Lighting Durango’s Narrow Gauge corridor enhances railroad experience
Business Improvement District/Durango & Silverton partner to encourage decorations
Durango, CO – In an effort to enhance the holiday experience of visitors to Downtown Durango, as well as the passengers on-board the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) Polar Express, the Durango Business Improvement District (BID) and the D&SNG teamed up during the holiday season to sponsor a Holiday Lighting Contest among the businesses that line the Narrow Gauge corridor from the Depot to the Downtown limits.
Fourteen businesses took up the challenge and “lit the tracks,” and three have been named as the top winners: 1st Place – Mountain Bike Specialists (which displayed a bicycle draped with lights on the building’s exterior); 2nd Place – Main Mall (which extended the building lighting from Main to the ‘backside’); 3rd Place – Strater Hotel/Henry Strater Theatre (which positioned multiple lit Christmas trees across the back of the property).
“Every year, hundreds of thousands of passengers leave the Durango Depot (and return there) on the various trains, traveling through the Downtown’s Narrow Gauge alley corridor,” said Tim Walsworth, BID executive director. “Since this might be the only view of Downtown visitors realize, especially during the Polar Express, we felt it was vital to try to make the experience more magical. Kudos go to the Railroad for sponsoring the contest to encourage businesses to decorate the ‘backs’ of their buildings.”
Participating merchants in the holiday lighting contest included, BaskinRobbins, Brew Pub & Kitchen, Duranglers, Eolus Bar and Dining, Fired Up Pizza, The Graden Merchantile Complex of businesses, Kroeger’s Ace Hardware, Main Mall, Mountain Bike Specialists, Strater Hotel/Henry Strater Theatre, Tippy Canoe, Toh-Atin Gallery, Wagon Wheel Liquors, Wells Group.
“We want to thank all those merchants/businesses that participated this year, and we sincerely congratulate the well-deserving winners,” said Christian Robbins, D&SNG director of marketing. “It was a great start to what we hope will be an ever-growing Christmas event. With our community’s help, we grew Polar Express train ridership from 26,000 passengers in 2015, to more than 30,000 passengers this holiday season. As a result of the broad-based efforts and investments by the railroad and local business leaders in making The Polar Express train ride so successful, national media outlets, including CNN, USA Today and “CBS This Morning” are taking note of Durango, and that elevated exposure helps all of us. Our collective goal is to sustain this momentum through 2017 and beyond.”
The D&SNG-sponsored awards for the winning businesses included (1st Place) a private party on a first class car for up to 15 guests – all inclusive (value $3,000). The 2nd and 3rd Place winners received $500 and $250, respectively.
“We look forward to building on this effort next year,” said Walsworth, who with the BID and other partners are exploring additional ideas for enhancing the Narrow Gauge corridor throughout the year. “Thanks to everyone for helping to light up the tracks this holiday season.”
For additional information about all BID programs, visit www.DowntownDurango.org or call970.375.5067.
