Estes Park Residents to Vote On New Multi-Use Visitor Center.

ESTES PARK, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 19, 1999--

Urban Renewal Authority Board Confident That Project's Design and

Function Meet Community Values and Desire for Well-Managed Growth

The Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority (EPURA) will seek public approval in November's city election for a new multi-use visitor center to replace the existing facility at the junction of Highways 34 and 36. The ballot initiative for the new center, which is strongly supported by a wide range of organizations, including the Estes Park Chamber Resort Association and the National Park Service, will be voted on by town residents on Nov. 2.

The proposed "Mountain Discovery of Estes Park," will feature interpretive environmental and historical exhibits about Rocky Mountain National Park and will include an information desk staffed by the National Park Service. The center will also include a new Estes Park visitor information center, offices for the Chamber Resort Association, restaurant and retail shop. A 300-seat large-screen theater will feature an original film about Rocky Mountain National Park that will take visitors to typically inaccessible locations while promoting safety and environmentally responsible use of the park, which is expected to receive over 3 million visitors next year.

"Mountain Discovery is the right project done the right way," said Dick Putney, chairman of EPURA's board of directors. "The location makes perfect sense as both a gateway to Estes Park and in helping facilitate better traffic management in and out of town. This project will create many community, business and environmental benefits, and we are eager to inform Estes Park's residents of all the details so they can feel good about supporting this important project on November 2."

Mountain Discovery of Estes Park is expected to be developed and operated by Denver-based Amfac Parks & Resorts, the country's largest national and state park and resort management company. Amfac has operations in many national parks including, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Death Valley and the Everglades.

Estimated to cost $11 million, the facility is expected to be funded through a public/private partnership between Amfac and EPURA.

Plans for Mountain Discovery include 380 new parking spaces, which should encourage pedestrian usage of the nearby Riverwalk and the Lake Estes trail system. Currently it is estimated that a seat fee for the large-screen theater will raise up to $130,000 per year, and is projected to generate up to $200,000 per year in the future, specifically for public transportation projects to further ease Estes Park's increasing congestion.

"Mountain Discovery has put together a tremendous design and operations team that we believe will realize the project's full potential to generate new revenue and other benefits to the town," said Putney. "The support we are receiving from the National Park Service and other groups is directly related to Amfac being involved in this project, and they've already proven to be very competent, engaged professionals who are knowingly sensitive to the concerns of Estes Park residents because of their experience with other national park communities. We strongly believe that Amfac would create a positive experience for visitors and residents alike."

Pending voter approval, Mountain Discovery is expected to break ground in April 2000 and open in the summer of 2001.

EPURA will hold a series of informational community meetings over the next few months to explain the project in detail.