local businesses can still sell water that is less than one gallon as long as it is packaged in non-plastic containers, such as aluminum cans. Instead, Breckenridge residents and visitors are encouraged to use reusable water bottles, which can be refilled at the town’s many water refill stations.

www.sustainablebreck.com

acupuncture session, he felt better. After a second round, his pain was 80 percent gone.

She’s been called a miracle worker, an endearing term that Dr. Tami welcomes, explaining that the reward lies in seeing her patients get off the table feeling much better.

Dr. Tami believes this form of medicine should be available to everyone and so she has expanded TLC Wellness to include a nonprofit arm, offering access to affordable acupuncture and holistic healthcare for the underserved. These special appointments—squeezed into her weekly schedule in between regular patients— focus on those with financial hardship and the heroes that serve our country, such as active military, police, firefighters and teachers. This self-pay service (credit card or cash) covers an initial one-hour treatment with 45-minute follow-ups. Anyone with financial need can book online (career status and income will be verified before appointments occur) and expanded treatments like cupping, e-stim or tuina can be included as needed. Grants and nonprofit funding help cover treatment costs.

Find Dr. Tami and TLC Acupuncture & Natural Medicine at 101 N. Main St. in Breckenridge and online at tlc-wellness. org.

www.tlc-wellness.org.

Breckenridge Animals at Altitude

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We love our treeline critters! Some of these beautiful creatures spend the majority of their lives high above treeline in the harshest of climates.

Mountain Goats, pictured left, prefer high-altitude, rugged terrain, seldom venturing below the treeline except in severe winter weather. These magnificent creatures were introduced to Colorado in the 1940s for hunting, they are now a well-established part of the landscape. Pikas, pictured above, are found in talus – fields and slopes of broken rock – above ~8,000’ in elevation. Keep your eyes open for grayish-brown critters with large ears and no tails. They’ll often be scurrying between the rocks or taking in the view from a particularly prominent perch. Even if you don’t spot one, you’ll likely hear them: they have a distinctive, squeaky Eep! call that’s particularly loud for such a tiny animal.

Yellow Bellied Marmots, pictured below, are the largest of the Colorado ground squirrels, a close relative of the groundhog (woodchuck) of the East and Midwest. They typically choose to dig burrows under rocks and live in colonies of up to twenty.

Photos Captured by Elaine Collins Photography

Breck Made

Entrepreneurs are the life blood of every town and we have a ton of them. Here are a few Breckenridge Made products for you to enjoy

MOCK

Helix Coffee Roasters

Fresh Roasted + Method Brewed In Breckenridge

Sourcing beans from Guatemala, Ethiopia and Brazil, Helix Coffee owners James and Megan Adamson are filling a small batch bean-to-bag niche in Summit County. The husband-wife team opened a humble roasting and retail space on Airport Road in Breckenridge in March 2025 and say local coffee lovers and commercial kitchens are jumping onboard.

“We source with intention and roast with purpose,” James says. “After months of testing, we’ve perfected dialing in flavor profiles and roasting at altitude.”

Thanks to a grant from the Town of Breckenridge, Helix Coffee is introducing a canister refill program aimed at reducing waste in the county. The bring-your-own container bean-filling service will divert thousands of coffee bags from landfills.

Find Helix Coffee beans in Breck at Cool River, Danielle’s Delights and The Crown; stop by the retail space at 1790 Airport Rd., or use Helix’s simple online ordering tool and schedule a pick-up time or have their beans mailed.

helixcoffeeco.com

411 S. Main St., Unit #21, Breckenridge

ONE

Mock One is a premium line of non-alcoholic spirits from Breckenridge Distillery, created to deliver the complexity, depth, and experience of traditional spirits—without the alcohol.

Designed by award-winning spirit experts and cocktail artisans, Mock One includes expressions inspired by whiskey, gin, tequila, and rum, offering bold and nuanced flavor profiles crafted for the modern, mindful drinker. Made to enjoy in a mocktail, Mock One allows consumers to savor the flavor of fine spirits with zero compromise.

Born from Breckenridge Distillery’s commitment to innovation and quality, Mock One is redefining the non-alcoholic drinking experience for everyone—from the sober curious to cocktail connoisseurs.

www.breckenridgedistillery.com

How to Love Your Pet Books

Lisa Blake, local writer and author of several books, How To Love Your Pug, How to Love Your Rescue Pup and How to Love Your Golden, are adorable children’s picture books that are targeted to little ones to learn about how to care for their own critters and how to love them. .

How To Love Your Pug was crafted together with her son during the height of the Pandemic. Illustrator Nadine Rebrovic, a colleague of Lisa’s from the publishing world who lives in Breckenridge part-time and is doing pet portraits.

These books are for anyone who loves dogs. Find her mindful book series, on Barnes and Noble, Target, Amazon as well as local bookstores and boutiques.

Mountain Essentials

Mountain Essentials is a Colorado company based right down the road in Fairplay, CO that specializes in goat’s milk soap & natural skin care. All products are made with love, using only the best ingredients & benefits goat’s milk has to offer.

Goat’s milk has vitamins and minerals that help the skin rebuild, add elasticity and help skin retain moisture. Find their Soap, Lotions, Balms and Candles at Ready Paint Fire and select locations in Breckenridge as well as their business location in Fairplay. Head over and take a tour.

www.mountainessentialsllc.com

Breckpreneurs

Joy of Sox - Annie Evans

Preserving Breckenridge’s Small Town Allure

By Lisa Blake

For many repeat visitors to Breckenridge, a trip to Joy of Sox tops their mustdo list. The playful, gift-filled boutique draws shoppers in from Main Street with its walls of buttery soft, hilariously clever and adorably give-worthy keepsake socks along with a slew of souvenirs and other cozy accoutrements. If visitors are lucky, the store’s owner Annie Evans will be in, offering her caring smile and help navigating the ever-changing inventory.

Joy of Sox has been a Breckenridge retail staple for more than 30 years and Evans works hard to ensure her thriving business stays interesting. In addition to any type of sock one might need, she stocks racks and shelves with colorful bags, scarves, jewelry, gag gifts, games, and family goodies for every generation.

Evans and her husband Rick Asher, who owns locally loved ski tuning stop Pup’s Glide Shop, have raised two snow-loving kids in Breckenridge—both Levi and Geneva spent time as competitive skiers— and say the key to long-term mountain living is finding that delicate work-play balance.

“We have a group of friends who meet every Thursday on the mountain,” Evans says. “This group is still skiing and still playing. After all these years, we haven’t lost our love for it.”

Nodding to her small staff of dedicated locals, Evans is able to work from home a couple of days a week, work in the shop a couple of days and play the remaining days. “It’s hard to find people who are sticking around and can afford to live here year round. I’m so grateful for them.”

Evans and her family and staff work diligently to “keep Breckenridge Breckenridge,” encouraging shopping local and keeping sales tax dollars circulating within the community. She’s a part of the Shop

“Our sales tax dollars help support things that locals love — the rec center and the parks, Breck Create and all the great things that make Breck Breck,” she says. “We do what we can to maintain that small town resort feel.”

The circle of resort community life has gotten a little more challenging to maintain over recent years with the rise of one-click online and big box shopping. But, Evans says, it’s what makes up the fabric of our community and there’s a certain slice of pride that comes from a Main Street lined with locally owned stores.

“We know the people that walk in the door,” she says. “There’s no personality in boring and uninteresting corporate stores. We want to stay small town, stay interesting. We don’t want to become Aspen.”

Find Joy of Sox at 324 S. Main St. in Breckenridge and online at: www.joyofsoxinbreck.com.

Breck retail group, a collection of small businesses promoting each other and staying mindful about keeping dollars local.

Breckpreneurs

Ro Mayberry Wants to Heal the World One Client at a Time

By Shauna Farnell

Focusing on fascia and lymphatic work, Ro Mayberry has built a reputation for fixing people

Throughout 20 years of practicing massage therapy, Ro Mayberry has earned enough certifications and licenses to fill a large binder. As a one-woman operation these days, she describes herself as a Rolfer® who also specializes in fascia-focused massage. What does that mean, exactly? Well, it’s not your typical scented oils and hot stone rub down.

“We call it voodoo,” jokes long-time client Mark Benson. “Ro does not give you what you’re expecting, but what your body needs. What she does melds together into a beautiful soup of massage. It’s like a multi-layered grilled cheese sandwich.”

Focusing on injury recovery, pain management and athletic performance, Mayberry begins each session evaluating the client as they stand barefoot and walk across the room. She makes simple yet startling observations. She points out habits that clients never realized they had. Maybe they dump all their weight onto one leg, crunch their toes, or stand with a head tilt. All of this informs her session, which focuses on manipulating fascia –the body’s connective tissue that surrounds muscle, nerves and organs.

“I like to think of fascia as the architecture of the body,” Mayberry says. “It surrounds everything in your body. It glides, slides, moves, responds to pressure. It’s the most fascinating tissue network in the body that responds to manual work.”

Growing up with a gypsy-like lifestyle and artistic sensibilities, always relishing work with her hands, Mayberry moved to Breckenridge in 2002. She earned a living in restaurants and coffee shops before realizing massage was the ultimate way to improve

lives through hands-on work. She commuted to Boulder to earn a massage therapy certification and co-founded her inaugural local massage clinic in 2006.

After several years of further education – earning her EMT License, taking pre-requisite classes for P.A. school and commuting to Georgia for two years to get her Rolfing® certification – all while pursuing her athletic dreams as a pro mountain biker, Mayberry Wellness opened in 2020.

“I love creating a space and environment where people can transform and grow in ways they would never expect or have sensation in a body part they haven’t felt for years,” she says. “It’s amazing when someone stands up and cries because it’s the first time they’ve stood up without pain in years. I had someone who finished a 10 Series and told me they were an inch taller in their annual exam.”

Benson, who works in construction and skis hard, has seen Mayberry regularly for about five years, including for a 10-session Rolfing® series. He credits the bodywork for overcoming a number of injuries and ailments, including hip surgery, shoulder surgery, nagging knee pain and a bad fall in which he compressed vertebra and damaged his scapula.

“The work makes improvements at a cellular level. I experience a lot of relief at every session,” he says.

Mayberry’s schedule is usually booked out for weeks. She aims to work meticulously with only four clients a day. “I’m trying to heal the world one client at a time,” she says.

Want a glimpse of Mayberry’s magic? She also leads free group classes – YesYoga – at the Breckenridge Library on Friday mornings.

www.mayberrywellness.com

Horsing Around

By Lisa Blake

How time spent on horseback may just be the answer to our kids’ screen time overload

When my son opted for horse camp over mountain bike or football camp last summer, I thought hmm, well, this is different, but let’s try it out. The mom in me was a little hesitant and doubtful that my (at the time) 8-year-old, who bemoans the smallest requests to help take out the trash or empty the dishwasher at home, would follow through with the camp’s obligatory, and most likely stinky, ranch chores. As a midwest gal who grew up on farms in southern Iowa, I remember—with equal parts cringe and pride—how much work goes into caretaking for animals.

When camp week rolled around in mid-June, I drove him over the pass and south of Fairplay to Far View Horse Rescue & Rehabilitation and he gladly skipped off to join his forever friend, whose mom had originally told us how cool horse camp was for her daughter.

Every day, I’d pick him up after camp and every day he jumped in the car with bright-eyed stories of shoveling manure, filling water buckets and brushing the majestic creatures. The best parts, he said, was gathering eggs from the ducks, laughing at the goats’ antics and, of course, his daily riding lessons in the arena.

