Chaffee County is one of the most beautiful, rural places in a beautiful state. But right now is not the time to visit since the county is facing scarce resources, as it begins to deal with the coronavirus known as COVID-19.
The Accretta Ranch property and a second ranch property near the County Fairgrounds are candidates for conservation easements.
Last week Colorado Governor Jared Polis strengthened the state’s disaster emergency orders by issuing a “stay-at-home’ order statewide, which runs through April 30. That order means what it says; stay home. Earlier, in a move to slow the spread of the virus, he had ordered all bars and restaurants, as well as non-essential retail closed. In mid March, he shut down Colorado ski resorts at the height of the spring break tourist season.
Chaffee County Public Health Director Andrea Carlstrom put it more plainly for the county: “Chaffee County is CLOSED to visitors, tourism, or leisure until further notice.”
The Chaffee Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) issued local disaster emergency guidelines to address the pandemic situation that are even more strict than the state directives, especially related to lodging. Commissioners have directed all hospitality lodging to take no new reservations, and to cancel upcoming reservations. Lodgers are ordered to accept only single night guests who are passing through the county on their way home.
“This is not the time to come here for recreation,” said Chair of the BoCC Greg Felt. “The county is already seeing positive cases of COVID-19. At this time the county’s limited resources must be organized and directed to helping the county’s residents as we weather this emergency.”
Therein lies the problem; people from outside Chaffee County are not listening to the local orders.
Rather than staying put on the Front Range, or in their home states or home countries, evidence is mounting that many are doing what the governor told them not to do; driving to the mountains.
Buena Vista Town Administrator Phillip Puckett reports they are seeing more out-of-town people in the river parks. “They’re not on Main Street, they appear to be here in campers and we’re seeing them in the parks.”
CKS Paddlefest in Buena Vista is the traditional opening event to the Chaffee County summer tourist season. Courtesy photo.
As reported to county commissioners, Colorado Parks & Wildlife and Chaffee County Public Health, people appear to be arriving here to recreate. They are reported to be camping on public lands for recreation, arriving at second homes, with house guests, and have been reported at short term rental properties.
Full time residents report that owners of second homes, together with house guests are arriving in the county not just to stay, they are playing and partying. None of this is allowed based on the local emergency order.
“The second home across the creek from us last weekend was loaded with guests, they had a big party,” said one local health care professional in a communication to Carlstrom. She asked how that could possibly meet the strict social distancing mandated by the Chaffee Public Health Order.
Anecdotal evidence reported by other county residents: nearby, normally empty, second homes appear filled with people they don’t recognize.
Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center
The situation in rural areas, for rural health systems, was already strained before the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past 18 month more than 105 rural hospitals have shut down across the nation. Chaffee County considers itself fortunate to be the home of the financially-healthy Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center (HRRMC); but it is a 24 bed hospital with a clinic system, and this county has 21,000 residents.
As the pandemic progresses, HRRMC is already converting areas of the hospital and its clinics into treatment areas. Health officials say the local supply of personal protective equipment is not large. The county is making plans to convert the Chaffee County Fairgrounds building into alternative care areas should it be needed for the expected coronavirus surge.
Sharing this beautiful place with visitors from the Front Range, the nation and the world is something residents willingly do in normal times. But these are not normal times. This month the message from the county’s full-time residents and its leaders has been made clear: “Just not now. Go home. Stay home. We’ll tell you when it’s time to visit.”
Featured image: Centerville Ranch looking west toward the Collegiate Peaks. It’s western edge borders the Collegiate Peaks National Scenic byway. Photo courtesy of Central Colorado Conservancy.
Recent Comments