Across the West, quirky roadside attractions reward travelers who are willing to take the scenic route, make an unexpected detour or pull over when something strange appears on the horizon. Some are delightfully kitschy, while others double as open-air art galleries, geological wonders and pieces of Americana. From a reptile rescue in Colorado to a 500-mile art highway through Nevada, these stops prove the journey can be every bit as memorable as where you’re headed.

World’s Wonder View Tower in Genoa

Things are looking up in Genoa, a tiny Eastern Plains town of just more than 150 people. The century-old World’s Wonder View Tower has undergone a 10-year restoration project, with its revival coinciding with its 100th anniversary. In the 1930s, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” claimed visitors could see six states from the top: Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota and Kansas. The roadside attraction is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day, and Saturdays through September. Future plans call for yurts, huts and other unique lodging to turn the landmark into a destination.

Colorado Gators Reptile Rescue in Mosca

Alligators might be the last thing you expect to find in southern Colorado, but the Colorado gators rescue makes for a memorable detour on the way to Great Sand Dunes National Park. The rescue is home to hundreds of reptiles, including alligators, crocodiles, caiman, tortoises, turtles and rare albino alligators. Visitors can hold and take photos with a small alligator and feed larger gators and tortoises. The rescue’s most famous resident was Morris, a movie-star alligator who appeared in films including “Happy Gilmore” and “Dr. Dolittle 2.” Estimated to be at least 80 years old, the 640-pound gator died of old age in 2025. Morris was taxidermied and recently returned to the rescue.

Largest fork in the U.S. in Creede

Tucked into the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado, Creede is a well-preserved Old West town with one very oversized attraction: A 40-foot-tall, 600-pound aluminum fork propped against the side of a building. Known as the Creede Fork, the hand-welded roadside attraction took a local artist three months to build and was designed to withstand the region’s strong winds. Stop for a photo with the giant flatware, then stick around to explore the restaurants, shops and acclaimed Creede Repertory Theatre.

Free-Range Art Highway in Nevada

Where the open road becomes an open-air gallery, Nevada’s roughly 500-mile Free-Range Art Highway connects Reno and Las Vegas with larger-than-life installations, quirky roadside masterpieces and the rugged beauty of the American West.

Along the way, see seven towers of brightly colored boulders rising from the desert at Seven Magic Mountains and wander among ghostly sculptures at the Goldwell Open Air Museum near the abandoned mining town of Rhyolite. In Goldfield, the International Car Forest of the Last Church turns junked cars, buses and vans into a sprawling outdoor canvas, with vehicles painted by artists and planted nose-first in the desert. Other stops include the Oats Park Art Center, housed in a historic school in Fallon.

The journey ends in Reno, which is home to more than 120 public art installations, including many inspired by or created by artists from Burning Man.

Hell’s Half Acre in Natrona County, Wyo.

About 40 miles west of Casper, Hell’s Half Acre sprawls across 960 acres of jagged badlands, caves, deep ravines and sculpted rock formations that look like the backdrop of a sci-fi movie. In fact, the otherworldly landscape appeared in the 1997 film “Starship Troopers.”

After being closed to the public for more than two decades, the geological wonder reopened in May 2026 with a new observation deck, boardwalk, picnic tables and interpretive signs. Archaeologists have also discovered artifacts there dating back 8,500 to 12,000 years. Admission is free, and early morning or late afternoon visits offer especially beautiful light that brings out the colors and layers of the badland formations.

Sculpture in the Wild in Lincoln, Mont.

Tucked into 26 forested acres just off Highway 200, Sculpture in the Wild turns Montana’s Blackfoot Valley into an open-air art gallery. Follow 2 miles of trails past large-scale works made from wood, stone and steel, with each piece telling a story connected to the region’s history and landscape.

Since the park opened in 2014, artists from around the world have contributed to its collection, and some sculptures even invite visitors to climb and interact with them. Admission is free, and you’ll want to allow at least an hour to explore. In summer, the park also hosts live music on Saturdays (from 4 to 6 p.m.), making it easy to pair an art-filled afternoon with dinner in nearby Lincoln.

Tinkertown Museum in Sandia Park, N.M.

More than 50,000 glass bottles form the winding walls of Tinkertown Museum, a wonderfully eccentric roadside attraction filled with the life’s work of artist Ross Ward. For more than 40 years, Ward carved, collected and built the 22-room museum, where hand-carved miniature worlds spring to life.

Watch the rowdy residents of a tiny Western town, see circus performers and tiger tamers under the Big Top, drop a quarter into Otto the One-Man-Band and trace the voyage of a 35-foot antique sailboat. Ward’s motto, “We did all this while you were watching TV,” is painted on a wall inside. Allow more time than you think to take in all the details, and pair your visit with a drive along New Mexico’s scenic Turquoise Trail.

Colorado Trolls in Victor and Breckenridge

Two gentle giants are hiding in the Colorado mountains. Created by Danish recycling artist and activist Thomas Dambo, “Rita the Rock Planter” in Victor and “Isak Heartstone” in Breckenridge are massive wooden trolls built from recycled materials and designed to get people thinking about waste, natural resources and caring for the planet.

The 21-foot-tall Rita kneels in the foothills outside the historic mining town of Victor, carefully tending to the earth. Reach her via a short, rocky quarter-mile hike on the Little Grouse Mountain Trail or drive up to the upper parking lot.

In Breckenridge, 15-foot-tall Isak Heartstone sits among the pines along the family-friendly Trollstigen Trail, welcoming hikers with a hand resting over his heart. Both sculptures are free to visit and part of Dambo’s worldwide collection of whimsical, larger-than-life trolls. Consider it a good excuse to get out and stretch your legs on a road trip.