As parents, the affirming piece was knowing he was learning life lessons—and that hours of mindless summer vacation screen time had been swapped for fresh air. He became more in tune with the animals’ energy and his own energy, felt a sense of accomplishment and teamwork managing chores as a group, and there was definite heightened confidence that his father and I both noticed within the first couple of days. He was feeling what it was like to take care of something bigger than anything he’d ever known. And, in return, he earned the trust of his favorite new equine companions, comfortably petting their long noses, walking behind their twitching tails and stepping into stirrups like a pro.

Far View Horse Rescue founder and director Kimberly Kissmann is a retired teacher and mother of two boys. She values the importance of commitment, communication and confidence and infuses those principles into everything the non-profit organization does.

“I love to witness the self confidence that is gained during these horse connection times,” Kissmann says. “The exposure of magical moments with horses are endless.”

Digging deeper into equine therapy and its affect on kids, I was pleased to learn that recent studies have shown interacting with horses can actually reduce cortisol levels (a stress hormone) and increase feelings of calm. That, since horses are highly sensitive to human emotions and mirror our energy and reactions, kiddos gently learn to manage their own emotions more effectively. That children who participated in horse-based programs demonstrated higher self-esteem and greater responsibility.

With these findings aligning with our fast-paced, screen-obsessed society’s craving for emotional regulation and more time outside, horse camps and equine therapy opportunities are cropping up across the nation. In Breckenridge, we’re lucky to have a handful of nearby options to lift our kids up, into the saddle and beyond.

Two Horse Rescue Nonprofits We Love

Summit Valley Horse Center 35405 Highway 9 Silverthorne, CO 80498 www.summitvalleyhorsecenter.org

Far View Horse Rescue & Rehabilitation

187 Wooly Worm Lane Fairplay, CO 80440 www.farviewhorserescue.com

Breckenridge Outfitters is an Orvis endorsed full service fly fishing pro shop and outfitter located in beautiful downtown Breckenridge Colorado. We offer numerous guide trip options 365 days a year. Whether you are a world class angler or just wanting to learn, we offer a wonderful experience and is a great activity for the entire family.

Shop Breck

Locally Crafted + Curated can be found when you Shop

Breck

by Alyssa Pullekines

Did you know our beautiful mountain town is home to dozens of unique, locally owned small businesses? We’re here to help you find the best of the best locally owned boutiques. From specialty food merchants and local art gallerias to trendy women’s apparel and independent outdoor recreational stores, there is truly something for everyone!

SPICYHEART

Jewelry + Hat Studio

Alicia Clark Fulcher is known by many under her creative title Spicyheart. A self-taught artist from Peru who has called Breckenridge home for nearly two decades, Spicyheart is an ever-evolving expression of creative freedom rooted in mysticism and a deep love for nature. After years selling at markets and pop-ups, Alicia opened her first store and studio in June 2024 where she handcrafts brass, silver, and gold fill jewelry, wearable talismans, and custom adorned sombreros (a mountain style staple!). In addition to serving as a studio and store, Spicyheart’s retail space serves as a “sanctuary” where Alicia hosts private events and intimate workshops from jewelry making to intuitive painting and guided rituals.

Find your Spicy at 100 S Ridge Street, Unit 202 + online at https:// www.spicyheartshop.com/. In the summer, you can also find Spicyheart at the Breckenridge Sunday Market hosted in Main Street Station.

OFF THE SLOPES

Keepsakes + Functional Gifts

Off the Slopes is a family affair founded in 2021 owned and operated by father + son Sam and Steve Harris. Having called Breckenridge home for over five decades, their family believes it is a great place for their store and are proud to offer high quality, locally made keepsakes that make unique souvenirs and excellent

Shop Breck

gifts. Their specialty offerings include knives, local hand-made ceramics + housewares, and custom steel + wood artwork made by hand in their Breckenridge workshop using techniques like laser engraving, plasma cutting, and wood fabrication. Steve also offers professional knife + tool sharpening and the duo is proud to offer custom commissions including steel signs, laser engraved hang tags, and gifts or promotional items.

Find them at 224 S Main Street + online at www.offtheslopes.com. In the summer, you can also find Off the Slopes at the Breckenridge Sunday Market hosted in Main Street Station and at select local art fairs.

LIMBER GROVE Gear + Experiences

“Highly elevated + deeply rooted” are words that Limber Grove founder Mason Mitchell lives by. Mason started Limber Grove from his van in 2015, going door to door across mountain towns connecting with local creatives. Limber Grove now has four storefronts curating everything from functional gear to artwork, jewelry, playing cards, and soft goods from over 200 mountain town vendors, all sold alongside their house line of apparel that is designed + screen printed at their Breckenridge workshop. A portion of all sales goes to outdoor nonprofits. Starting this year, Limber Grove is partnering with Colorado Outdoor Adventures to offer excursions + experiences through their Breckenridge Outfitter storefront, further connecting their products to their passions.

Find them at 222 South Main Street + online at www.limbergrove. com. Road tripping? You can also find Limber Grove a few hours down the road in Salida, Colorado at their newly opened storefront on 143 North F Street.

Explore the Shop Breck merchnats page to discover all that Main Street Breckenridge has to offer and be sure to #shoplocal and #shopbreck during your next trip to Breckenridge.

www.shoplocalbreckenridge.com

HOW WE GOT HERE WHY WE STAYED

LEE LUCAS

Story By Leigh Girvin

Photos by Lee Lucas (left and middle right)

Lee Lucas left a legacy of fun in Breckenridge that locals still remember today: April Fool’s Day parties in Horseshoe Bowl, the ZLTV station, and a massive catalogue of videos that captured Breckenridge’s early ski town years.

Lucas departed Breckenridge over thirty years ago, yet his impact continues. And this summer, you’ll get to see why. In August, the Breckenridge International Festival of the Arts (BIFA) will premier “Breck Rewind,” a compilation of Lucas’ rare video footage from the 1970s and 1980s.

The Army taught Lee Lucas how to ski in the late-1960s. His war assignments kept him out of danger: he threw disk and shot put for the Army Track Team in Europe, then drove a jeep for U.S. service members on R&R in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. There, he didn’t just learn to ski, he excelled, applying his surfing background to snow. Soon Lucas was forerunning race courses and skiing with legend Willy Bogner.

Back home in 1969, Lucas worked for his uncle helping build the tarmacs at Denver’s Stapleton Airport. Taking a break, Lee visited Breckenridge. Waiting in line to buy a lift ticket, he stood out in his red one-piece Bogner ski suit. “No one wore one-piece suits in those days,'' he explained. A man asked him if he could ski. "Yes sir," he replied. It was Harry Baum, Sr., owner of the ski area. He offered Lee a free lift ticket and they skied a few runs. Baum introduced Lee to everyone. Soon Lee a job and a place to live in Breckenridge.

Lucas began taking skiers on tours and competing on the Midas Muffler Chevrolet Freestyle Circuit with wild exhibitions of skiing before a judging panel giving points in Aerial, Moguls, and Ballet.

At the end of two seasons, Lee didn’t need a panel of judges to pull his tricks; a local audience and a camera would do. He famously jumped over the old Ski Patrol shack on Peak 8, and purposely rolled down the Front Bowl holding his running video camera. Warren Miller included Lee in several movies, including with Mike Wiegele helicopter tours in Canada.

Lucas moved behind the camera when he started his “See Yourself Ski” video nights. “We’d advertise the day before where we would be shooting,” he explained. People flocked to the bar to watch themselves ski. "It was a real money maker for The Depot Bar. [Owner] Jim Vaughn loved it.''

Lucas created a product people could buy. He shot film on Super8, included an intro clip on Breckenridge, and edited footage for the client. Today, it’s no big deal to video yourself skiing, but in the 1970s, Lucas was on the vanguard.

Technology changed rapidly and Lucas moved to the next iteration: video and television. Lucas partnered with experienced TV producer Tom Foster to create ZLTV, investing in equipment and a studio on Boreas Pass Road with a head-end on Bald Mountain, “the Highest Station in the Nation at 13,069 feet.”

There Lucas and Foster boosted the skiing lifestyle with ski videos, events, and interviews of famous people visiting the area. They distributed their show, “Rocky Mountain Lift Ticket,” via videotape to cable stations across the country, eventually reaching 3.5 million viewers monthly.

ZLTV’s ‘Good Morning Summit County’ show began the on-air career of Biff America, aka Jeffrey Bergeron, beloved comic, columnist, and former Breckenridge councilmember. Bergeron remembered Lucas from his early years as “a statesman of Breckenridge, charismatic, welcoming, and also a free spirit who reflected the image of the community of the time.”

In 1992, Lucas produced his last video in Breckenridge: Lee Lucas Video Productions Presents "Speed, Powder & Rock’n Roll” about ski hall-of-famer and speed-skiing Olympian John C.J. Mueller.

Lucas left Breckenridge in 1992 after years of wear and tear, and a broken back. He relocated to Duck Key, Florida to heal, returning to his love of salt water and fishing. Today he takes people out on his boat, First Love Charters. Lee reports that life is good living on the water with his high school sweetheart and wife, Lynn B. Lucas, where he revels in family fun, teaching kids to fish, and sunset tours.

He still misses Breckenridge, his friends, and “the rush” of skiing. “I know Shamus [O’Toole] claims this quote, but I came up with it in Breckenridge in the 70’s and it’s true for me today,” Lucas concluded,

“I've Never Had Too Much Fun!”

See: BRECKENRIDGE REWIND AUG 16, 2025 • Saturday - 7:30pm–8:45pm Doors at 7:00 pm

Breckenridge International Festival of Art’s - Breckenridge Rewind will seek to showcase the “roots” of Breckenridge and our modern community while highlighting local filmmaking of the ‘70s and ‘80s.

In partnership with BIFA, Breck History & Breck Film will present a series of Breckenridge news and lifestyle clips from the 1970s and 1980s from Lee Lucas and Lucas Video Productions. Film topics range from skiing, biking, climbing, Ullr Fest, pub crawls, snow sculptures, weddings, and more.

SUZANNE LIFGREN

Finally Home to Stay

By Daniel Dunn

I “Love doggies.” A simple statement, to be sure—but one that offers a tiny glimpse into Suzanne Lifgren. It doesn’t come close to summing her up, not remotely, but it does hint at who she is. Almost on cue, as if from a Hollywood sound stage, an adorable golden retriever trotted over to our table at a downtown Breckenridge coffee shop—tail wagging, tongue lolling, kisses freely given.

Finding that coffee shop to meet Suzanne, in the off-season in a ski town, turned into a bit of a comedy. Snow, rain, and off-season closures had us playing a frustrating game of tag-meets-hideand-seek. On the fourth try, we finally succeeded. Over the next hour, as I got to know Suzanne, a story unfolded—a life well lived, shaped by her adventurous spirit and her curiosity to find out what lay beyond, only to find out that the “good life” was waiting back home in Breck.

Suzanne has come and gone from Breckenridge over the years, but now that she’s truly settled into the picturesque mountain town, she promises she is not leaving. According to her, it’s just different here—in all the right ways. She grew up in Rhode Island. She skied, sure, but she’d be the first to tell you she wasn’t a skier. What she really knew was that she wanted to explore the world beyond. That’s how she ended up on the opposite coast, attending UCLA. She loved school, going on to earn a master’s degree in cardiovascular physiology. And she used that degree, helping people recover after open-heart surgery—a demanding but deeply meaningful path. But as life tends to do, things shifted. Work became less fulfilling, and Suzanne found herself “between jobs.” That’s

when she decided to visit her brother in Breck. His car had broken down during a cross-country trip—a classic Colorado mountain-town origin story. With some free time on her hands, she flew out to visit him and the mountains. Just a quick vacation. While she was there, she casually checked out a few local job openings—“just for the summer,” she told herself.

