Walking down Carbondale’s Main Street on a warm summer afternoon, I’m struck by the sweet essence of this place. I hear the squeals of delight spilling out from the pool, friends lingering over cool drinks on restaurant patios, the smell of Peppino’s pizza drifting through the air and laughter echoing from Fourth Street.
Yes, summer can seem a little sleepy compared to other communities in the Valley, but that’s part of what makes Carbondale special. There are so few places like this. Sure, traffic backs up on Highway 133 at certain times of day and, yes, many new people now call Carbondale home. But our job is not to change Carbondale. Our job is to let Carbondale change us.
This year marks 10 years since Carbondale was designated a Colorado Creative District by the Colorado Office of Economic Development. The designation wasn’t just another award. It was a vehicle for our community to chart a vibrant future and distinguish ourselves from other valley towns. It was a “yes” project that everyone could rally around — and they did.
Businesses proudly displayed Creative District decals representing Studio Arts, Health & Wellness, Performing Arts, Heritage, History and Culinary Arts. Those broad categories reflected who we are and cast a wide net for participation. The Rio Grande ARTway was created, along with wayfinding signage.
The Carbondale Chamber of Commerce enthusiastically promoted the district and secured funding to partner with other Creative Districts on a Western Slope road trip campaign. Joint advertisements invited visitors to experience the “Historic Carbondale Creative District,” appearing in magazines throughout the Valley and across Colorado. Other communities even called asking, “How can we become more like Carbondale?”
Our public schools explored reshaping their curriculum around the district’s vision by creating a mini ARTway, connecting the schools and emphasizing more experiential learning. Farmers and ranchers were embraced as an essential part of our creative identity through the Heritage category, recognizing that creativity here extends far beyond galleries and studios.
The district was created and managed by Carbondale Arts, with guidance from a separate board representing businesses, nonprofits, local government and artists. It was a magical time. Rents were lower, real estate was more attainable and Carbondale was working together toward a shared vision.
Much has changed since those early years. The high cost of living and lack of affordable housing have made it increasingly difficult for artists and working families to remain here. The chamber shifted its focus to other priorities, and the Creative District gradually faded as a marketing tool. New businesses have opened, many unaware they are part of a Creative District at all — except perhaps during First Fridays. The governing board dissolved.
Yet the magic remains.
Where else in the Valley is there a classic old movie theater that opens its doors free of charge for nearly every World Cup match? Where else is the dandelion celebrated as the town flower with an annual Dandelion Day Festival?
Our deep love of the land continues to bind us together. Longtime ranching families preserve open spaces filled with livestock instead of subdivisions.
The Carbondale Mountain Fair continues a remarkable tradition of volunteerism that has now been passed down through three generations. (For newcomers, volunteering at Mountain Fair isn’t just helpful — it’s one of the ways you become part of this community.) Behind it all are extraordinary people who genuinely care.
So why are businesses struggling? Why is it becoming harder to make a living here? Why do so many people feel increasingly isolated?
If we want to preserve what makes Carbondale special while allowing it to thrive, we cannot forget the ideas and partnerships that brought us here. Nor can we rest on our laurels. A thriving small town requires continual care and cultivation.
That means strengthening the relationship between businesses and nonprofits. It means reinvigorating the Carbondale Creative District and the Rio Grande ARTway.
Recently, I picked up Local magazine and noticed that the only destinations mentioned along the Rio Grande Trail in Carbondale were TownLine, True Nature and White River Books, wonderful businesses and organizations that deserve recognition. But the trail also passes by an entire Creative District, the ARTway, SAW Studios, galleries, public art and countless creative businesses. Those are stories worth telling, too.
It means a town needs to be willing to continually invest in the unique vision which is Carbondale.
The good news is that the building blocks already exist. Carbondale Arts continues to work tirelessly throughout the year. A new Main Street Business Alliance is emerging and doing important work to support local businesses. The Tourism Council has formed a marketing subcommittee that has the opportunity to once again promote the Creative District as a destination.
We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We simply need to reconnect with the vision that united us a decade ago.
The Creative District was never just about art. It was about creating a place where creativity, business, agriculture, culture, history and community could flourish together. That vision is just as relevant today as it was 10 years ago.
Perhaps the best way to move forward is to revisit our past, and let it guide the pathway to Carbondale’s future.