Dinah the Pink Dinosaur in Vernal, Utah

Meet Dinah, the unofficial mascot of Vernal, Utah, better known as “Dinosaurland” thanks to its fossil-rich landscape. The 40-foot-tall, 4,200-pound pink dinosaur has been greeting visitors since 1958, when she was originally built to hold a sign for the Dine-A-Ville Motel. Now stationed on the east side of town, the cartoon-like roadside icon is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

After snapping a photo with Dinah, head to nearby Dinosaur National Monument, where the Quarry Exhibit Hall’s famous Wall of Bones contains more than 1,500 real dinosaur fossils still embedded in the rock, including remains of Allosaurus, Stegosaurus and Diplodocus.

Photos from the route showed towering mountain ranges, endless gravel roads and tiny towns scattered across Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. I had never heard of the Tour Divide before Wilcox’s record-setting ride, but her story sent me down a rabbit hole that would eventually lead to my own first bikepacking trip and later a partial ride along the Great Divide.

For years, I read blogs, watched YouTube videos and researched equipment. The more I learned, the more bikepacking seemed complicated. I didn’t own camping gear. I had never mountain biked. I wasn’t even sure how people attached all of their belongings to a bicycle, and I didn’t know how to use my minimalist camp stove.

But when I finally did it, getting started was far simpler than I had convinced myself it would be.

What keeps me coming back is the combination of adventure, community and self-discovery. Bikepacking allows me to travel in an environmentally friendly way, reach places that are only accessible by bike or on foot, and challenge myself physically. It has given me a new perspective on places close to home and helped me discover trails, campgrounds and landscapes I never knew existed. It has taken me to incredible places I never thought I could reach on my own and introduced me to amazing people along the way.

Here’s what set me on the path:

Start ridiculously small

When most people think of bikepacking, they picture crossing crushing mountain passes or disappearing into the wilderness. My first overnighter was a one-night trip to California’s Crystal Cove State Park, less than an hour from home, with a small group of experienced and novice bikepackers. It was close enough that I could call for a ride if something went wrong, but far enough away to feel like an adventure.

Pick a campsite close enough that you can bail if you need to. Choose a route with manageable mileage and minimal elevation gain. A loaded bike is heavier, slower and takes more effort to climb. Ride with GPS is a useful planning tool because it lets you preview routes and check elevation profiles before committing. Tell a friend or family member where you’re going. Figure out the easiest route back home. Knowing you have an escape plan makes trying something new feel much less intimidating.

Borrow before you buy

There are gear libraries in Southern California and elsewhere that will loan nearly everything you need to go bike camping. Wild Wolf Cycling Collective () is one of them. The group centers women and gender-expansive riders, hosts beginner bikepacking trips and provides the equipment needed to get started. Rather than charging a rental fee, they ask for a donation or volunteer time in exchange for using the gear. Their volunteer-led library includes everything from water bottles and sleeping bags to Priority bicycles and panniers.

For someone who’s curious about bikepacking but not ready to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on equipment, borrowing gear can remove one of the biggest barriers to getting started.

maintains a gear library map that pinpoints lending programs across the country.

Another option is to borrow equipment from friends. Before buying anything, ask around. You may already know someone with camping gear or a bike they’d be happy to lend you for the weekend. There are also rental options. Sports Basement, which has locations in Orange County, Long Beach and South Bay, rents both bicycles and camping gear.

Your first trip does not need to look like Instagram

Social media has a way of making every bikepacking trip look like an expedition across Iceland. Most people’s first trips are much less glamorous. Mine certainly was, though the sunset from atop Crystal Cove State Park was spectacular and the company even better.

Hike-a-bike is totally normal. It is very common to walk a fully loaded bike up steep hills. A loaded bike can weigh 70 pounds or more, making climbs much more challenging than they would be on a typical day ride.

Inexpensive and used gear is fine. in San Marino and in Pomona host gear swap meets where you can find great deals on used equipment. There’s also plenty of gear available through Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp. While ultralight gear is pretty sweet, you don’t need ultralight everything. Most items just need to be compact enough to fit in a bike bag.

Use public transit

My first trip was multimodal. I took Metrolink to Tustin and pedaled to Newport Beach to meet the group. Combining public transit and bicycles opens up all kinds of possibilities. Metrolink covers a lot of territory in Southern California and has dedicated bicycle cars. Unlike Amtrak, Metrolink does not require a bike reservation.

The train can drop you off at Corona-West, which is roughly 10 miles from Chino Hills State Park and its campground, a place that feels worlds away from city life. Metrolink can also take you to San Juan Capistrano, which is just a 4-mile bike ride from Dana Point Campground. Those are only a couple of examples.

Don’t let campsite reservations stop you

Look for campgrounds with hike-and-bike sites. Places like Emma Wood State Beach offer sites specifically for people arriving by bicycle or on foot. Policies can change, so always check ahead, but these kinds of sites can make spontaneous trips much easier than trying to snag a reservation months in advance.

Go on a shakeout ride before your departure

Pack your gear on your bike a few days before your trip and take a ride around your neighborhood. You’ll quickly discover if something is rattling loose, rubbing against your tire or making your bike difficult to handle.

Find a group to go with

There are groups on Meetup that plan overnight bike camping trips. Some bicycle shops, like The Local Bikestand in Upland, regularly organize overnight rides in Southern California. Greg Goodwine, the owner, and his partner, Diana Sjol, plan routes and make campsite reservations. Greg also helps riders get set up for overnight trips.