Sometimes, life has other plans. She was hired at the Peak 9 base area medical center, back when it was under an early version of High Country Health Care. Summer in the Colorado mountains is magical, and soon, she was having

too much fun to think about going back to L.A. A short-term lease turned into a longer stay. The next chapter had begun. Suzanne is vibrant and quick to smile—the kind of person who makes friends easily. But even for someone outgoing, moving to a small town where you know just a couple of people can be tricky. She told me about one of the best parts of the Breckenridge community in the mid-’90s: “The outdoor social scene was incredible. People just had “that attitude of, ‘Hey, we’re going to do this—do you wanna go?’ That was always awesome to me.”

Dogs almost always came along. Those early years passed in a joyful blur of skiing, softball, hiking, learning to mountain bike, and building friendships. Eventually, she met a great guy named Jeff. They fell in love, got married, and started a family. Jeff landed a job with Vail Resorts, and the next chapter of their lives led them away from Breckenridge, even as their love and appreciation for their adopted hometown deepened.

They moved their young family first to Pennsylvania, then to Park City, Utah—a town high on many people’s “best places to live” list. They embraced both places, making the most of work and family life. Still, nothing quite compared to Summit County (Breckenridge), CO. While in Park City, Suzanne worked for the Sundance Film Festival and Jeff stayed with Vail Resorts. Yet despite working in the heart of the town’s main industries, they didn’t feel truly connected. “When we got there the difference in the community and the people was apparent. There’s not nearly the addiction to the outdoors; here (Breckenridge) the soccer games are happening and you see the whole community. Between our jobs (there), we would meet a lot of people, and for being connected inside the community, we were still feeling not that connected.”

Breckenridge had become the benchmark—and in its absence, its uniqueness became even clearer. Other towns may have been more affordable or more practical, especially with extended family nearby, but they didn’t bring the same joy or sense of belonging. The Lifgrens realized that Breckenridge wasn’t just beautiful—it was home.

Part of what makes Breck so special is its people. Residents—full-time and part-time—give back with open hearts and open wallets. They volunteer at rates that rival anywhere in the country. Whether it’s trail-building, guiding artists during the International Snow Sculpture Festival, or supporting the local film fest or National Repertory Orchestra, people show up. They care. And that energy is contagious and hard to recreate.

Suzanne captures it best:

“The small-town strength of people who live here and care for each other—but with a big-time ideology and global consciousness; people who’ve traveled the world and done cool stuff, but they want to be here. People are friendly and understand the beauty of where they live; {they’re} welcoming and caring all at the same time.” She later spoke about the people and “how friendly people are across different statuses, how James Earl Jones (actor) can sit and talk to the bartender about fly-fishing. That is what’s cool about here.” They know how lucky they are.

Today, Suzanne serves as the Marketing and Communications Director for the Summit Foundation. Her job is dynamic and impactful. She’s in contact with a wide range of people across Summit County every day. The Foundation collects funds from countless sources and distributes them as scholarships to high school graduates, helping them take that next step toward their dreams. Suzanne works closely with students and their families—it’s deeply rewarding.

At the end of the day, everything has come full circle for Suzanne and Jeff. They love their jobs, but they never forget where they live—this incredible mountain playground. Skiing, biking, rafting, camping, and seeing friends? That’s practically a full-time gig. And they know just how fortunate they are.

The adventure continues. And Suzanne is enjoying every minute of it. “There’s just something about the vastness here—it sucks you in. It’s SOOOO beautiful. I’ve lived here for 30 years, and I still take pictures every single day.”

She adds one final thought: “There’s something different about moving somewhere to be with your tribe, instead of growing up in that area, that connects you a little bit more. You’re there for it. And that’s what’s different about Breck. On that sunny day in the summer, you need to go for a bike ride and your supervisor says, ‘Go!’ It’s a different mentality.”

In the end, it all makes sense. Like the dog who came up to us at the coffee shop, instinctively knowing we were friendly and would accept him, Suzanne and her family instinctively knew that Breckenridge was where they belonged. It wasn’t just a stop along the way for a brief summer. It was home.

KEVIN “LITCH” POLICH

By Holly Resignolo

From Lifty to Whiskey: Kevin “Litch” Polich’s Unexpected

Breckenridge

Life

A Passion for the People, Our Beautiful Places and Community Paved the Way For a Lucky Life In Breckenridge

It was December 1989, and Kevin “Litch” Polich had just wrapped up college and was back in Wisconsin for the holidays when an idea he and his friends had hatched was brought to fruition. “Litch” and three friends loaded up two cars, grabbed a set of walkie-talkies from Radio Shack to communicate on the road (it was the early ’90s, after all), and headed west toward the Rockies. Their destination: Breckenridge. Their plan: stay for one season.

“I had been on a few ski trips to Colorado, including Breckenridge, through my college ski club,” Litch says. “If you were lucky enough to have been an officer and could get 3 friends to sign up, you went for free. So naturally, I recruited everyone I could.”

He had never seen Breckenridge in the summer—until the season before he made the move. “I came out with friends to find work and a place to live, but everyone just said, ‘Come back in December.’ So we did.”

The Wild West of Housing

Litch and his friends returned in December as everyone advised but housing was non-existent. With no internet housing searches meant flipping through the Summit

Daily News and scouring the City Market bulletin board, “We were scrappy—digging through dumpsters to find the paper’s print outside their office in the early hours of the morning, before other people got the paper”, says Litch. The four friends couch-surfed for weeks before finding a wildly overpriced one-bedroom rental in Wildernest. “$1400 a month in 1990. It felt like insanity but luckily I had graduation money”.

Later on, Litch found a place in Breckenridge and shared a seven-bedroom house with eight roommates from around the world. “I’d never met anyone from outside the Midwest. Suddenly I’m living with two Kiwi’s, a Scot, an Aussie, a South African and a couple from the East Coast. It was wild— rugby games, house parties, and friendships that have lasted decades.”

From Liftie to Lumberjack to Plumbing

For two winters Litch worked as a lifty at Breckenridge Ski Resort and eventually as a snowboard instructor. That first summer, Litch landed a job peeling logs for Whiskey Park Log Homes. “Nobody wanted to do it, so I got the job. We would take these metal leaf springs from trucks and weld handles on them and then grind them down so they were really sharp. Then we would take Bondo, and form your hands around them, and you just shave the bark off. It took a couple weeks to get good at it. After a month I got really good at it and got paid by the foot.” He says. “I was making great money, but by the end of the day,I could barely move. It was, however, damn fun and I loved it.”

As the seasons shifted, so did the work. After another winter running the T-Bar with Jay Frazier — “We never let the T-Bar stop. Locals loved us for that”— Litch met a plumbing contractor at Downstairs at Eric’s. That encounter turned into a year-round gig, first jet-washing cars in a mobile truck, then helping plumb houses, and eventually landing full-time plumbing & mechanical construction work on custom homes and on massive commercial projects like Grand Timber Lodge and the Grand Lodge on Peak 7.

It was consistent work which gave me the ability to enjoy life— and a reason to stay. “I was just going season to season,” he says. “Then I looked around and realized, that I have made some amazing friendships and I’ve built a life here.”

From Bark to Booze Hustla’

In 2006 after building the house he still lives in and after selling a spec house, he was taking helicopter lessons unsure of what to do next when a new opportunity appeared: the Breckenridge Distillery. Litch was an early investor, but when the financial crisis hit, everything changed. “We had whiskey but no one to bottle it or sell it, except us investors, so we threw bottling parties which solved one problem. I was recovering from my 4th shoulder surgery and thought, ‘Well, I’ll just go sell the booze.”

He hit the road across Colorado, hustling booze. The title on his card was and still is Booze Hustla. “I didn’t know a thing about sales or marketing,” he admits. “I just loved the product and the people.”

Six months later, he sat down with founder Bryan Nolt. That conversation led to a full-time position in sales, events, some marketing and even social media, at that moment he hung up his “plumbers belt”

Today, Litch is still at the heart of the Distillery. “People ask when I’m going to retire—but I still love the distillery, One day I’m dressed as a gnome serving Breck spirits at an event called Whiskey and Donuts, the next I’m working on a Breckenridge Distillery restaurant concept at DIA.”

Rooted in Breck

Litch thought he’d stay one season. Thirty-five years later, Breckenridge is home. “In the beginning, my mom and dad were like, are you ever gonna get a real job? You know, that type of thing, right? But then, the first time they came to visit, they were, like, wow, I can see how you fell in love with this place.”

He laughs recalling the climate shock of flying back to Wisconsin one summer. “I got off the plane and thought, ‘What the hell is this?’ Humidity. I didn’t even realize how much I loved the dry mountain air until I left.”

So why stay?

“I was only going to stay for a winter but then we all went to Moab for mud season and ended back in Breckenridge for the summer... which rolled back into the winter. As they say, we come for the winters, but stay for the summers. Now, it’s 35 years later, right? I met the right people, at the right time and the opportunities began snowballing.”

So why did I stay? “Ashland, Wisconsin, is my hometown and will always be. But Breckenridge? It’s my home. I’ve built something here—friendships, work, love and a life. I’ve been very fortunate. Things always seem to work out.”

“ People ask when I’m going to retire— but I still love the Distillery. One day I’m dressed as a gnome serving Breck Spirits at an event called Whiskey & Donuts, the next I’m working on a Breckenridge Distillery concept at DIA.”

TIERNAN GANNON

By Daniel Dunn

“You gotta build the infrastructure of having a family, friends in your area. Of wanting to live here.”

“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” Thomas Jefferson

“You gotta build the infrastructure...of having a family, friends in your area. Of wanting to live here.” Tiernan Gannon

With ruffled hair, cozy sweater and sweats on, a mush-face 6 week old napping on her lap, Tiernan Gannon is the picture of contented happiness these days, but if you look up “spunky” in the dictionary, there’s probably a picture of her directly beside the definition. It’s been fourteen years since T moved to Breckenridge, and she’s left her mark on the town by working hard, smiling a lot, volunteering in many ways and generally having a good time enjoying her surroundings. A little sparkplug who has made her own energetic way, she loves this community. She’s got “spunky” down pat.

Listening to Tiernan’s stories of her early days in town, you quickly realize she was a normal teenager at the ripe age of 18, moving to town after graduating high school. She was doing the “gap year” and enjoying herself. Remembering house parties and learning how to ski with the locals, she wasn’t sure what was “supposed” to come next. She also remembers meeting her now best friend Leah while working at Bubba Gumps. “You’re way too cool to be working here.” Lea remarked during a busy shift. She convinced Tiernan to think about applying for a job at Timberline Day Care, where she was promptly hired, put to work, and fell in love with working with kids. This would be the first of many steps in the unknown direction of developing a dream to open a nature based preschool, a place where kids learn as much outside as they do in. Work at Timberline progressed to a stint at Mountaintop Children’s Museum, where she became the Executive Director in short order, while also spending time on Breck Ski Patrol for a few years in the

winter; these are all chapters of the storyline in Tiernan’s life story. Making strong connections all along the way.

“I’ve always made the best out of the cards that were given to me, and it was always because of someone in the community that saw an opportunity for me, or saw my potential, or introduced me to this or that, and it’s been so cool to see what I can make of what’s been given to me from the community.”

