Already Hurting Estes Park Gets Another Blow From Government Shutdown
ESTES PARK, Colo. (CBS4) - The government shutdown has closed national parks and monuments, including Rocky Mountain National Park, and the timing couldn't be worse for the town of Estes Park as it tries to recover from the floods.
For a town that needs tourists the park shutdown is terrible news. One of the few ways into Estes Park and other towns that depend on Rocky Mountain National Park was by taking Trail Ridge Road, but now it's closed.
Estes Park is a victim of circumstances beyond its control. First Mother Nature unleashed a flood and many of the roads in and out of town were demolished. Now its life-blood, Rocky Mountain National Park, has been shut, closed by politics.
"It's almost like a double-whammy for us," Main Street Tees owner Kevin Schweary said.
The lack of tourists has been too much for some businesses. That 1 Jewelry store owner Matt Moulder is throwing in the towel.
"Without that income coming in from the Front Range … it just doesn't make sense to keep paying regular rent and try to stay," Moulder said.
The message from Estes Park is "we are still open for business," and a lot is on sale.
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"We live down in Loveland and it is difficult for the people down there right now, but we also knew it is just as difficult up here in Estes and they are our neighbors, so we took the roundabout way to get up here to support Estes as well," shopper Jeannie Bier said.
The park rarely closes but was closed during the floods and now in the government shutdown.
Colorado Floods: How To Help
The recent floods are impacting families and communities throughout Colorado, so CBS4 has compiled a list of ways you can support the local communities impacted by the floods.
