Latest San Luis Valley Stories

ALAMOSA, Colo., July 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad today announced a special promotion to help Flying W Ranch performers who lost their jobs and primary venue after the Waldo Canyon Fire. Like hundreds of Colorado-based businesses, the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad is doing its part to help those affected by the Waldo Canyon Fire. Since the 1950's, the Flying W Ranch has served as a historical symbol and tourist attraction of the Pike's Peak Region. After the...

ALAMOSA, Colo., June 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad today announced its summer San Francisco/Napa Valley Getaway Contest, a competition for the best train travel story or memory this season. Eligible winners include those who have purchased any ticket to a concert in the 2012 Mountain Rails Live Summer Concert Series, including tickets to see this weekend's special guest Special Consensus. Rio Grande Scenic Railroad's Getaway Contest will take place on...

ALAMOSA, Colo., June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad today announced its participation in the Great Scenic Railway Journeys' television series that profiles some of the world's most historic and scenic railways. Produced by Emmy Award winner Robert C. Van Camp and hosted by storyteller David Holt, the series on "Celebrating North America's Steam Railways" airs on public television stations across the U.S. and will feature Rio Grande Scenic Railroad's historic...

ALAMOSA, Colo., May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad today announced its plans to partner with the Red River Community Center for its opening day, May 25th. Those attending the Red River Motorcycle Rally, or those who want to support the Red River Community Center, can purchase tickets for a scenic train ride from Alamosa to La Veta, with a portion of each ticket sold May 25th through May 27th going towards the maintenance and upkeep of the Red River...

Link to photo: http://bit.ly/qnVhpf WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the Interior Department prepares to update a key federal plan for developing solar projects on public lands in six Western states, family farmers and ranchers from the Rocky Mountain region today visited Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in Washington, D.C., to thank him for his leadership and to urge protection of traditional land uses, natural resources and rural families. "We met with the Secretary...

DENVER, July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) will host its annual Blanca Fest in Alamosa, Colo., Aug. 21, 2010 in Cole Park. Blanca Fest is an all-day communal get together for hikers, families, and nature enthusiasts to hike the best trails, peaks and cultural sites San Luis Valley and Sangre de Cristo range have to offer. After a day of hiking, attendees can kick back and relax with an evening of entertainment including, live music, food and beverages, and lots more....

By Roger Fillion A severe hailstorm in south central Colorado earlier this month wiped out part of the barley crop that MillerCoors and Anheuser- Busch use to brew beer. A MillerCoors spokesman said the Aug. 16 storm that battered the San Luis Valley would not affect its beer production or prices. An Anheuser-Busch spokesman declined to comment beyond a written statement. The storm, the worst in recent memory, caused an estimated $42.4 million in crop damage in the worst-hit areas of...

By Matt Hildner, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo. Jul. 27--ALAMOSA -- The federal government will try to secure its right to groundwater beneath the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve on Wednesday, when a three-week trial is scheduled to open in the Water Court for Division 3. Attorneys with the Department of Justice filed a claim to a right that would entitle it to all unappropriated water in the unconfined aquifer needed to maintain ground water levels in the park. The "in-place" use...

By Matt Hildner, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo. Jul. 8--ALAMOSA -- The Bureau of Land Management lifted its moratorium on applications for utility-scale solar projects last week, but how the move will affect Colorado's one potential project on federal public land remains to be seen. Jim Sample, a spokesman for the state BLM office in Lakewood, said the agency had not been in touch with California-based OptiSolar since the moratorium was lifted Wednesday. OptiSolar had started an application...