Volunteering is another huge part of Tiernan’s life. Very few people 32 years old volunteer more than she does. It’s all part of an inner drive that makes her tick. International Snow Sculpture Championships, Breck Film Fest, the community gardens with High Country

Conservation Center have all helped her make connections. “I’ve done so much volunteer work that really gets me involved with the fun events that happen in town. It connects you even more to the locals, and the people that are drawn here as visitors who love Breckenridge.” ~speaking about what makes Breckenridge awesome, and why people love staying involved and staying out of a rut of tourism and getting burned out.

“Covid kinda flushed out the people who didn’t really want to make it here. Yeah, this is home, I’ve worked hard to get here, I’ve worked three jobs and late nights..but hey, it’s where I want to be, I like to ski, the summers are amazing. It’s funny, at first you figure it out, how to stay for one season, then you figure it out for a lifetime. The people that look out for you are one of the biggest things that has kept us here.”

The pieces start falling into place maybe more quickly than she could have imagined. A crazy dream, discussed with a coworker at Timberline Learning Center about opening a nature based preschool, Tiernan proceeds to meet people in the way that only she can do, with infectious fun energy. The town of Silverthorne decides to proceed with her idea of a nature based preschool in the new housing plan of Smith Ranch. She met with Town Manager Ryan Hyland, who was intrigued by her idea. She was up against some heavy hitters in the early child care business world, so this was far from a lucky draw situation.“I feel so strongly connected to climate change action, and making the environment a valued piece of property in this world.” The town of Silverthorne

agrees on these principles and awards her the right to become founder of Wildflower Nature School. More pieces falling into place.

But there are other pieces. Meeting the guy of her dreams, Rob, then falling in love and getting married. They both have their dream jobs, and a new child (Rob received a huge promotion to Head Golf pro at Breckenridge Golf Club). After another unlikely opportunity opens some doors, they also move into a new duplex home, after some very “creative financing” by themselves and their families. But that seems to happen to Tiernan more than most folks. She’s in the right place, at the right time, with a backbone of hard work, happiness, and giving back.

People rapidly come and go in the tourism driven town of Breckenridge, CO, but Tiernan is staying put. She works hard on developing the infrastructure to make it a livable place for young families. A welcome addition to any location, that sparkle in her eye keeps shining brightly. The pieces have fallen into place.

“I don’t see us going anywhere else. Even though the town is evolving, and changes happen, I think that “core skier, mountain culture” vibe is still here, I truly think it is, I think it’s in every one of us that wants to stay here forever, and I think it’s why we stay.”

JAY “LUIGI” DEBAGGIS

By Holly Resignolo

The Best Ski Bum - in Mind, Body & Spirit

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jay DeBaggis for quite some time. I’m fairly certain we first met around the time my first child was born, when Jay was working at the Peak 8 Children’s Center. His bright and enthusiastic nature has always warmed my heart, and I’ve long wanted to sit down and interview him.

It turns out that the Breckenridge Ski Resort’s Peak 8 Children’s Center was one of Jay’s first jobs—taking four- and five-year-olds out to ski. He later moved on to the Breck Ski School’s Kids Castle, where he taught six- to twelve-year-olds and became involved with the Bombers program. In that role, he skied with the same group of kids every week.

“It’s a really good program because you get the same kids and they all progress together,” Jay explained.

From there, he went on to coach with Team Breckenridge for 15 years. “I would typically get the youngest kids—five- and sixyear-olds—but they were all ripping hot skiers, you know? Oh my god, yeah! Their parents all skied and had them on the mountain by age three or so. We had so much fun.”

One of my favorite memories of Jay was seeing him walk into the BSR admin building dressed as Ripperoo. As we reminisced, he told me the story:

“It’s funny how I got that job. A friend of mine who used to run the Maggie had a wing and karaoke night. She’d been at a party and came banging on my door late one night. She said, ‘Jay, I need someone to ski around in a chicken suit to promote my wing and karaoke night. I’ll pay you $150 for three hours.’ I said, ‘I’ll do it.’

So I made a sign that said, Eat My Wings – only $1.50 a pound. Invariably, people would ask, ‘How many wings are in a pound?’ And I’d say, ‘They’re sold by weight, not volume. It depends on how big they are.’

Anyway, at the end of the season, ski school had a race. That was the first year they introduced Ripperoo, and a kid named Fast Eddie was in the suit. They decided to have a mascot race: the Dog (Ripperoo) versus the Chicken (me). We raced, and I beat him two out of three times. I’d never raced before, but I was a pretty good skier. I said, ‘Wait a minute—your name is Fast Eddie, and I just beat you. That makes me Faster Eddie!’ He still calls me that to this day. I love it. Right then and there, Dave Bullcraft asked, ‘You want to be Ripperoo next year?’ And I said, ‘Sure! I’ll do it!’”

Jay described it as one of the most fun jobs he’s ever had.

“I got to hang out with all the kids, go through all the ski schools, high-five everyone. I even skied the Superpipe in costume. It was crazy fun.”

After moving away briefly, Jay returned to Breckenridge and told his wife, “I love kids.” Around that time, the Little Red Schoolhouse opened, and he got a job teaching there for a few years. Eventually, he moved on to a new job, but when the person who had been reading to the children left, Jay stepped in.

“I’ve been reading to the four- and five-year-olds for ten years now. It’s awesome.”

He tries to fill their minds with positive ideas and inspiration.

“I tell them, ‘You guys are the future kings and queens of Breckenridge.’ I teach them that Albert Einstein said, Imagination is more important than knowledge. I’ll ask, ‘Do you know what imagination is?’ Then I say, ‘Close your eyes. Pretend we’re on a spaceship flying to the moon. We land and start jump-bouncing around because gravity isn’t strong there.’ I

explain that knowledge is knowing two plus two equals four, but imagination is picturing what doesn’t yet exist. Then I ask them, ‘Raise your hand if you know what Albert Einstein said,’ and half of them raise their hands. I love kids. They are the future of this planet. God knows they’re going to need all the help they can get. We have to have a positive impact on them.”

Jay came to Breckenridge in 1986 from Cleveland, Ohio. He knew from a young age that he wanted to be a ski bum.

“I had a tragedy in my life—my older brother passed away— and I realized life was too short. I saved up $1,000 and drove to Breckenridge. I had a buddy who lived here, but he happened to be in Cleveland when I arrived, so I didn’t know a soul.

I rolled into town with my gear and sleeping bag. I went to the end of town—there was a gas station there—and asked, ‘Where can I find a bed?’ They sent me to the Fireside Inn. That first night, I met a guy named Chip, who I’m still friends with today, and two girls who had been in town for a while. They had a place lined up, but it wouldn’t be ready for two weeks. The management company gave them a temporary condo with two bedrooms and two beds in each. They asked if Chip and I wanted to split the cost while we looked for housing. So after just one night in a bed and breakfast, I moved in with two girls and a guy I’d just met. Soon after, Chip and I found a place up on Baldy Mountain Townhomes—and the rest is history.”

Jay recalled a pivotal moment in junior high:

“My dad told me, ‘Son, you can be or do anything you set your mind to.’ I thought about it for a long time. About a year later, I said, ‘Dad, I think I know what I want to be.’ He said, ‘What’s that?’ I replied, ‘I want to be a ski bum.’ And he said, ‘All right, then be the best damn ski bum you can be.’ That was his advice.”

When I asked Jay why he chose to stay and make Breckenridge his home, he smiled, pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket, and laid it on the table. It read:

When asked why he has made Breckenridgeridge his home Jay pulled out his answers straight out of his pocket and laid it out on the table.

• #1 I was born to ski and the skiing here is pretty darn good!!

• #2 Them people!! 95% of the people here are happy, healthy, active, educated and importantly, here because they want to be!#

• 3 The climate - summers rarely get above 80 degrees and there is little to no humidity + the winters are long and snow filled - the better to ski in!

• #4 My lovely wife loves it here and all her friends are here.

• #5 It is the closest place to heaven on earth. I have found it’s even physically closer!

• #6 The plethora of things to do besides ski!! i.e. Mountain Biking, golfing (both ball and disk), hiking (world class), boating (on rivers & the reservoirs), motorcycling and just being outside.

• #7 The community - again the people- are involved, willing to help and extraordinary.

That really does sum it up and we agree.

Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center - Celebrating 50 Years of Inclusion

By Morgan Tiroff

The Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center is Turning 50 and You’re Invited to be part of the Celebrations

For five decades, the BOEC has been a place where individuals can discover their strength, build confidence, and experience the freedom of outdoor adventure, regardless of their ability.

Founded right here in Breckenridge in 1976, the BOEC is a nonprofit organization offering adaptive outdoor programs for individuals with physical, cognitive, sensory, and behavioral disabilities, as well as veterans and other underserved communities.

Each year, BOEC serves over 2,100 unique participants through our year-round adaptive programming which includes skiing, snowboarding, rafting, rock climbing, cycling, and wilderness courses. Whether it’s a child trying sit-skiing for the first time, a veteran finding peace on the river, or a family navigating life after a brain injury, the BOEC provides a place for growth, resilience, and joy. Behind each of these moments is a passionate community who make this work possible.

Those who step into this work often find that helping others discover outdoor adventure connects them to something greater than themselves. It’s a calling that is shared by a dedicated and

growing community that fuel’s our mission and impact. In order to nurture the future of adaptive outdoor recreation the BOEC also provides an industry leading professional internship program that trains the next generation of leaders in the adaptive adventure space.

As we approach our 50th anniversary this fall, we’re reflecting on a half-century of impact and looking forward to a full year of celebration. Starting in November, locals and visitors alike can participate in BOEC mountain takeovers, community celebrations, and special events. Each celebration will spotlight the people who make the BOEC story so powerful: the participants, instructors, interns, volunteers, and partners who believe in adventure for all.

If you’ve ever wondered what a day with the BOEC feels like, there’s no better time to experience it. Come celebrate with us, meet the community, and be part of the next 50 years of outdoor inclusion.

To learn more about our story and join the adventure, visit: www.BOEC.org.

Pinnacle Perfection

A Spacious Fishing Retreat at the Base of One of Colorado’s 14’ers

This custom retreat rests beneath one of Breckenridge’s most iconic peaks, blending modern design with the beauty of the natural surroundings.

Expansive windows capture sweeping views of Quandary Peak. Just outside, a private pond filled with rainbow trout offers peaceful moments on the water. Inside, the open layout is built for connection, with a double kitchen island, a generous great room, and a spacious deck that invite family to gather with ease.

Craftsmanship is evident in every detail. Built-in oxygen hookups ensure comfort at elevation. Distinctive tile, custom metalwork, and a dramatic chandelier at the central staircase bring texture and character throughout the home.

The interiors combine a calm, neutral palette with unexpected accents that reflect the spirit of mountain living. Art and furnishings were selected to celebrate a deep connection to place.

Designed by Collective Architecture, built by Pinnacle Mountain Homes, and furnished by Collective Design, this home reflects our fully integrated approach that brings architecture, design, and construction together under one roof.”

www.pinnaclemtnhomes.com

High Country Conservation - HC3 A Resource for Breckenridge Homeowners

By Shauna Farnell

A Home Energy Assessment

is the First Step Toward a Safer, More Comfortable and Energy -Efficient Home

Do you have a draft in the house? Lightbulbs that go out all the time? Ice dams forming on your roof in winter? An undetected gas leak? Crazy expensive utility bills?

Most Breckenridge homeowners can agree, whether full-time or part-time, that the climate here at 9,600 feet can present unique challenges for the wallet, not to mention the comfort and safety of your home.

High Country Conservation (HC3) can isolate, mitigate and alleviate many of these concerns with its home energy assessments.