If organized rides aren’t your thing, invite a few friends and plan a simple overnight of your own.

Make a list and check it twice

Create a packing list before your trip. Mine includes camp meals, clothing, shelter, sleeping gear, toiletries and small but essential items like a headlamp, phone charger, bike repair kit and camp chair. A checklist helps ensure you don’t forget essentials and makes packing for future trips faster and easier.

For years, I assumed bikepacking was something reserved for people with expensive gear, wilderness expertise and thousands of miles of riding experience.

I was mistaken.

You don’t need to be Lael Wilcox. You don’t need fancy gear. You don’t need wilderness expertise. You just need a first trip. The rest, you can learn along the way.

Bikepacking vs. bike camping

These terms are often used interchangeably, and there’s a lot of overlap. Generally, bikepacking refers to bicycle travel that includes gravel roads, dirt roads or singletrack, usually with a more minimal setup. Bike camping is a term for any overnight bicycle trip, typically on paved roads and often using traditional bicycle touring equipment such as racks and panniers.

The airline announced Tuesday that the year-round service will be operated on a . The new route will complement existing service from Newark/New York, Washington Dulles, Chicago and San Francisco.

The announcement comes as United continues to expand and invest in Denver, which the airline calls its fastest-growing hub. Patrick Quayle, the airline’s senior vice president of global network planning and alliances, told reporters on a call Monday that Paris was the only new international destination from Denver under consideration at this time.

“If you look at really the arc of how we’ve been investing in Denver, it����ap been methodical,” Quayle said. “We’re adding capacity at a nice measured rate where the market can absorb it.”

United has invested nearly $1 billion at Denver International Airport since 2021. The airline provides service to more than 200 total destinations from Denver, including more than 20 international destinations.

Last week, United completed its first phase of an expansion at its pilot training facility in Denver’s Central Park neighborhood. The airline is preparing for a second phase at a new campus on 113 acres near DIA.

Beyond Denver, United announced 10 new international destinations and three new routes across Europe and Asia, while introducing its newest international aircraft: the “Born to Explore” Airbus A321XLR.

Beginning as early as March 2027, United will offer new nonstop flights to Okinawa, Japan, from San Francisco International Airport; Toulouse, France, from Washington Dulles International Airport; and eight destinations from Newark Liberty International Airport: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg; Marseille, France; Ibiza and Valencia, Spain; Terceira, Portugal; Ljubljana, Slovenia; Olbia, on the Italian island of Sardinia; and Catania, on the Italian island of Sicily.

United will also add new flights from Los Angeles to Osaka, Japan, and from Washington, D.C., to Milan, Italy. The airline said it plans to resume flights from San Francisco to Tel Aviv, Israel.

United’s Airbus A321XLR will support service to destinations including Ibiza, Luxembourg, Marseille, Toulouse and Valencia.

The A321XLR is scheduled to begin flying select domestic routes in September and transition to international service Dec. 1, starting with flights from Dulles International Airport to Amsterdam and Dublin. Tickets for the first international flights will go on sale Thursday, Aug. 27.

United also plans to bring back the international destinations it added in summer 2026 for summer 2027, including flights from Newark/New York to Split, Croatia; Bari, Italy; Glasgow, Scotland; and Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

The airline said it will serve more destinations in Japan, Spain, Portugal, Italy and France than any other U.S. carrier, according to Tuesday’s announcement.

“We aim to have a destination on our route map for every traveler, at every stage of their lives,” Quayle said.

“Whether it����ap a business trip, a dream honeymoon, a bucket-list adventure, or a trip home to see family, we’re making the world feel smaller and connecting cultures at a scale no other airline in the world can match.”

Today, many of those same routes have found a second life, carrying travelers through some of the West’s most spectacular scenery while offering a glimpse into Colorado’s storied past.

Royal Gorge Route

Few places capture that blend of history and scenery better than the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. Completed in 1880 as part of the race to reach Leadville’s rich silver mines, the line once served as a major passenger and freight corridor through the Rocky Mountains.

Now, a revived 12-mile stretch carries visitors alongside the Arkansas River beneath the Royal Gorge Bridge, past the historic Hanging Bridge and through a canyon where bighorn sheep are often spotted on the sheer granite walls rising nearly 1,000 feet above the river.

“The Royal Gorge speaks for itself,” said owner Mark Greska, who purchased the railroad in 1998. “It����ap a special place, and I never tire of it.”

Passengers experience that grandeur from restored railcars, with options ranging from coach seating to Vista Dome cars and first-class dining.

For Greska, however, the slower pace is what sets the journey apart. “It’s an opportunity for people to reconnect,” he said. “Your cell phone won’t work here. It����ap like going back in time, but you’re riding in luxury.”

The Royal Gorge Route operates year-round with up to four departures daily up and down the gorge. Most excursions last about two hours, with coach fares starting at $109. Learn more or book tickets at .

The story of Colorado’s railroads doesn’t end in the Royal Gorge. From classic Amtrak routes crossing the Continental Divide to historic steam locomotives chugging through the state’s mining past, these journeys continue to preserve the stories, scenery and communities that helped shape the West.

Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Route: Durango to Silverton.

Trip length: 5.5 to 9.5 hours.

Adult fares: Vary by class and itinerary.

Website:

Originally built in the 1880s to serve Colorado’s southwestern mining industry, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad follows the Animas River through the San Juan Mountains to the historic mining town of Silverton.

Designated a National Historic Landmark and featured in numerous films, the railroad offers a signature 9.5-hour round trip including a 2.5-hour stop in Silverton. Travelers short on time can ride the train one way and return by bus, reducing the excursion to about 5.5 hours.

Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad

Route: Antonito, Colorado, to Chama, New Mexico.

Trip length: 3 to 7.5 hours.

Adult fares: From $143.10

Website:

Owned jointly by Colorado and New Mexico, the historic Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad crosses the two states’ borders 11 times, climbs 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass and winds through Toltec Gorge. Travelers can choose a full-day excursion with lunch at remote Osier Station or shorter three-hour trips departing from Chama or Cumbres Pass.

Canyon Spirit

Route: Denver–Moab or Denver–Salt Lake City.

Trip length: Two or three days.

Adult fares: Starting at about $1,750 per person

Website:

Formerly known as Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to the Red Rocks route, Canyon Spirit combines luxury rail travel with overnight stays in Glenwood Springs and Moab. Passengers ride in glass-dome coaches through Glenwood Canyon while enjoying regionally inspired meals, beverages and storytelling from onboard hosts.

According to Lisa Langer, tourism director for Visit Glenwood Springs, the overnight stop has become one of the route’s highlights, allowing travelers to explore Glenwood Springs’ downtown restaurants, hot springs and shops, all within walking distance of the station.

California Zephyr

Route: Chicago to San Francisco, with Colorado stops in Denver, Fraser, Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction.

Trip length: About 5.5 hours between Denver and Grand Junction.

Adult fares: Coach fares generally start around $70 one way when booked in advance; Amtrak vacation packages to Glenwood Springs start at $499 per person.

Website:

The California Zephyr crosses the plains before passing over the Continental Divide and following the Colorado River through Glenwood Canyon to Grand Junction and then proceeding on to Utah, Nevada and its destination state. Travelers looking for an in-state getaway can also book vacation packages from Denver that combine the train with hotel stays and attractions in Glenwood Springs.

Georgetown Loop Railroad

Route: Georgetown to Silver Plume.

Trip length: About 1¼ hours.

Adult fares: From $33.

Website:

For those looking for a shorter excursion, the Georgetown Loop Railroad is just 45 minutes west of Denver on Interstate 70.

Built in 1884 to serve the area’s booming silver mines, the narrow-gauge railroad climbs nearly 600 feet in just two miles, crossing the famous Devil’s Gate High Bridge before reaching the historic mining town of Silver Plume.

Visitors can also extend their trip with tours of the Lebanon Silver Mine or gold-panning experiences.

On the wiffle ball field on our property, 10-year-old Jax’s love for the game radiates. His laugh, his swing, his Shohei Ohtani imitations. And long after we are done playing, he remains alone on the field until dusk, pantomiming home runs, circling the bases, acting out a phantom clutch play in front of an imaginary crowd.

Watching him from inside the house, I ponder what youth sports used to be and the multi-billion-dollar, pressure-packed industry it is today. I wonder how I can funnel that unadulterated joy I see from him in wiffle ball into his baseball. There, Jax is a talented player, but I can tell the stress of the pursuit has started to weigh on him as he advances, the game gets more serious and the competition gets stiffer.

How do I create the most fun youth sports experience for him in a rapidly changing and increasingly costly landscape, while also pushing him to become the best player he can be? It’s a fragile pendulum that many parents of youth athletes are dealing with right now, especially those whose kids are at the competitive and travel levels.

I have the same main question swirling in my mind when we hit in the cage or wrestle on the mat in our barn; when we play hoops in the driveway; when we go to the park and I throw the football to him until my elbow hurts. In those environments, he is free, unencumbered. When the lights come on, sometimes I get the sense he feels like he’s playing for a contract, and his entire athletic livelihood hangs in the balance of a particular at-bat, wrestling match or 3-point shot.

I’ve coached Jax in flag football, baseball and basketball since he was 4, and have also watched his evolution as a wrestler as a parent. This fall, he’s started tackle football, where I’m an assistant coach for his team.

His experiences in all sports are overwhelmingly positive, though I can’t help but blame myself for the tough moments. I am, like many dad coaches, hard on him, especially in a team setting. And there are times when I am too hard on my teams, and my expectations are too high. Yes, sometimes I forget they are 10.

While Jax navigates his own athletic identity, I wrestle with how to approach molding him as a coach/dad, as well as how to traverse a vastly different youth sports ecosystem than the one I grew up in during the 1990s and early aughts.

I look around as a coach and parent to both Jax and my 17-year-old daughter Bella — with whom I’ve experienced rec, club and travel basketball — and I see a youth sports landscape that is a money-making machine operating with a conflicting ethos.

The American ideal is that every kid gets to play, but the price tag of sports beyond the recreational level makes that impossible. We all want development, but what we often don’t say out loud is that many want to win just as badly, if not more. There are many well-intentioned people in the industry — club organizations and private trainers (myself included, as I run a baseball skills academy as a side job) who make money but are in it for the right reasons. But there are also bad actors, and it’s often hard to distinguish between the two.

The behavior of adults doesn’t always model the young adults we want our kids to become. We’ve all seen the at youth sporting events, and I’ve also witnessed this firsthand — a coach who refuses to shake hands in the postgame line, a mom who trash-talks my team and me from the stands as it takes everything within me to ignore her and not escalate the situation.

It seems true happiness in youth sports is harder to obtain than ever before. I’ve been fortunate to have mostly great parents on the many teams that I’ve coached over the last dozen years, but there are always some parents with unrealistic expectations for their kid, or the kid’s position on the field/court is not good enough, or there’s the issue of playing time, even if the kid hasn’t earned it via their skills.

