Estes Valley Land Trust Coordinates Guided Tour Of Sand Creek Massacre Exhibit

The Estes Valley Land Trust is coordinating a guided tour of History Colorado’s Sand Creek Massacre Exhibit on Tuesday, April 4th. Reservations for the tour are required and space is limited. The guided tour includes a shuttle to and from Estes Park and History Colorado in Denver, access to the entire museum and a catered lunch. The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and reservations can be made at evlandtrust.org/RSVP. This is not a fundraising event and the land trust is subsidizing the cost of the guided tour. Please see the reservation link for more details.

The Estes Valley is part of the traditional home of the Arapaho, Cheyenne and other American Indian nations. Forced relocation, disease and genocide displaced American Indians from this area. The Sand Creek Massacre is one of Colorado’s most significant events that define this dark aspect of US history. History Colorado’s new exhibit, titled The Sand Creek Massacre: The Betrayal that Changed the Cheyenne and Arapaho People Forever, recounts the deadliest day in Colorado history, when more than 230 peaceful people were murdered.

The Sand Creek Massacre is an extremely difficult and important lesson to learn about the history of the original people that called today’s Colorado home. “As an advocate of land conservation and all people connected to this landscape, it’s critical to show respect for the ongoing trauma Sand Creek created and bear witness to this profoundly sad event,” said Jeffrey Boring, Executive Director of the Estes Valley Land Trust.

“This exhibit was co-curated with Cheyenne and Arapaho leaders and draws from oral histories passed down generations; I’m glad that we can help Estes Park residents attend this important exhibit.”

Preserving lands sacred to the Cheyenne, Arapaho and other American Indian tribes is a priority for the Estes Valley Land Trust. “I hope this tour enables the Estes Park community to learn more about Colorado’s tribal communities and find ways to meaningfully recognize their legacies,” said Boring.

About the Estes Valley Land TrustFounded in 1987 by Estes Park residents, the Estes Valley Land Trust is a nationally recognized land conservation organization that has preserved nearly 10,000 acres of land and some of the most iconic landscapes in the Estes Valley. Please consider becoming a member of the land trust at www.evlandtrust.org/donate.

Tickets Are On Sale For Frozen Dead Guy Days 2023

Quirky Rocky Mountain celebration moves to Estes Park for 2023 https://frozendeadguydays.com/

Ticket includes all music performances, activities and events, except the Blue Ball and Coffin Races team registration.

See you March 17-19!

Frozen Dead Guy Days (FDGD), one of Colorado’s most beloved annual events for more than 20 years, is kicking off a new chapter in Estes Park. Taking place over St. Patrick’s Day weekend on March 17-19, 2023, the reborn Frozen Dead Guy Days will feature live music and entertainment all weekend long. It will be held

Nederland, Colorado. Bredo Morstøl, or Grandpa Bredo, as Frozen Dead Guy Days devotees fondly refer to him, passed away in 1989, but his family cryogenically froze his body and shipped it to the U.S. Over the next decade, his legend grew amongst Nederland residents, and a winter festival was born to pay tribute to Grandpa Bredo with quirky events and activities. It caught on in a big way; and by 2022, Frozen Dead Guy Days attracted approximately 20,000 attendees.

“Frozen Dead Guy Days is going to be a fundamental shift for Estes Park,” says John Cullen, owner and CEO of The Stanley Hotel. “Together, we’re going to create a winter festival playground and we are proud to have The Stanley be the host hotel for it.”

Through the vision of the new FDGD executive team, Visit Estes Park and The Stanley Hotel, plans are underway to make the inaugural Estes Park Frozen Dead Guy Days the most fun yet. Specific dates and times will be announced soon, but attendees can expect: at the Estes Park Events Complex and The Stanley Hotel, with satellite events occurring around town. Festival goers can expect the weird and wonderful happenings from years past, including coffin races and a polar plunge, as well as plenty of new and elevated Estes twists, like a deadman fashion show, roaming freak show acts, a Bands & Bloodys Sunday Brunch and more.

Proceeds from the event will go toward funding workforce housing and childcare solutions in Estes Park. Visit Estes Park and The Stanley Hotel have committed to donating all proceeds from ticket sales that surpass operational costs to the area’s recently established workforce housing and childcare funding mechanism.

“We’re very excited to give new life to this iconic Colorado festival, while maintaining its quirky vibe,” says Kara Franker, CEO of Visit Estes Park. "Estes is built for events like this as we have the right venues and infrastructure to suit the festival’s size. Additionally, it will support the town during a slower season and ultimately give a boost to workforce housing and childcare."

For the uninitiated, Frozen Dead Guy Days celebrates an unusual turn of events that brought the frozen body of a deceased Norwegian man to a Tuff Shed in

Live Music and Entertainment – An exciting line-up of talented artists, both local and national, will be released soon.

The Blue Ball – This iconic FDGD event will be held at the historic Stanley Hotel and will feature live music, dancing, DJs and more.

Coffin Races – Teams of “pallbearers” will race head-to-head, through a course full of obstacles, mud, snow, and drills in a grandstand setting.

Irish Wake – Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Frozen Dead Guy Days style, and toast to Grandpa Bredo all night long.

Brain Freeze Contest – Eat your heart out with the area’s best local ice cream.

Deadman Fashion Show – Come dressed in your finest “dead guy” duds to win prizes and mingle with your fellow attendees.

Bands & Bloodys Sunday Brunch –Close out the frigidly fun weekend with live music and themed brunch menus at restaurants around town.

Local Beers and Spirits – All beers and spirits served at the festival will be local to Colorado, including the official FDGD beer brewed by Lumpy Ridge Brewing Company, Estes Park.

Tickets are on sale now! For more info, visit www.frozendeadguydays.com. For more information on Estes Park, visit www.visitestespark.com.