07/07/2026
This is hard to put out there because we like to show fun, the beauty, and all the good things, but the truth is, this fire has hurt our business community significantly after a very poor winter season. We invite you to check out the Ouray webcams to see the air quality and to not cancel your visit. If you would like to help, please check out your favorite restaurants and shops online for gift cards since this will give them a bit of cash to try to help make payroll so their employees can continue to live here. We are so very thankful that Ouray was spared and our hearts are with our neighbors that are still evacuated.
Ok, I've been quiet on the Ouray fire issue. Until now, because so many people including residents think this is a hiccup for local businesses. I've even seen several post say that if we can't afford to lose a couple weeks we wouldn't make it anyways. I don't think people are considering the trickle down affect this will have to every resident here. I can't speak for every business but I will speak from mine and give you some insight to it. Ouray Meat and Cheese came into summer from the worst businesses winter ever. There was no skiing or ice climbing which meant, very little business. Then we took almost every remaining dollar to buy and make a huge investment for summer. Summer started great and when the fire hit. It cut our usual numbers by about 70%. Realize we depend on our summer months to carry the business through winter. We make money June through September. Break even October through December, and then hemorrhage out money January through May. So every week that we lose money in summer is winter that we can't afford employee's. Ive been seeing so many employee's of businesses in town celebrating that town is slow and they like having their town back. They're going to realize really quick this town is dependant on tourism. If we don't have tourist, their hours this summer are going drop significantly and winter hours will be almost 0. The city of Ouray is going to realize they lost the majority of sales tax revenue along with there lodging taxes. When that is realized. They will cut employees and services to our residents. With our city already being in a deficit, when will they realize to maybe have our board of tourism promote our city instead of shut it down and be mute. I have the best employees around and I hate to cut there hours but they realize the strain this is having on us all. Please support local businesses which in return supports everyone.
