 | Photo
courtesy of Dillon Marina |
The
Sunny
Side of Dillon
by
Rebecca Sahr
The
reflection of the setting sun dances on the water as if moving in time to the
music emerging from the outdoor amphitheater.
The silhouette of a sailboat joins the sun in the last dance of the day.
Families with laughing children and couples holding hands stroll along
the tree-lined paths near the water. A
young man throws a stick into the water as his barking dog, tail wagging, jumps
in to retrieve the floating branch. This
is the beginning of a typical summer night in Dillon, Colorado. This
sleepy burg, nestled in the middle of Colorado ski country, offers a summer experience
that rivals its well-known winter wonderland.
But summer is different. Gone
is the glitz of winter, pricey lift tickets and flashy ski outfits.
Instead, Dillon’s guests experience a laid back lifestyle with a variety
of sun-loving activities just waiting to be enjoyed. Lake
Dillon is a high country reservoir offering breathtaking views to those who love
to sail, fish or generally rock along with the waves in the middle of landlocked
Colorado. With the help of the Dillon Yacht
Club, the Dillon Marina offers many more enjoyable events. The
Fourth of July brings on a water-based parade.
Festively decorated boats of all shapes and sizes cruise by as jovial sailors
call out friendly greetings to the spectators on the shore.
The Labor Day Dog Show is an animal lover’s delight offering prizes
in such categories as “owner look-alike” and “best howl”. For
those part-time water lovers, the Marina offers motor, sailboat and pontoon rentals.
But, please no water skiing. Lake
Dillon, at 9,000 feet above sea level and fed by the run off from the snow-covered
mountains, is too cold.  Summit
County’s vast network of hiking and biking trails are for those who prefer
to stay with their feet firmly planted on the ground.
These paved trails make it fun for all to “bike in the mountains”
versus just “mountain biking."
The Dillon to Keystone ride is easy enough for most family members. This
trek provides outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to enjoy the high country beauty
as it winds along a six-mile picturesque path of the lake, mountain flora, and
the Snake River.
Choosing
to take the other direction out of town provides a more challenging ride along
Lake Dillon to the Dam and then through national forest land.
Several sightseeing spots with information on the area’s wildlife
are nestled along the way. The bike route goes through Frisco and continues on another
eight miles to Breckenridge.
The
following pointers will help make your stay in Dillon more enjoyable:
-
At
high altitude with closer proximity to the sun, wear sunscreen and carry water.
-
Rain
gear is important since sudden thunderstorms can appear.
-
Don’t
pick the wildflowers. Colorado wants
to preserve its beauty for present and future generations.
Don’t
worry if all the exercise and fun sun time leaves you sleepy-eyed at this high
altitude hamlet. Dillon has an array
of lodging. Both motel and condo
rooms are available at reasonable prices. Most quarters display a cozy, practical
atmosphere, rather than the high fashion digs by the ski areas.
Dillon
has some wonderful restaurants. The
Marina sports its own Tiki Bar with a simple menu matched to the informal dining
at the outdoor picnic tables. Their
special “Rumrunner” is a refreshing drink to partake while watching
sailboats approach the dock in the waning hours of daylight.
Another
casual spot is Wild Bill’s Pizza, cooking up great homemade pizza. Several restaurants
boast menus offering culinary delights complimented by wine lists worth perusing. The Arapahoe Café, housed in one of Dillon’s original homesteads,
provides wonderful dinners as well as robust breakfasts. Ristorante al Largo provides a sumptuous Italian menu. A short drive to the outskirts of Dillon takes you to The Sunshine Café,
and Snake River Saloon, both longtime standards of great food in this area. The outsides of these places deceive what waits inside.
 After
a great day of fun in the sun and sporting a full stomach, mosey on down to the
outdoor amphitheater (right, in foreground), which claims its home along
the lake. Many evenings during the
warm, long days, the amphitheater comes alive with concerts, plays and demonstrations. Savvy participants bring cushions to sit upon. Local organizations often sell snacks and libations as a means of support
for community causes.
Lots
of these events solicit viewer participation. Children are encouraged to come down, meet the mountain man and pet his
donkey after he’s talked about life in historical Colorado. When the music gets going – and a wide variety of sounds burst forth
from the stage throughout the summer – toes commence tapping and hands start
clapping. An impromptu dance floor
evolves in front of the stage enjoyed by young and old alike. The musicians become livelier as the crowd grows larger. Smiles and friendly talk abound during these evening rendezvous!
The
amphitheater also shows another side of its multi-use personality. Come Sunday morning the seats are filled with people seeking
spiritual fulfillment. The Dillon
Community Church holds services, complete with contemporary Christian music and
an uplifting message. Go ahead, bring
your coffee cup and wear your shorts to this service. What an experience to worship
God while looking out over the rippling, blue lake with the majestic mountain
range as a backdrop.
The
Summit Historical Museum, housed in an old church, provides an education of early
Dillon and Summit County in a colorful manner. Dillon’s present allure is a direct result of its unusual past.
During
the 1800s, Ute Indians and beaver trappers shared Summit County. Once a year, trappers and traders would gather together to
conduct business at LaBonte’s Hole, the point where the Blue and Snake Rivers
met Ten Mile Creek. LaBonte’s
Hole faded away as the town of Dillon evolved into a permanent settlement. By 1861, Summit County was born, receiving its name because its eastern
boundary followed the summit of the Continental Divide.
In
the early 1900s, the city and county of Denver began buying up water rights in
the mountain areas close to rivers. Not
aware of this, Dillon continued to thrive. By the 1950s with the help of the Depression, the Denver Water Board owned
75 percent of the little burg. Denver
desired water from the mountain rivers to provide for its booming population.
 After
several meetings and lengthy discussions, the town and the Water Board agreed
to create the badly needed reservoir by re-locating Dillon to higher ground. Consequently, the residents decided to move several buildings with sentimental
value to the “new” Dillon. The
Arapahoe Café and the Summit Historical Museum are two of these buildings. Additionally, a lot of grave digging took place as the 300 “residents”
of the Dillon Cemetery took up new lodging away from the path of progress.
Construction
started on the Dillon Dam in the 1960s. Several years later, Lake Dillon was born, housing 262,000-acre feet of
water captured from the Blue River. The
town of Dillon now contentedly resides on its shores.
Dillon’s
sunny side offers low-key fun born out of its unusual past and beautiful setting. Relaxing days and fun-filled nights await voyagers looking for recreation. The sunsets and sailboats are waiting.
| Dillon is located
65 miles west of Denver and can be reached by driving west on Interstate 70. Denver
International Airport is a 1 1/2 - 2 hour drive from Dillon. Shuttle service is
available between DIA and Dillon -- advance reservations are usually required.
For additional information
on Dillon, check out these sites:
www.summitchamber.org
www.dillonmarina.com
www.ci.dillon.co.us |
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