logo
Error with device mobile widget id ads_slot-8
Error with device mobile widget id ads_slot-8
  • News
  • Retail
  • Opinion
  • Movers & Shakers
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Community
  • Entertainment
  • Food & Beverage
  • Archives
  • Free Subscription
    • News
    • Retail
    • Opinion
    • Movers & Shakers
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Community
    • Entertainment
    • Food & Beverage
    • Archives
    • Free Subscription
Error with device mobile widget id ads_slot-6
Error with device mobile widget id ads_slot-6
Story continued
News
April 26, 2023
Story continued

as Secret Creek.

John Gibson, owner of the company, said showcasing their yurts in a ‘destination area” attracted him to it.

Gibson’s company was the second business, after Mayfly, to get into the Colorado Outdoors project.

‘Being involved in a project for revitalization of an area and being on the ground floor is exciting.’

As it continues to build out and construction advances, Dragoo isn’t the only one excited.

‘It’s one thing to look at pretty pictures on the wall. It’s a whole other thing to start getting neighbors and watching businesses thrive,’ Gibson said.

What’s always been attractive about the Colorado Outdoors is that second word. ‘Outdoors.’ Taking a walk along the trail, it’s clear, even after buildings go

The Flex buildings a_

on page 23

Italian restaurant Trattoria di Sofia and more, Gunnison Clamp for the Montrose BusinessTimes up on the land, the place has a sense of nature. And that’s intentional.

Dragoo said there are four components in growing the project. The fourth he mentioned is conservation.

He expressed the importance of keeping the land open.

“It’s not a concrete jungle,” he said. “You want to enjoy being in the great outdoors, and that enhances a lot of the amenities we already have.”

Another part of growing right is making sure the project fills the needs of the people on the land. Bright Beginnings childcare facility moved into the Colorado Outdoors, in one of the Flex buildings. That was intentional.

The project looks for businesses that fit. But businesses also look for communities that fit.

“They look at the schools, and they look at childcare,” Dragoo said.

He discovered that need partially in recruiting businesses. Two of the five classrooms at Bright Beginnings were in use as of earlier this month. It houses infants now, but soon toddlers and pre-school age children will be accepted into the childcare facility.

Some other growth comes naturally. The Marriott, for instance, knew there was a shortage of beds in Montrose, and as businesses pick the Colorado Outdoors campus, they need rooms for visitors.

Looking ahead

The future is bright at the Colorado Outdoors, but that doesn’t mean it’s all smooth sailing.

Businesses looking to move to Montrose can take advantage of a wealth of incentives, but in Colorado, construction prices are up and continue to grow. Dragoo hopes those will plateau, as they never really shrink.

“Anecdotally, I’d say they’re up about 40% (since the Colorado Outdoors project first broke ground),” he said.

That hasn’t stopped other plans.

The Basecamp apartments at the Colorado Outdoors plan to build more toward the river, Dragoo said. And there are plans for medical offices near the signed front entrance to the campus.

“There’s all these roadblocks in the way that communities don’t realize,” he said.

But the community, which is what Dragoo looks for, is what has helped make the project work. From the city’s help with infrastructure, to incentives, to the fact that there’s plenty of momentum already, there are plenty of reasons for development to move toward the Colorado Outdoors project. And the roadblocks in the way don’t seem to be big enough to stop what’s coming.

Justin Tubbs is the Montrose Business Times editor. He can be reached by email at justin@montrosebusinesstimes.com or by phone at 970-765-0915 or 254246-2260.

Related Posts
Error with device mobile widget id ads_slot-4
Error with device mobile widget id ads_slot-4
Error with device mobile widget id ads_slot-2
Error with device mobile widget id ads_slot-2
Error with device mobile widget id ads_slot-7
Error with device mobile widget id ads_slot-7
MOST READ
The PRUF Is in the Pizza: New pop-up stand serves New York-style slices
Business, Food & Beverage...
The PRUF Is in the Pizza: New pop-up stand serves New York-style slices
By Justin Tubbs Montrose Business Times 
August 28, 2025
At the Montrose Farmers Market this past Saturday, the scent of bubbling cheese and roasted tomato sauce made its way through the air. Customers frequ...
this is a test
Baker Justina Reeves builds sweet future in Montrose with Cakes Baby!
Business, Food & Beverage...
Baker Justina Reeves builds sweet future in Montrose with Cakes Baby!
By Tonya 
August 21, 2025
When Justina Reeves fires up her mixer, she’s not just baking cakes. She’s continuing a lifelong passion that has carried her through motherhood, loss...
this is a test
Group opening a downtown Asian noodle bar will let you try their food early — out of a truck
Business, Food & Beverage...
Group opening a downtown Asian noodle bar will let you try their food early — out of a truck
By Justin Tubbs Montrose Business Times, Tonya 
August 13, 2025
The team behind one of Montrose’s forthcoming downtown restaurant projects will start serving early—out of a truck. Ms So (stylized MSSO) opens Thursd...
this is a test
Winners of the 2025 Montrose Small Business Awards honored at ceremony
Business, News
Winners of the 2025 Montrose Small Business Awards honored at ceremony
By Montrose Business Times 
August 7, 2025
Seventeen local businesses were recognized last Thursday at the 2025 Small Business Awards, held Thursday, July 31, at the Montrose Pavilion. The annu...
this is a test
50 years in Business: Davis Service Center brings power sports to the West Slope
Business, Community...
50 years in Business: Davis Service Center brings power sports to the West Slope
By Justin Tubbs Montrose Business Times 
July 30, 2025
If you ask Lincoln Davis what’s kept Davis Service Center in business for 50 years, he won’t tell you it’s about flashy marketing or cornering the mar...
this is a test

Subscribe for Free to the interactive E-edition. Each Wednesday.

subscribe
logo

The Montrose Business Times has established itself as the premier source for local business news, community updates, events, and trends in Montrose, Colorado, and its surrounding areas. Our mission is to inform and support the growth of our residents, businesses, business leaders, and entrepreneurs within our community—a commitment we hold with great sincerity. Our vision transcends the act of sharing success stories; we strive to create them. We believe in the transformative power of storytelling—how sharing experiences, insights, and personal journeys can ignite inspiration and drive meaningful change within our community. At the heart of our endeavor lies growth and impact. We are devoted to engaging with the community at large, ensuring that everyone has access to the remarkable stories and insights we present. Our offerings encompass digital news content, a weekly digital newspaper, and a variety of events—all designed to honor and celebrate the best that Montrose has to offer. We invite you to join us on this journey as we illuminate the narratives that shape our vibrant city. Professional Memberships: National Newspaper Association, Colorado Press Association, Colorado News Collaborative, LION Publishers, Montrose Economic Development Corporation, and the Greater Montrose Chamber of Commerce  

INFO

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Become a member
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Become a member

CONTACT INFO

montrosebusinesstimes.com

Montrose Business Times

501 E. Main Street

Montrose CO 81401

9707650915

submissions@montrosebusinesstimes.com

Got a story tip? Drop us a note at submissions@montrosebusinesstimes.com