These are age-old issues in youth sports, but they’ve been magnified and multiplied by the amount of money now involved. When parents pay a premium, they believe it gives them more say.

Living in this reality as a youth coach and as a parent, I feel myself caught between the past and the present.

In baseball, the old-school sports soul in me believes that Jax — and my younger son Bo, who is 4 and is just starting sports via flag football and lacrosse — can get as good as the kids playing travel ball simply through relentless sweat equity in cage sessions in our barn and endless hours grinding at an empty sandlot. It’s the part of me that believes that Jax, who has played in the for three seasons now, can continue at that level into middle school, and he will be just fine. There is no need to shell out 10 times as much money, and likely more, for travel ball.

But the pull of the present is there, too.

My wife and I paid around $10,000 for two summers in a row so Bella could play club basketball and travel to out-of-state tournaments, because we wanted her to have a shot at making her high school varsity team. At several of those out-of-state tournaments, her club team played multiple other Colorado teams, prompting us to question the necessity of the trip. We also paid for private lessons with a former WNBA player.

As for Jax’s travel wrestling tally, between club costs, tournament entrance fees, some private lessons and traveling to in-state tournaments outside the Denver metro, it’s easily a few thousand dollars each year for that, too. And as Jax grows as a baseball player, I cannot lie that the lure of joining a travel team and its corresponding promise of accelerated development has become stronger and stronger.

The two phrases I heard most often while reporting this series on the state of youth sports were “FOMO” and “keeping up with the Joneses.” The argument can be made that our family – and every family I know with kids who play competitive sports – has gotten sucked into both sentiments. The last thing a parent wants when your kid plays sports is for them to get left behind talent-wise, or to deny them athletic opportunities that other kids their age are getting.

In this way, the youth sports beast feeds itself and becomes perpetually self-sustaining.

There is no going back to the days of the neighborhood team, or the talent-laden local rec league — that train has left the station. There is no going back to the way youth sports once were: If you want in now at a high level, you’d better be prepared to open your wallet and clear your calendar. And to make it all work, you and your spouse had better have flexible jobs to shuttle your kid to practices and spend all weekend at games.

Weighing all these variables, I keep returning to the near-daily wiffle ball games my son and I play in the yard. Often it’s a family affair, with my wife, Bella and Bo all participating too. I ponder how to capture that childlike wonder in a competitive environment, considering Jax’s baseball team has some serious roster questions heading into next season.

We lost a few of our best players to higher-level and/or travel teams. I have no animosity toward the families that left, even as I hold on to a seemingly antiquated view of the importance of keeping a team together as kids grow up. Parents should leverage the free-market capitalism of youth sports to their advantage if they can afford it, and we shouldn’t hold it against kids and families if they want to pursue other opportunities or spend thousands of dollars annually on a sport of their choosing.

But as I daydream about the way things once were, I keep those wiffle ball emotions front and center.

As long as Jax is out there, trotting the bases in his Ohtani shirt while the sun sinks on another summer day, his love of sports will continue to grow and the life lessons will follow. He’ll keep coming back to the diamond after a day of tough strikeouts. He’ll keep coming back to the mat after getting pinned. He’ll keep putting up shots no matter how many he misses, and keep pulling on the shoulder pads even when he runs into a team that runs over his own.

Youth sports aren’t perfect. But the fact that more kids are playing sports than not — in the 55% of American youth played organized sports, including 65% in Colorado — is encouraging. And as long as that trend continues to hold, the kids, parents’ slimmed-down bank accounts be damned, are going to be all right.

The airline on Thursday celebrated the of a major expansion at its Denver Flight Training Center, adding 40 new since 2022, including full-motion and fixed flight training simulators.

The event drew a packed room inside one of the site’s buildings at 7500 E. 35th Ave., with towering flight simulators on either side of the crowd.

United and CAE executives, members of the media and U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper attended as United CEO Scott Kirby and CAE President and CEO Matthew Bromberg spoke about the expansion.

“This expansion reflects the strength of a partnership built over more than four decades,” Bromberg said.

“We’re proud to support United with the training technology, expertise and reliability needed to prepare pilots at scale and we look forward to supporting its training needs for years to come.”

The expansion brings the center to eight buildings and nearly 700,000 square feet of training space, roughly the size of 12 football fields. It now has 86 CAE training devices, including 52 full-motion flight simulators and 34 fixed training devices.

The center can train up to 860 pilots a day. United has nearly 18,000 pilots, and all of them complete required simulator training at the Denver facility. Newly hired pilots also train there.

Pilots complete simulator training when they first qualify to fly for United and return every nine months for additional training and evaluations.

The 22-acre facility can conduct more than 32,000 training sessions a year and operates 24 hours a day, 362 days a year.

“United pilots are the best aviators in the world, and the pace at which our team has completed this project is an example of making investments that support our high standard of excellence,” Kirby said. Kirby said the simulators give pilots the most realistic experience possible and prepares them to handle unlikely situations if they occur.

“We can put them through the most stress that you could possibly imagine — this is the safest thing that you can do for training because you can put pilots in situations that they’re unlikely to ever see,” he said.

But United isn’t done expanding its training center.

The airline expects to break ground in 2027 on a second training facility on two parcels of undeveloped land near Denver International Airport. The new facility is expected to open around 2030 and will operate along with the current center.

United bought the land in 2023 for $33 million. In July, the Denver City Council approved the airline’s request to rezone the properties, and United has started developing formal site plans for the new facility.

Kirby said even though the current training center is the “biggest facility in the world,” the new one will include more flight simulators.