Partnering with Energy Smart Colorado, HC3 conducts about 150 home energy assessments across Summit County every year. After homeowners apply for an assessment, HC3 schedules an energy analyst to visit the home. The energy assessment involves a thorough inspection – kind of like a comprehensive health checkup – to find out how the property uses (or loses) energy. The analyst takes photos and puts together a detailed report. The discoveries often end up being quite eye-opening for homeowners.

“A lot of people learn there are areas of their home that aren’t insulated,” says HC3 Climate Action Manager Narelle Kipple. “They learn their home is losing air. They learn how their home is losing air – by doors or windows or cantilever beams. Part of the assessment is looking at health and safety, the function of combustion appliances. Analysts have identified gas leaks that hadn’t been noticed. What people walk away with is a better understanding of their home.”

Both HC3 and Xcel Energy offer rebates for the home energy assessments, The cost is $450, but after rebates, local homeowners typically pay $99. Outside of major discoveries such as gas leaks or uninsulated areas of the home, for which analysts offer energy efficient solutions, they note small sources of lost energy in the home – gaps under doors, incandescent lightbulbs, old appliances – that can easily and inexpensively be improved or replaced.

“The most common projects are air sealing and insulation,” Kipple says. “A lot of people will say how much more comfortable their home is after making those improvements.”

Air leaks are often found in recessed lights, around outlets and fixtures. Adding insulation, especially around water heaters and throughout the utility room, can be a simple way to reduce risks of burst pipes and additional loss of warm air.

Lower and middle income homeowners are eligible for additional rebates through HC3 and Xcel, often enough to cover the entire cost of energy efficiency improvement projects. However, the cost savings of replacing old appliances, light bulbs and adding insulation are measurable to all homeowners – and renters – in the long run.

“With the assessment you get that comprehensive report –everything energy-related identified to action steps along with rebates. It helps that there’s a tax credit for different improvements – heat pumps, energy efficient appliances and other improvements. We have resources to connect homeowners with trusted contractors and our energy advisor is available to review reports, suggest improvements and next steps,” Kipple says.

It’s not just full-time homeowners that benefit from the assessments. Arguably, part-time residents or homeowners who rent their homes – and their tenants – can benefit just as much if not more from learning and improving how their home uses energy.

“If you’re renting, at the very least, you’re cutting down what you’re paying for utilities. It’s good for residents who are here, living in their house 24-7, and second homeowners to learn about their home.”

Home Energy Assessments can Help with:

• Identifying potential gas leaks

• Finding areas lacking insulation

• Locating points of air leakage – cold air entering the home or warm air escaping, which can lead to drafts and ice dams on the roof

• Appliances and lighting that can be replaced with energy efficient options

• Improving air quality (identifying areas of potential mold or mildew)

• Assessing efficiency of HVAC and air flow systems

• Measuring carbon monoxide levels

• Specific next steps toward making the home safer, more comfortable and energy-efficient

To sign up or learn more about HC3 home energy assessments, visit www.highcountryconservation.org or call 970-668-5703.

Build Your Own Breck Souvenir In Precious Plastics Classes

By Shauna Farnell

Breck Create Melts Colorful Sleds and Discarded Palstics into Planters Benches, Mosaics & More

Rather than end up in a Mongolian tar pit or worse, the Summit County landfill, discarded plastic trash stands a chance to become treasure in Breckenridge.

Proving that trash can be treasure, BreckCreate’s Precious Plastics program collects plastic waste around the community and transforms it into usable material with which students build artwork and functional items.

“We’ve collected about 7,000 pounds of plastic at this point, including sleds,” says BreckCreate’s Karlie McLaughlin. “Being part of an innovative circular economy where you’re turning your neighbors’ trash into a bench, side table, shot ski, jewelry, planter or anything you can dream up is pretty unique.”

Plastic piles up around here in the spring, particularly around sledding hills, in the form of broken sleds. This colorful material is the key ingredient to the creative process. BreckCreate’s classes

involve melting down the sleds and other community donated plastic trash (Numbers 1, 2, 5 and 6) in the studio. Using slabs of rainbow-colored plastic, students then create everything from planters, mosaics, jewelry and furniture.

“They can make any item they can dream up and create using our studio machinery,” McLaughlin says, adding that the classes are open to both locals and visitors.

“Anyone who considers themself a creative or an engineer or someone who just likes to tinker and make things,” she says. “The possibilities are endless in the precious plastic studio.”

Visit www.breckcreate.org to peruse the class schedules, collection events and details. ”

The Bunk House Lodge

The Bunk House Lodge is about to be officially etched into history

By Shauna Farnell

This quirky cabin on the outskirts of Breckenridge has a long track record of welcoming queer community

Awaiting confirmation for status on the National Register of Historic Places, the Bunk House Lodge is a truly hidden gem in Breckenridge. That is to say, it’s easy to miss it as you roll in and out of town.

A small, rustic log cabin sitting across the street from the Building Supply store about a mile and a half north of town, the Bunk House has a more profound history than just about any building in Breckenridge.

Built in 1892, the lodge was originally a two-room cabin, the last structure surviving a ghost town known as Braddockville. A narrow gauge railroad once took ore in and out of the nearby mines and the once raucous town was home to a saloon and supper club. It was comprised of a dozen or so log structures whose inhabitants grew vegetables and brewed beer.

“What happened in Braddockville stayed in Braddockville,” says Mitch Ringquist, owner of the Bunk House, which he says became part of a Chinese migrant community called Tiny Town. It wasn’t until 1962 that Rudy Gardner visited and rented the cabin with his boyfriend. Heading off to fight in the Vietnam War, he came back to Breckenridge with a dream of buying the cabin and transforming it into a lodge with 26 bunks.

“The reason for the lodge was to create a safe place for gay men,” Mitch says. “It still carries on those traditions of gay family values.”

The lodge offers a couple of nicely decorated private rooms, but the majority of the slumber space is the shared bunks. Ringquist began living and working in the lodge in 1999 and bought the place in 2014. He spearheaded some renovation projects,

including a new hot tub (clothing optional), fresh landscaping and a sign that reads, “gay operated, hetero friendly.”

The vibe is indeed warm, with a communal kitchen and dining spaces and guests chatting in the patio and living room areas, making quick friends amid the funky, eclectic décor, which does include numerous penises.

Many guests have frequented the lodge for decades and these days, the LGBTQ+ community makes up about 60 percent of the guests and hetero visitors make up 40 percent.

“A lot of people are intimidated by shared spaces,” Ringquist says. “I am not The Hilton. I’m not The Hyatt. Sure, I have hundreds of penises on display. That’s just to start conversations. I don’t like being apart from. I like being a part of.”

To learn more or make a reservation, visit: www.bunkhouselodge.com

Dine Local

Canary: Breckenridge’s Exclusive Speakeasy

Breckenridge has a new speakeasy and it’s a hidden hotel jewel

By Lisa Blake

Speakeasies are having a moment in Colorado. From Fort Collins to Denver and up the hill into Breckenridge, these tucked-away lounges and sexy sipping spots deliver mysterious allure and meticulously curated cocktail lists you won’t find anywhere else.

There’s even a speakeasy-inspired lounge inside the Denver International Airport where travelers can dip in for a stiff preflight libation. Opened on Concourse A in spring 2025, Williams & Graham appears as a quiet bookshop with a bar hidden behind a wooden bookcase. This resurgence of hidden cultural hubs, often nooked behind less-than-obvious doors or deep inside other businesses, gives a strong nostalgic nod to the Prohibition era when patrons would speak softly to gain entrance to these secret establishments without drawing the attention of law enforcement.

Today, alcohol is very legal and widely consumed. But there’s still something special about finding yourself in a dark corner with your closest people, allowing expertly crafted cocktails and private conversation to take center stage.

In Breckenridge, this looks like Canary, an adults-only speakeasy hidden within the ski town’s newest lodging establishment Hotel Alpenrock. Mining history melds with modern sophistication inside the cozy bar where mixologists create daring concoctions based on guests’ personalities and moods. Have a hankering for

gin and a longtime love of rosemary and lemon? Wait patiently while the bartender creates a coupe filled with liquid heaven just for you. Smokey bourbon and cinnamon more your style? Your personalized rocks glass darling is moments away.

Canary’s exclusive lounge access is only granted by an escort through its obscure doorway, the perfect encore to dinner in the hotel’s seasonally driven mountain cuisine dinner spot, Edwin. Hotel Alpenrock opened in January and is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, making it the portfolio’s first property at a major ski resort. The former DoubleTree sits near the base of Peak 9 decked in topographic carpeting, vintage ski artwork and gondola-shaped light fixtures. Inside Breckenridge’s singular speakeasy, low lamp-lit intimacy mingles with plush booths under tin ceilings.

Flip through the leather-bound menu of classic libations, beer and wine. Or throw caution to the wind and let the pro bartenders take you on a journey, finding your ideal match in a glass. The experience is captivating and cozy and a refreshing take on a night out or a charming nightcap.

Canary welcomes guests on Wednesday and Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight.

hotelalpenrock.com

7 NOT TO MISS SPORTS BARS

With many beer options, tasty snacks and in a couple of cases, foodie-caliber cuisine, these haunts have a lot of screens and will probably have your game on

While Breckenridge is becoming increasingly known for its fine dining and tasty ethnic food, it’s easy to forget that it has longsince excelled in the world of sports bars.

Not only are there multiple haunts in which to watch your team’s basketball, football, baseball or hockey game, but a handful of places are standouts for high energy vibes as well as elevated eats and drinks.

Kenosha Steakhouse

It’s a challenge to stay indoors and watch a game at this favorite Main Street haunt, which offers one of the largest and most scenic back patios in town. With daily food specials and one of the best happy hours in Breck from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday to Friday (lots of beers for $5 or $6, plus wings, sliders and other snacks for $10 or less), not to mention a massive variety of beer with 44 brews on tap, there’s no question that Kenosha is king for sports fans. The place also cooks up some of the best steaks and barbecue in Colorado and just about every other comfort food imaginable.

Breckenridge Brewery

An obvious go-to, the O.G. Breck Brewpub is celebrating its 25th year in 2025 and going as strong as ever. Happy hour runs every day but Saturday, including $2 off full drafts from 3 to 6 p.m. and elevated snacks (shrimp skewer, pork tacos, etc.) from 3 to 5 p.m. The locally brewed draft list includes mainstays like Avalanche Amber and Vanilla Porter, but there’s always a couple of seasonal surprise brews as well at boozy seltzers and slushies. The sports crowd is usually packed around the bar, but the high TVs are visible from the upstairs dining area as well.

Ollie’s Pub

Housed in a floating dredge boat, Ollie’s is unquestionably the coolest looking restaurant in Breckenridge. On the inside, with exposed rafters and HVAC pipes, the freight ship look continues, but the important feature is the bounty of TVs. Ollie’s wings have won best in the county many times and its burgers are tasty, too. Celebrating Colorado brews with 20 varieties on tap, Ollie’s always has a sports special of some sort as well as not one but TWO daily happy hours – 3 to 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 12 a.m., featuring a selection of $3 beers, $5 wine and well drinks and $8 boneless wing baskets.

Northside

A second home to many locals, at first glance Northside is what many would peg a dive bar, but sports numerous allures under its sticky surface. The first, of course, is its sports vibe, the crowd getting raucous over every big game in the cozy space. Secondly, for being one of the most affordable places in the area, Northside serves delicious pizza and wings and even decent salads. As the frosting on the cake, the daily (2 to 5 p.m.) happy hour includes $2 off apps and wine and $1 off beers and slices.

