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Mayors boost business in Waldo Canyon Fire tour
Posted: 08.23.2012 at 4:49 PM
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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Two months after the start of the Waldo Canyon Fire, mayors from the impacted cities are touring the area and spending some money.
It's an idea from the Pikes Peak Region Mayors Caucus, a group made up of mayors from Monument to Fountain.
"We had 33 room night cancellations and we only have 8 rooms so do the math on that, it was brutal," Don Wick, owner of the Old Town Guest House said.
Before the fire the Old Town Guest House in Old Colorado City was set up to have a record year but in light of the fire, business has dropped by 30 percent this month.
Vacant rooms are part of the new reality after the Waldo Canyon Fire but one the mayor's of the impacted cities are trying to change.
So they're taking a bus tour of the area, chatting with owners, and shopping in some of the hardest hit locations that rely on tourism.
Sales tax revenue makes up about half of the general fund in Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, and Woodland Park according to their respective cities.
"We were at Ft. Carson for an open house they had yesterday for new troops and want to make sure they know what Woodland Park is and has to offer," David Turley, Mayor of Woodland Park said.
Local stores are trying to drum up business anyway they can because even though the Waldo Canyon Fire is out, life isn't back to normal.