United’s Flight Training Center was was built between 1966 and 1968 as part of the former Stapleton International Airport complex. It has served as United’s main pilot training facility since then. Since 2016, the airline has invested $370 million in the flight training center overall.

The expansion milestone also comes as United continues to grow its Denver operation.

The airline has invested nearly $1 billion at DIA since 2021, including new gates, United Club locations and a new check-in lobby. United hired more than 1,400 people in Denver last year and plans to hire more than 1,300 in 2026.

Kirby also hinted to reporters that the airline will announce “the most exciting” new international route the entire United network has had next week.

United operates more flights and carries more passengers in Colorado than any other airline, according to a Thursday news release. This summer, it is averaging 570 daily departures from DIA and serving more than 200 destinations, including more than 20 international locations.

Weather-wise, spring and fall are the most pleasant times to visit Moab, but with perfect temperatures come heavy crowds, especially in 2026, when family adventure travel bookings are up 106%, according to a report from tour operator . (The entire state of Utah, meanwhile, is bracing for increased tourism this year, in June.)

Summer offers a low-key window for travelers who are willing to manage the heat. Over the last 50 years, temperatures across Utah have risen at roughly twice the global average, according to , and Moab’s mercury regularly climbs into the triple digits during July and August. The town doesn’t exactly excel in the shaded-trails department, either — but try not to let any of this deter you.

Driving into town, take a look, instead, at all the drought-tolerant specialists: rabbitbrush, yucca, Mormon tea, prickly pear, Indian ricegrass, and heat-adapted Utah junipers thrive in the midsummer sun, creating a stunning, if mildly apocalyptic, landscape framed by skyscraping buttes, towers, and precariously balanced rocks.

As summertime tourists, we must adapt like desert plants by adopting a highly customized travel rhythm: active early mornings outdoors; midday resets; afternoons on the water; twilight exploration. To help you pull it off, I’ve rounded up live-like-locals tricks to keep up your metaphorical sleeves. (You’ll definitely be packing sleeveless shirts for this adventure. You might be a little antisocial, but you’re not a total psychopath.)

Tip No. 1: Book a hotel with a pool

Campbell Levy — founder and CEO of Camp Stories, who represents the — is a former backcountry guide and life-long camper. “So, perhaps it����ap notable that I’m saying don’t camp,” she said, referring to Moab’s summertime program. “It����ap simply too hot,” Levy added.

While the camping in Moab is world-class, you need — you deserve — a legit air-conditioned oasis during the heat of the day. No problem there; in recent years, Moab has enjoyed a hotel boom, and nearly every in-town lodge has a pool. Bonus: Most Moab hotels run deals in July and August.

During our most recent trip, my family of five checked into clean, sizeable suites at , which shares its resort-style pool, massive splash pad, and hot tubs with the adjacent . Both hotels offer free coffee 24/7 plus a breakfast buffet (but if you have my refined palette, you’ll head into town for your morning haul).

On previous trips, we’ve bunked at the pet-friendly . For a higher-end experience, there’s , a Main Street-proximate luxury property that sleeps up to six in a room. The pool there is also quite rad.

Tip No. 2: Be an early bird

“It����ap taken years, but I’ve come to the point where I genuinely love summer in Moab,” said Rebecca McAllister, owner and operator of , an artisan market featuring art and jewelry from 200-plus Utah creatives, and housed in the historic Moab Times Independent building.

McAllister’s best advice is to get up early and be done hiking or biking by 9 a.m. Moab-based photographer echoes that advice, adding, “We locals get up really early — around sunrise.”

If you’re like many travelers, you came to see , 5 miles north of Moab on U.S. Route 191 (N. Highway 191), and daybreak is a gorgeous time to experience the landscape, when the air’s still crisp and the sun hasn’t baked the slickrock yet.

Moab’s NPs — Arches and Canyonlands — see their lowest visitation rates in July and August, but still, the entrance gates can get sluggish by midmorning, so it����ap best to roll in early. Arches is open 24/7 and no longer uses a timed-entry system.

Stop at the Visitor Center, just past the gates, and fill up your water bottles (refill stations are available here and at the Devils Garden campground). Savvy hikers carry at least 2 to 3 liters of aqua per person for front-country hikes, and 4 or more for backcountry excursions.

“Drink when thirsty, and remember that when you’re halfway through your water, you are halfway through your hike,” said Anna Rehkopf, a public affairs specialist for the National Park Service.

You’ll have many scenic trails to choose from. Delicate Arch is one of the most popular routes with iconic views. “But remember,” Rehkopf said, “It����ap a challenging uphill hike with steep drop-offs toward the top.”

A little further into the park, Sand Dune Arch Trail is a super-short, magical journey to a hidden arch housed between tall sandstone walls. After playing in the sand, try the 2.3-mile Broken Arch Loop Trail, which crosses a grassland to an arch perched above a pygmy forest before winding through a section of Devils Garden campground.

I regret not visiting. Visitors there have their pick of dozens of routes — some easy, others strenuous. Plus, there’s the world-famous Needles, with over 60 miles of interconnecting trails. It����ap a 40-minute drive to the Island in the Sky district, the part of Canyonlands closest to Moab, but we only had three days, and if you try to do everything, you’ll miss the whole point of getting away.

Tip No. 3: Institute a mandatory midday siesta

“We locals get up early, take a nap around noon, and then we get ready to go out again,” said Rogers.

I love the idea of a Spanish-inspired daily reset, and your air-conditioned hotel is the perfect place to sleep through the heat of the day. Early afternoon is also a good time to splash around in the hotel pool, and if your kids get antsy, you can always head down to Main Street and duck into the air-conditioned T-shirt boutiques and ice cream parlors. (Moab surely has more ice creameries per capita than anyplace else in the world!)