Burke and Riley’s Irish Pub

With a great deck equipped with fire pits, choosing to sit in Burke and Riley’s dark and cavernous insides is tough on a sunny day, but it does make for ideal game viewing. The pub’s Monday-Friday happy hour runs from 2 to 5 p.m. and showcases classic sports viewing snacks like wings and sliders as well as fish and chicken bites for $8 as well as $3 Coors, $4 shot specials $5 well drinks

and $6 wine. There are, of course, plenty of Irish classics (Guinness, Jameson, Irish Stew, Fish n’ Chips, Shepherd’s Pie, etc.) to add a fun cultural mix to the sports vibe.

Molly Jacks

The newest addition to Breck’s sports bar roster, Molly Jacks, (pictured below) maintains the stripped-down look of its Main Street predecessors (stark, industrial wood beams and basic metal and wood tables), but with huge TVs on every wall and access to even obscure competitions, it’s become a quick winner among game day fans. Not as affordable as others on this list, MJ’s offers upscale burgers and sandwiches as well as amazing cocktails.

Fatty’s Pizzeria

50 Years of Fatty’s Pizzeria was celebrated in June with hugs, toasts, dancing, and music. 50 Years of “Cheers and Beers” sums up this bar and restaurant’s place in Breckenridge history. It is certainly the hangout of local legends. Years of photos of local residents participating in famous Fatty’s events can be found gracing many of the walls hung around the restaurant.

Housed in a historic building dating back to the late 1800s this establishment is a gathering spot for folks celebrating good times and gathering for the bad.

It’s also the spot to catch your favorite team and sporting events with 21 TVs all around the restaurant. It is a well known Chicago sports headquarters.

On the menu you will find a full selection of beer, wine and spirits, pizza, sandwiches, creative salads, wings, hearty specials and pastas. This local hangout has Great mountain views and a vibrant patio filled with flowers during the summer. Check out their happy hour or stop in for late night slices.

www.fattyspizzeria.com.

Continental Divide Winery

Create Your Own Custom Wine at Continental Divide Winery

Continental Divide, Breckenridge’s original locally owned winery, gives you a fun and unique opportunity to be a winemaker for a day! Explore the art of wine blending with guidance from their professional staff. Use authentic vintner equipment to custom craft your own personalized wine blend, then bottle, cork and label your custom-crafted wine as a souvenir of your experience.

Awarded Best Winery Experience by Lux-Life Magazine, the Wine Blending Experience is an interactive and enter-

taining two-hour program offered daily (reservations required). “Think of this as high school chemistry where you play with wine instead of chemicals,” explains winery founder Jeffrey Maltzman.

Verified customer reviews sum up the activity best. “The best thing we did in Breckenridge! I cannot recommend it enough!” wrote Eileen from Boston, MA. “This was such a unique cool experience,” boasted Brittah from Big Lake, MN. “I loved learning and experimenting with how the flavors changed as we made our blends,” wrote Steve from Denver CO.

nery’s Main Street Station tasting room daily. Wine Tasting reservations can be made through OpenTable, but walk-ins are welcome.

To book a Wine Blending Experience call 970-771-3443 or book online at cdwinery.com.

Continental Divide Winery Main Street Station 505 S. Main Street Breckenridge, CO 80424 970-771-3443 www.cdwinery.com

Join us at Breckenridge’s gathering place for exceptional dining. Enjoy unique, open-fire pizzas and creative dishes celebrating local history. Savor modern mountain dining with us.

Find our secret entrance and step into an exclusive lounge where skilled mixologists craft daring cocktails. Immerse yourself in intimate ambiance and engaging conversation for an unforgettable escape.

Rooted in the Rockies, reimagined for today. Unwind at the base of Peak 9, breathe in the crisp mountain air, and embark on authentic mountain adventures in Breckenridge.

547-5550

Gold Pan Saloon

In 1859 thousands of gold seekers flocked to Colorado, taking part in one of the greatest gold rushes in North American history. In 1861 on this very site, a tented structure known as Long’s Saloon opened for business as a local watering hole for thirsty miners with the permanent building being erected in 1879.

In one form or another, The Gold Pan Saloon has stood for over 140 years playing host to gunfights, outlasting Prohibition, and boasting the longest continuous liquor license west of the Mississippi. Today, locals and visitors alike come for the camaraderie, to tell a few ski and ride stories, listen to music, and enjoy some outstanding food and libations. Now, the Gold Pan adds another chapter with the addition of Carboy Winery, a unique Colorado winery offering a selection of select Carboy wines in bottles and on TAP! So come in and enjoy a piece of Breckenridge history.

103 N Main St, Breckenridge, CO 80424 www.thegoldpansaloon.com

Carboy Winery

At 9,600 feet above sea level, the Carboy Breckenridge tasting room offers an unforgettable alpine wine-tasting experience paired with the history of the Gold Rush. Carboy Winery Breckenridge is a new way to Après Ski and Bike. Situated in part of the infamous Gold Pan Saloon on Main Street, they invite locals and visitors alike to loosen their boots and share tall tales of their day in the mountains while sipping on tall(er) glasses of our award-winning wines. Beautifully prepared menu items are made to complement every glass of wine you choose to taste. Come in from Noon to Nine in the Evening (10 pm on Friday and Saturday) and enjoy Lunch, Happy Hour or Dinner.

103 N Main St, Breckenridge, CO 80424 www.carboywinery.com/locations/breckenridge

ASPEN SNOWMASS • BRECKENRIDGE • MAUI • STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

For more than 40 years, Mi Casa has been serving up bold Mexican flavors, handcrafted margaritas, and mountain-town hospitality just steps from the base of Peak 9. Whether you’re joining us after a day outdoors or celebrating with friends and family, Mi Casa offers a lively, welcoming space that’s full of flavor and fun.

Happy Hour + Free Chips & Salsa

Every day from 3–5pm, enjoy one of the best Happy Hours in Breck with unbeatable deals on house margaritas, draft beer, signature cocktails, and shareable bites. It’s the perfect way to relax, refuel, and soak in the vibe.

Outdoor Dining with a View

Take in the fresh mountain air and stunning scenery from our spacious outdoor patio. Whether it’s a quick lunch, happy hour, or long summer sunset, outdoor dining at Mi Casa offers unbeatable views and a vibrant atmosphere.

Large Group Dining - Room for the Whole Crew

Planning a celebration, group dinner, or special event? With large dining areas and flexible seating, Mi Casa is ideal for private parties, reunions, and group reservations of all sizes.

Flavors Everyone Will Love

From sizzling fajitas and fresh tacos to gluten-free, vegetarian, and dairy-free options, our menu has something for everyone. Don’t miss our famous queso and handcrafted margaritas made with top-shelf tequila and fresh lime.

Come Taste the Tradition

Open Daily: 11:30AM-9PM

Happy Hour: 3-5PM

Place a Pickup Order: 970-453-2071

600 South Park Avenue, Breckenridge 970-453-2071 www.micasabreck.com

Elk Medallions

Savor

Ahi Tuna Tartare A

Signature Cocktails

Radicato

Radicato, the second restaurant from James Beard Award winner Chef Matt Vawter, is a modern Italian restaurant nestled in the heart of Breckenridge. Opened in June 2022, Radicato celebrates seasonal and technique-driven cuisine inspired by Italy’s rich culinary traditions, while highlighting locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant showcases everything Breckenridge and Colorado has to offer, exploring connections between farmers and diners while creating an atmosphere that fosters interaction among guests.

Vawter owns and operates Radicato alongside partners Chef Cameron Baker and Director of Operations Patrick Murphy. The restaurant features a team of hospitality professionals dedicated to curating memorable dining experiences and executing Vawter and Baker’s vision of Mountain Italian cuisine. Ingredients are diligently sourced and highlighted on ever-evolving seasonal menus. Open seven days a week, the restaurant offers a variety of dining options from happy hour and an à la carte menu of delicious pastas and entrees to a tasting menu with optional wine pairings.

Radicato’s setting changes with the seasons. In winter, the dining room glows with warm lighting from Blue River Plaza— there’s no better place to watch snow fall on a winter evening. In summer, two outdoor seating areas provide fresh air, the sounds of the Blue River, and stunning views of the Ten Mile Range. The dining room provides an intimate setting where guests can dine and connect. Hospitality remains the central focus of the entire team at Radicato, with the goal of creating world-class dining experiences for all who choose to spend an evening with them.

137 S Main Street Breckenridge CO 80424 www.radicatobreck.com

Rootstalk

Rootstalk is a modern American restaurant founded by James Beard Award Winner Chef Matt Vawter, based on the idea of connection and coming home. Vawter was born and raised in Summit County and spent the formative years of his culinary career in Keystone and Breckenridge. After spending time away from the area, he returned to Summit County with the dream of opening a place of his own and helping grow the culinary landscape in the region. He opened Rootstalk in December 2021, and his commitment to excellence was recognized when he won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef Mountain.

Building on his culinary vision, Vawter established the restaurant in a historic home on North Main Street in Breckenridge. The name reflects the interconnected root systems of Aspen groves that surround Breckenridge, symbolizing the connections fostered between guests, local producers, and the community. Rootstalk explores this notion of connection through its cuisine, hospitality, and beverage programs, bringing together locals and visitors in shared dining experiences.

The team seeks to provide “Elevated, Everyday Dining” to both the local community and out-of-town visitors. The cuisine is ingredient-focused, technique-driven, and deeply committed to quality at all levels. They work with local farms, ranchers, and quality producers from Colorado and across the country. Cocktails are created with intention and given the same level of care as the food. The wine program focuses on small-scale quality producers from across the globe, from classic to more esoteric modern styles.

Dinner service at Rootstalk is available nightly, featuring a range of options that include seven-course tasting menus with wine or non-alcoholic cocktail pairings, a chef’s counter experience, and their à la carte dinner menu. The restaurant can curate an experience for any occasion, big or small.

The restaurant features two distinct dining areas that beautifully complement each other. Upstairs is bright, elegant, and airy, with views of Main Street through front windows. The Root Cellar downstairs offers a more intimate dining experience with a Chef’s Counter for those who love being part of the action. During summer, the patios are abundantly decorated with flowers, offering beautiful al fresco dining. Rootstalk serves as a venue that allows guests to connect with everything Breckenridge has to offer.

207 North Main Street, Breckenridge, Colorado www.rootstalkbreck.com

HIGH ALTITUDE, NON-ALCOHOLIC Mock One, A Spirits Alternative

MAI TAI (NA RUM)

2 oz Mock One Non-Alc Rum

1 oz lime juice

½ oz orgeat

¼ oz orange liqueur

Shake ingredients with ice. Strain & serve over ice.

Garnish: mint bouquet

MINT JULEP (NA WHISKEY)

2-1/2 oz Mock One Non-Alc Whiskey

¾ oz brown sugar simple syrup*

8 mint leaves

In a Julep cup, add mint and sugar simple syrup. Muddle lightly. Add Mock One Non-Alc Whiskey and fill with crushed ice. Stir to incorporate until frost appears on outside of cup. Top with more crushed ice and garnish.

Garnish: mint bouquet and powdered sugar.

*Brown sugar simple syrup: over medium heat, add 1 cup water and 1 cup brown sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Let cool, bottle and refrigerate.

PALOMA (NA TEQUILA)

2 oz Mock One Non-Alc Tequila

1-1/2 oz Pink grapefruit juice

½ oz lime juice

Grapefruit soda

Add top three ingredients over salty, spicey, sugar rimmed glass filled with ice. Top with grapefruit soda, stir to incorporate.

Garnish: grapefruit slices

TOM COLLINS (NA GIN)

1-1/2 oz Mock One Non-Alc Gin

1 oz lemon juice

¾ oz simple syrup*

Soda

Build ingredients over ice in Collins glass. Stir to incorporate.

Garnish: lemon wheel and brandied cherry

Make it Yourself or Visit: The Breckenridge Distillery or drinkmockone.com

The Carlin

Our story starts with Enlightened Hospitality. A destination like no other, The Carlin redefines the Breckenridge experience. Surrounded by the attraction of Breckenridge, this luxury inn offers a restaurant, tavern, and guest rooms –smartly designed for an unforgettable hospitality experience.

The Restaurant

Located on the main level, this open kitchen concept offers the perfect setting for oysters and elevated dishes that focus on coastal cuisine, plus a separate bar for cocktails. Our wood-burning oven and raw bar are the cornerstone for our menu creations. The Carlin’s restaurant is perfect for any occasion – family dinners, date nights, group events, and more.

The Tavern

Downstairs you’ll find the perfect place to enjoy craft cocktails and elevated American tavern fare. Whether it’s an intimate gathering with friends or a date night, The Carlin’s Tavern Underground has something for everyone.

The Inn

The Swiss chalet-inspired guest rooms are thoughtfully designed for a cozy and luxurious alpine retreat. Modern amenities paired with the warm, inviting ambiance promises a perfect stay for everyone. Every detail of the four luxury guest rooms was chosen with you in mind – modern conveniences, comforting desires, and unexpected delights – so perfect you won’t want to leave. 200 N Main St, Breckenridge • 970.771.3795 • TheCarlinBreckenridge.com • @carlinbreckenridge

Fatty’s 50th Anniversary

BSR Years of Service Recognition

Women of the Summit

Summit Chamber Business Excellence Awards Recognition

By Leah Rybak

Each year The Summit Chamber of Commerce spotlights the incredible businesses and individuals who make our mountain community thrive – those who foster economic vitality and make sure that our local enterprises have the resources they need to succeed.

The Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards celebration represents the pinnacle of this commitment. These awards recognize those who embody the entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and community dedication that defines Breckenridge and Summit County.

Read on to learn a bit more about each of this years winners, and discover all of the Finalists who are helping make our communities a great place to live, work, and play.

New Business of the Year

Vine Street Social

This locally-owned wine bar and restaurant in Frisco offers a perfect spot for après skiing, happy hour, or wine tasting with friends.

With handpicked wines, local collaborations with Colorado wineries, and curated food from their in-house executive chef, Vine Street Social has quickly established itself as a vibrant addition to Summit County’s dining scene.

New Business of the Year Finalists:

Vine Street Social

Mountain Town Constructors, Inc.

THE Downhill Dog

The PlayGarten

The Sports Buffet

Business Team of the Year

Keller Williams Top of the Rockies

Known as the most innovative real estate company in Summit County, Keller Williams Top of the Rockies provides cutting-edge technology to both clients and brokers.

With locations in Breckenridge, Frisco and Kremmling, their team of dedicated professionals is committed to making dreams come true for those with real estate desires and needs throughout the mountain communities.

Business Team of the Year Finalists:

Keller Williams Top of the Rockies

Homewood Suites by Hilton – Dillon

Mountain Dweller Coffee Roasters

Business Innovator of the Year

The Pinnacle Companies

The parent company of Pinnacle Mountain Homes, Collective Design Group, and Pinnacle Lodging, The Pinnacle Companies spans multiple industries from design and construction to furnishings and hospitality.

Established in 2005, they’ve been recognized locally and nationally, earning spots on INC Magazine’s “Fastest Growing Companies in America” list and winning over 50 Parade of Homes awards.

Business Innovator of the Year Finalists:

The Pinnacle Companies

Hotel Indigo Silverthorne

Small Business of the Year

Magic Marketing

Magic Marketing specializes in taking brands through a metamorphosis from mainstream to unrivaled with intentional and authentic design.

They offer website design and development, graphic design, and brand design and strategy services that help small businesses shine brightly in a world filled with ordinary.

Small Business of the Year Finalists:

Magic Marketing

Henry Stirt Woodwork and Design

Hidden Table Games

The Sports Buffet

VNTRbirds LLC

Medium Business of the Year

Creative Cabinetry Corp.

Creative Cabinetry is Summit County’s premier source for quality cabinetry and kitchen/bath design. Their design center in Breckenridge carries a range of distinct cabinet lines to meet various style and budget needs.

With a focus on a “no stress process,” they walk clients through the design process from first sketch to final measure, tackling projects with enthusiasm to create finished designs that are both stunning and functional.

Medium Business of the Year Finalists:

Creative Cabinetry Corp.

House of Signs

Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate

Large Business of the Year

CommonSpirit – St. Anthony Summit Hospital

CommonSpirit St. Anthony Summit Hospital is a full-service, acute care hospital designated as a Level I Trauma Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center. Founded in 1893, it moved to its eco-conscious Lakewood campus in 2011.

With over 1,500 caregivers and 237 licensed beds, CommonSpirit St. Anthony Summit Hospital serves as a primary receiving center for the region’s most seriously ill and injured patients and is the headquarters for Flight For Life® Colorado.

Large Business of the Year Finalists:

CommonSpirit – St. Anthony Summit Hospital

Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center

The Pinnacle Companies

Non-Profit Program of the Year

TreeTop Child Advocacy Center

TreeTop Child Advocacy Center supports child victims of abuse and their families through intervention, advocacy, and support services in Colorado’s 5th Judicial District.

With a focus on justice, trust, and healing, they strive towards just outcomes for victims of abuse, provide children and families with a safe environment, and restore lives with trauma-informed care. Last year, they provided over 1,100 services to nearly 400 victims.

Non-Profit Program of the Year Finalists:

TreeTop Child Advocacy Center

Breck Create

CAFE Food Rescue

National Repertory Orchestra

Summit Community Care Clinic

The Peak School

Ben Fogel Chamber Champion

Nell Wareham

As Social Performance Manager for Climax Molybdenum Company, Nell Wareham works in partnership with the four-county operating area of Climax Mine to build capacity and sustainable futures.

She’s passionate about access to early childhood and STEM education, sustainable careers, retention of working families, and attainable housing. Nell serves on various community boards, including The Summit Foundation and the Summit County Chamber of Commerce.

Ben Fogel Chamber Champion Finalists:

Nell Wareham

Athena Damianos

Corry Mihm

Peter Siegel

Government Department of the Year

Summit Stage

Summit Stage provides free public transit service within Summit County, connecting residents and visitors to public lands, lodging, town centers, retail areas, and medical centers.

They also operate commuter routes connecting with Park and Lake Counties, providing ADA paratransit service. By connecting people to their destinations, Summit Stage supports the economy and helps reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions to keep the county beautiful.

Congratulations to the Government Department of the Year Finalists:

Summit Stage

Town of Breckenridge Housing Department

Town of Breckenridge Recreation

Town of Frisco Recreation

Town of Silverthorne Arts, Events & Venue

Summit Standout

Slifer Smith and Frampton

For 60 years and counting, Slifer Smith and Frampton has contributed to the greatest good of Colorado communities, connecting people and places throughout the state. As the only real estate company of their size and influence entirely focused on serving Colorado communities, they invest in people, places, and local businesses in a way that builds up the community.

They’re a founding member of Forbes Global Properties and proudly maintain membership with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and Luxury Portfolio International.

These organizations and individuals represent the best of Summit County’s business community and contribute immensely to our area’s economic vitality and quality of life. We look forward to seeing their continued success and positive impact in the years to come.

The Summit Chamber and Breckenridge Magazine congratulates all winners and nominees of the 2025 Business Excellence Awards.

For more information about the award winners or to learn how your business can get involved with the Summit Chamber, visit our website or contact us at info@summitchamber.org.

www.summitchamber.org

AirStage Summer Après Concerts

Catch free live music on Thursdays in Breckenridge.

What’s better than throwing a blanket down on the grass and gathering with friends over piping hot pizza and a cold Colorado brew on a mountain town summer’s eve? Doing all of that with a free concert buzzing in the background.

Here’s the Summer 2025 Thursday lineup:

History is Fun with Breck History Tours & Events

Part of Breck Create’s summer community lineup, the AirStage Après Concert Series brings live music to the Ridge Street Art Square in the Breckenridge Arts District Thursdays, June through August, from 4 to 7pm.

JUN 19, 2025 • 4:00pm–7:00pm

The Reminders | Juneteenth Celebration + Civic Season Kick-Off

JUN 26, 2025 • 4:00pm–7:00pm

Local Folk

JUL 03, 2025 • 4:00pm–7:00pm

Mud Season

There are so many things to do besides ski and snowboard in our beautiful town. Some say History is boring but not when Breckenridge History presents it! This community-supported, nationally recognized leader in local historic preservation, historical interpretation, and tourism offers spectacular tours, events and museums that you won;t want to miss. .

These free, family-friendly concerts are powered by the AirStage—a retrofitted 1975 Airstream turned mobile venue. Featuring a 14.5-foot-wide by 9-foot-deep stage, the AirStage was revealed in the summer of 2021 after being transformed by Silver Bullet Trailers with the intent of fostering a sense of community and connecting people through the arts.

Museums

Barney Ford Museum

Edwin Carter Museum

Breckenridge Welcome Center Museum

Alice G. Milne Memorial Park

Hike, bike or bus to the Breckenridge Arts District and enjoy outdoor drafts, crafts and live music on the AirStage Thursday from June 19 to August 7 (no AirStage Après July 10). Beer and other beverages are available for purchase and well-behaved pups on leashes are welcome.

The AirStage also hosts intimate neighborhood concerts, family-friendly pop-ups, artist residencies, and special donor events.

Flyfishing

Guided Activities

JUL 17, 2025 • 4:00pm–7:00pm

Frisco Funk 5

Walk Through History Tour

Walk Through the Darker History Tour

JUL 24, 2025 • 4:00pm–7:00pm

Snowshoe the Golden Horseshoe

The Universally Famous Rocket Surgeons

Tombstone Tales Tour

JUL 31, 2025 • 4:00pm–7:00pm

Hobo Village

Other Historic Activities

AUG 07, 2025 • 4:00pm–7:00pm

John Berning Trio

Gold Panning in Lomax Gulch

Victorian Tea

AUG 14, 2025 • 4:00pm–7:00pm

Los Hermanos | Breckenridge International Festival of Arts

Head here for details: www.breckhistory.com

AUG 21, 2025 • 4:00pm–7:00pm

2MX2 | Breckenridge International Festival of Arts

Learn more at: www.breckcreate.org.

Thursday Farmers Market

Breckenridge has a brandnew farmers market — the Breckenridge Farmers Market!

THE 4-1-1

Go Fish with our Towns Incredible Guides

Timing: Thursdays, 4-8 PM (June 19 - September 25)

We are not playing cards here. Our Gold Medal rivers are available to anglers all season long and is a beautiful way to take in the spectacular scenery that Breckenridge offers. Enjoy the outdoors with a guide and learn from some of the Best Anglers in the country. Want some solitude? Some gear (subject to availabil ity) is available for those looking to get out on their own. You don’t want to head out without a Colorado State fishing license. Head to these great shops:

Breck’s James Beard Award-winning Chef Matt Vawter (Rootstalk, Radicato) helped to convince Denver-based market creator Nicole Jarman (who’s behind some of Colorado’s most successful farmers markets, namely South Pearl Street and Highlands Square, as well as festivals like Steamboat Food and Wine Festival and Telluride Reserves) to head up the hill to bring a food-centric farmers market for Breckenridge locals and visitors to enjoy this summer.

Location: Exchange Lot in downtown Breckenridge

Chef Vawter, a Summit County native who won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef Mountain, saw the need for a produce-focused farmers market to serve Breckenridge’s growing culinary scene

Mountain Angler -311 S. Main Street www.mountainangler.com

Breckenridge Outfitters - 101 N. Main St. #B www.breckenridgeoutfitters.com

Live music from the Airstage Concert Series creates the perfect après-mountain atmosphere with Palisade peaches, wagyu beef, farmgrown herbs, and artisanal goods featuring 15+ committed vendors.

www.breckenridgefarmersmarket.com

BRECKENRIDGE

FIRECRACKER LOOP

25 MILES

Some of the nation’s best mountain bikers hammer through this 25-mile loop twice every Fourth of July for the annual Firecracker 50 race. The route samples Breck’s most scenic singletrack, a gem for intermediate to expert riders (sorry, no e-bikes on the majority of these trails). Plan for at least 3 hours, gaining and losing about 3,400 feet. The race starts on the pavement from Main Street downtown to Boreas Pass Road, but riders wanting to hit dirt earlier can start at Carter Park, slogging up the switchbacks to Moonstone Rd, then quick left on Boreas. Continue past the gate onto the dirt Boreas Road, taking in the sweeping views of Quandary and other high peaks. After about 6 miles, take a left at Bakers Tank, the large red vessel used by the railroad during the mining days. From here, the next few turns are not well marked, so peek at a map. When the trail splits, stay right onto Mountain Pride, then left onto Pinball Alley. Turn right onto the wider dirt track (Iowa Mill Road). Continue past the historic Iowa Mill Mine and turn left onto Hannah’s Way. This section traverses across the wildflower-strewn Mt. Baldy for about a quarter mile. Turn left onto Nightmare on Baldy, descending fun, narrow switchbacks to Sallie Barber Mine. Turn right onto Sallie Barber Road and descend for 1.5 miles before a sharp right turn onto French Gulch Road. Pedal for about a half mile before turning left onto Little French. The toughest section of the ride, climb a rocky drainage where only heroes can stay in the saddle. At the top of the climb, turn left, cross the picturesque stream and continue onto Little French Flume. After about a mile, this becomes Lincoln Park Road. Again, consult a map as signage is unclear for several left turns. First left onto Forest Queen Road, then Prospect Hill Road, then onto Mineral Hill trail, then back onto Prospect Hill Road. The next left is clearly marked, a thrilling flow descent – Sidedoor. Freeriders, be sure to take the right-side off-shoots to hit log features and jumps. From the bottom of Sidedoor, turn left onto Minnie Mine. Cross French Gulch Road to Reiling Dredge, over a narrow wooden bridge. After passing the historic dredge (a machine used to mine gold) on your left, stay right on B&B. After about a mile, in an open meadow, turn left onto V3 and climb steadily over a couple tricky rock sections to a right on Barney Ford. Pedal for ¾ mile until a right onto Barney Flow. Enjoy the panorama of Breckenridge Ski Area as you swoop over a series of jumps. Cross Moonstone Road and continue right onto lower Barney Flow, with optional log and bridge features. When the trail splits at the flume, stay left to continue down the Carter Park switchbacks to finish.

GETTING OUTSIDE IS A LARGE REASON WHY WE LIVE HERE. OUR STAFF TESTS BRANDS ALL YEAR LONG AND LOVES SHARING WHAT WORKS FOR US.

Ganesha Cook Stove

The Ganesha Ultralight Flat-Fold Smokeless Wood Stove:

This is a small but mighty camping stove that can be used for more than Backpacking. There is no need to bring a fuel canister as it will burn wood, pine cones, and anything else available on the trail or campsite . It is very simple to use and we love how compact it is weighing in at just 7.8 ounces (about the same as a smartphone), it’s an afterthought in your pack as it folds completely flat. Check it out here:

www.ganeshacookstoveproject.com

Danner

Trail Trainer

This Women’s Trail Trainer is a fantastic shoe for trails here in Breckenridge and beyond. These Trail Trainers are built with technology that optimizes support and comfort. The cushioned Resurge foam midsole and breathable mesh upper provide the feel of your favorite athletic shoe, while a stable nylon shank and a rugged outsole deliver the stability you expect from Danner. This hiker does the work for you and helps keep your feet from getting tired too early in your expeditions.

www.danner.com

SOL Paddleboards

Stand Up, Sit Down, Float and have Fun

SOL Paddle Boards offers something for everyone interested in River, Lake, and Ocean SUP along with Yoga-specific products. In addition, SOL has inflatable kayaks, tubes for both river and snow use (or just floating around with a beer in hand), and accessories galore. We love their well constructed products and Schrader Valve Adapter to inflate all of our products quickly.

www.solpaddle.com

Smith

Seeker Sunglasses

The new Seeker sunglass from SMITH Optics is performance reimagined for today’s explorers, crafted fr all terrains and endless pursuits. From running, hiking, biking, and alpine adventures, the Seeker is tailored in form and function from athlete feedback. The Seeker is offered exclusively with SMITH’s proprietary ChromaPop™ lens technology, including a new ChromaPop™ Photochromic brown lens that automatically adjusts the tint to available light. Fishing got a little bit easier with these sunglasses.

Find these at Sun Logic, 122 S. Main Street, Breckenridge or www.smithoptics.com

WHERE ART meets adventure

Enjoy wide open spaces, thousands of acres of wilderness and hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails alongside a thriving arts and culture scene. Explore the heart of Summit County in Silverthorne, Colorado and find where art meets adventure!

JUNE

Calendar of Events

June 12 - 15, 2025

Breck Pride, Breckenridge

Join us as we celebrate the friendly, colorful and vibrant spirit of our mountain town this Pride Month. Breck Pride is an inclusive event celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, friends, family, and allies in Breckenridge. More than just a gathering, Breck Pride is a beacon of education and inspiration, illuminating the path towards acceptance, understanding, and respect for all. www.gobreck.com/event/breck-pride

June 27 – 29, 2025

Breckenridge Agave Festival, Breckenridge Tacos, Mezcal & Tequila in Breckenridge! www.gobreck.com/event/breckenridge-agave-festival

JULY

July 4, 2025

4th of July Celebration, Breckenridge Breckenridge is excited for another year of our beloved Independence Day Parade.

www.gobreck.com/event/independence-day-celebration/#top

July 10, 2025

A Creative + Culinary Affair, Breckenridge

Join us for an extraordinary evening that brings together vibrant food, art, and music—all in support of Breck Create’s free education and community programs. www.breckcreate.org/events/a-creative-culinary-affair

July 19, 2025

Summer Beer Festival, Breckenridge

The annual Breckenridge Summer Beer Festival is one of the premiere summer events in the Rockies, bringing in over 40 of Colorado’s finest breweries and other breweries from around the world!

www.gobreck.com/event/breckenridge-summer-beer-festival/

July 25 – 27, 2025

Breckenridge Food and Wine Festival, Breckenridge

The Breckenridge Food and Wine Festival brings you a unique, winetasting experience.

www.gobreck.com/event/breckenridge-food-and-wine-festival/ AUGUST

August 10 – 15, 2025

Breck Epic, Breckenridge

The Breck Epic is a 6-day mountain bike race held in and around the backcountry surrounding Breckenridge. www.gobreck.com/event/breck-epic/

August 15 – 24, 2025

Breckenridge International Festival of Arts, Breckenridge

Breckenridge International Festival of Arts, or BIFA for short, is a celebration of adventure, creativity, nature and play. Local, national and international artists create an eclectic mix of music, dance, film, visual arts and family entertainment rooted in mountain culture and the natural environment.

www.gobreck.com/event/breckenridge-international-festival-of-arts/

August 21 – 23, 2025

Breckenridge Wine Classic, Breckenridge

The Breckenridge Wine Classic is a three-day festival anchored by the two-day Grand Tasting in addition to unique seminars www.gobreck.com/event/breckenridge-wine-classic/

August 22 – 24, 2025

Breckenridge Hogfest, Breckenridge www.gobreck.com/event/breckenridge-hogfest-bacon-and-bourbon/

August 30 – September 1, 2025

Labor Day Weekend, Breckenridge

Enjoy beautiful autumn temperatures and exciting events like the Summit Foundation’s Rubber Duck Race supporting the Summit Foundation and the Great Divide Arts Festival featuring over 100 artists with a wide range of mediums including photography, wood, glass, jewelry and pottery.

www.gobreck.com/event/labor-day-in-breckenridge/

SEPTEMBER

September 12 – 14, 2025

Breckenridge Oktoberfest, Breckenridge

Beer pouring starts at 2:00 pm Friday and 11:00 am Saturday & Sunday! Prost www.gobreck.com/event/breckenridge-oktoberfest/

September 18 – 21, 2025

Breckenridge Film Festival, Breckenridge

Breck Film celebrates its annual festival in late September. Join Breck Film for films, forums, parties and free kids events all weekend long. www.gobreck.com/event/breckenridge-film-festival/

OCTOBER

Breckenridge CraftSpirits Festival

Oct 3 – 5, 2025

Still on the Hill is back! Enjoy this beloved showcase of the finest craft spirits and cocktails around at the Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival, October 3-5, 2025! Enjoy spirits, artisan snacks, camaraderie and bluegrass music. www.gobreck.com/event/breckenridge-craft-spirits-festival/breckenridge

STAY TUNED! LOTS OF EVENTS ARE COMING UP!

Head to www.breckenridgemagazine.CO

For other Mountain Town Community Festivals, Concerts, Music, and things to do in our Colorado mountain towns and ski resorts head to: www.mtntownmagazine.com/events-calendar

Giving Back to our Pathways to Adventure

It’s time to add your mark to Breck’s bounty of trails

By Shauna Farnell

It’s safe to say that everyone who has visited Breckenridge in the summer has spent some time on a trail, whether hiking, biking, running or walking. We are extraordinarily lucky to have such an expansive variety of trails, allowing us endless exploration opportunities.

Who do we have to thank for these treasures?

The Breckenridge Open Space & Trails program.

Founded in 1997 through the initiative of passionate, outdoor-loving Breck residents, the program secured .5 percent local sales tax for open space acquisition and management, leading to nearly 4,500 acres of protected open space and 47 miles of trail for recreational use. Many trails have evolved to specified hiking, biking and directional use and added access for mobility challenged recreationists.

“I almost see town as our trailhead,” says Tony Overlock, who has worked with Breck Open Space & Trails since 2005 and is personally responsible for building and maintaining dozens of trail miles. “Within that town area, within a quarter mile of anywhere you live, there’s a post for you to jump on the trail. You’re not riding or walking up a road for four miles. We’ve created multiple access points.”

If you’ve spent a few hours on the trails over the summer or over the years, chances are, you’ve encountered Overlock and his team hard at work. And make no mistake, building Breck’s trails and keeping them in bomber condition is a LOT of work.

“We’ve thought about going into cross fit gyms and saying, ‘hey, want a real workout? Come work with us,” Overlock jokes, adding that in partnership with Friends of Breckenridge Trails, there are ample opportunities for volunteer trail work this summer.

“It’s a great opportunity to invest in the trails we love and use all the time, learn about the maintenance and what it takes. It’s also a great chance to meet new people, network and bond,” he says. “There is that special feeling when you ride or hike over the trail you worked on. It might be only 15 feet you worked on all day, but you feel it’s yours.”

This is one of the many reasons why we have stayed, Our Trails.

To learn about upcoming trail projects, visit: www.breckost.com

MOUNTAIN MAJESTY