Wipe off those sticky fingers, then check out McAllister’s stores before wandering over to on North Main Street. (Your kids will get a kick out of the vast displays of fossils and minerals.) Don’t miss , which specializes in natural history and regional titles. The is another interesting place to keep cool and is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tip No. 4: Hit the river

Fun fact: Moab is Utah’s only town located on the Colorado River.

“Everybody who lives in Moab is by the water in the afternoon,” said Josh Surkes, owner of .

Guides from Paddle Moab will help your family navigate Moab’s whitewater on a half-day trip. Whitewater rafting in Moab is more like floating, so no need to worry about fast-moving currents, especially if you opt for the 10-mile Fisher Towers stretch, featuring mild, family-friendly chutes where swimming and splashing around are guaranteed and the canyon walls offer some welcome afternoon shadows.

Standup paddleboarding is Surkes’ go-to pursuit. “If you aren’t into SUP, the kayaking is great,” he said. For an unguided experience, his company’s Rental and Ride package simplifies the logistics of a point-to-point river trip by coordinating the drop-off and downriver pickup. Personal floatation devices come standard with all Paddle Moab rentals.

Canyoneering is another way to keep your cool. In fact, summer is the only time you can explore some of the canyons without a wetsuit. We had a blast on a half-day trip through Bow & Arrow Canyon with one of the pros at I don’t consider myself a traditional thrill-seeker, but rappelling down a sheer 90-foot cliff face was a highlight of our trip.

That particular adventure took off from the Poison Spider Dinosaur Tracksite on Potash Road, located 6 miles west of Moab. The site features fossilized dinosaur footprints embedded in 190-million-year-old Navajo Sandstone blocks. Bookmark this short, moderately steep trail for an early morning trek with younger kids.

Roughly 10 miles south of town, is a literal oasis offering standup paddleboarding, swimming and fishing. Amenities include picnic tables, shade shelters and vault toilets at the campground. To get there from Moab, drive south on Highway 191 for about 8 miles, turn left at the sign, and follow the road to the water.

There are a couple of in-town hikes offering water access: is an easy route with several fun creek crossings, and is a fun, 2-mile (one way) waterside trek ending at Morning Glory Bridge.

Tip No. 5: Grab a bite

If you’re satisfied with a rotating diet of burgers, pizza and ice cream, you’ll find plenty to eat. Health-conscious vegetarians, meanwhile, can grab premade salads and sandwiches at , a hippy-dippy stop-off where my husband scored a hat from the freebies bin.

For a sit-down meal, I enjoyed on North Main Street, and the rest of my family loved the diverse options at . on North Highway 191 is a favorite among locals.

Tip No. 6: Relish the summer nights

“Our summer evenings are long and leisurely,” McAllister said. As the sun dips behind the canyon walls, the desert cools down rapidly, creating another window to head back out for a dusky hike. (Remember a headlamp for evening hikes!)

Astronomy enthusiasts will appreciate Moab’s renowned dark skies. Nearby offers stunning, high-altitude vistas and runs excellent stargazing programming on Friday and Saturday nights.

Tip No. 7: Life’s a journey (but break it up)

While this final tip won’t help you survive Moab’s sweltering heat, it will help you withstand the six-hour drive there and back with children.

In Glenwood Springs, soak away the first leg of the drive at . Its new Sauna Summit expansion features globally inspired saunas and frigid cold plunges. While the hot-cold cycles didn’t completely erase the tension of being confined in a car with my kids, sneaking away to the adults-only mineral pools — one enriched with magnesium, another with potassium — was a nice reset.

In Vail, is a pretty setting for another leg stretch. On the trip home, stop in Idaho Springs. The cauliflower wings at are your reward for enduring five hours in a car with a 7-year-old complaining, “I’m booooooooored.”

This year, Seattle — a popular embarkation point — alone expects more than 2 million cruise passengers and 330 ship calls in 2026, said Hunter McIntosh, president and executive director of The Boat Company, a smaller cruise line.

“Alaska has become an enormous cruise market,” he explained. “So when it feels like everybody you know is suddenly going to Alaska, there really are a lot more opportunities being marketed and sold,” he said.

But why now?

McIntosh has some theories.

“The season itself has gotten longer, stretching farther into April and October,” he said, which is far outside the traditional months of June, July and August; the state’s summer season is May to September.

“The cruise companies discovered there is tremendous demand for Alaska and have responded with more ships, larger ships, and a lot more marketing,” he continued. “Alaska has become a bucket-list destination that feels adventurous and remote while still being relatively easy for an American traveler to reach.” In addition, Alaskan cruises work “for everyone from grandparents to kids, which makes it especially attractive for multigenerational travel.”

And finally, on a sadder note, there’s what he calls a “see it while you can” mentality as glaciers rapidly melt.

Cruise ships in all sizes

If you’re looking to book a cruise, there are a lot of variables to consider, including budget, ports of call, excursions, and what type of experience you want on board. Travelers with an eye on sustainability might also select a ship based on environmental impact.

There are nonstop flights from Denver to many of the cruise ship ports, primarily Seattle, as well as Los Angeles and San Francisco.

My first cruise was aboard the Star Princess, which is among the larger brand-name ships that sail to Alaska, and departs from Seattle. The Star Princess has over 2,000 staterooms (which can accommodate 4,300 passengers), several restaurants and bars, a full spa, five pools, courts for pickleball and basketball, casinos, and entertainment spaces for movies, music and shows. This is just one of eight Princess ships in Alaska, and the company plans to expand with more departures in 2027 and 2028, a Princess representative confirmed. (For comparison, in 2025, Princess had seven sailing ships on 155 departures and in 2026 there are eight sailing ships with 180 departures.)

Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney, Carnival, and a few others offer a version of this big ship experience, often with the same stops. These are typically seven-day trips, including the departure and return dates, but there are 20-day trips such as aboard the Ruby Princess that departs from San Francisco.

For those who prefer to scale down their cruise ship, there is UnCruise Adventures with less than 100 guests on their largest boat which is more of a yacht; Lindblad Expeditions might have around 100 passengers; a Seabourn Alaska cruise ship will typically host approximately 600 people; and the Boat Company is truly small, hosting about two dozen guests per cruise. There are many more cruise companies sailing in the waters in and around Alaska with their own version of expedition, luxury, and fine dining.

In my experience, and talking to others who have cruised to Alaska recently, the service on a cruise ship is stellar with staff filling multiple roles and showing attention to detail so that each passenger is comfortable and having a memorable experience.

Given the growing number of cruise ships in these waters, it����ap easy to imagine nonstop views of other ships, but our days at sea offered expansive sights of the ocean and we primarily saw these ships only while in the same ports.

“The irony is that as more people want to experience Alaska because of its wildness, the challenge becomes making sure we don’t overwhelm the very communities, wildlife, and wild places people are coming to see,” said McIntosh.

Planning your excursions

The excursions are the highlight of a cruise, in my opinion, but some people don’t disembark at all, preferring to enjoy the cruise ship during a quieter time.

The Star Princess cruise I was on first sailed from Seattle to Ketchikan, a city along Alaska’s Inside Passage. At each stop, we took an excursion and walked around the local town, some of which aren’t even accessible by road. We also stopped in Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria, B.C.

One lesson learned in excursion planning was about wildlife. I had assumed we’d be seeing whales all day long from the ship, but that wasn’t the case — I saw a single whale tail dip into the icy waters as we turned around at the Dawes Glacier. While the fjord with its brilliant blue floating icebergs, waterfalls, and glistening rainbows was an incredible way to experience nature, I would definitely recommend signing up for a whale-watching excursion, if available, if you want to get better views.

Similarly, if you sign up for excursions that are weather-dependent, such as a helicopter tour, be prepared to pivot with an alternative plan quickly. Someone else might snap up that seaplane before you!

Do your own research ahead of time about worthwhile restaurants, bars, and museums to explore during your time back on land. Some of my favorite experiences included an unplanned stop at the Totem Heritage Museum in Ketchikan and sampling Spruce Tip beer at the Skagway Brewing Company in Skagway, which weren’t on my itinerary.

Packing for your cruise

I was provided an extensive packing list — from evening wear to galoshes — for my cruise. Our stateroom was equipped with a closet space and several drawers and shelves (we stored the suitcases under the beds). But I didn’t really need all of it.

Find out the name of the outfitter for your excursions and contact them to verify they will allow you to wear your own gear. On two excursions, the outfitters preferred that guests don their heavy-duty rain gear, including boots, rather than what we had personally lugged with us.

Dressing up for dinner and posing for photos while you’re looking your best is part of the experience on the large ships. I packed full-length dresses, but didn’t feel they were strictly needed. Check the dress code for various events and restaurants on the ship.

Don’t just pack your seasickness pills, put your patch on ahead of time (likely 24 hours before you set sail). In the wee hours of our first night, we hit big swells, and I immediately put my prescription patch on, which led to napping most of the first day of the cruise as my body adjusted.

Keep in mind that you will be transporting your luggage from home to a hotel in Seattle (or another city where your boat departs), then to a busy port where the luggage might be taken aboard for you and put in your room as you familiarize yourself with the ship, and then the same in reverse.

Disclosure: Mindy Sink was a hosted guest of a Star Princess cruise to Alaska.

If you’re not sure where to start, check out RV rental sites to compare different models, features, and prices near you. Consider how many people are coming, what kind of vehicle you’ll feel comfortable driving, and where you want to go. Even if it����ap your first time, you can look for rentals with easy delivery or pet-friendly options so that you can hit the road feeling prepared.

Forget the old ideas you might have about RVing. They’re not just for retirees anymore, and today’s RVs aren’t the slow, bulky vehicles from the past. They’re a real travel option, and more people choose them every year.

The comfort of home

What sets RV travel apart? It����ap not only about having wheels; it����ap also about the freedom it gives you.

“Flexibility is one of the greatest advantages of RV travel,” says Maddi Bourgerie, VP of marketing at . It lets travelers “build their trip around their schedule, bring the comforts of home along with them, and stay closer to the places they actually want to explore, whether that is a national park, an event, or a bucket-list road trip.”

Think about a typical vacation: you pack your bag, unpack it at the hotel, and then repack it a couple of days later. You repeat this until you’re finally home, often feeling more tired from all the packing than from the trip itself. With an RV, you only pack once and never have to unpack. The journey becomes part of the fun, not something to get through.

“RVing makes the journey part of the experience,” Bourgerie says.

Families get to spend real time together, she says, “without the hassle of busy airports and hotel logistics, focusing on what matters most: quality time.”

And your dog can come along, too. Many rental RVs allow pets, so your best friend doesn’t have to stay at a kennel. Check each listing for pet rules, since some owners may require a pet deposit or limit the size or number of animals.

Most RVs have a basic kitchen with a stove, fridge, and a small sink, but the cookware and utensils can vary from one to another. Look at the RV’s description to see what����ap included, and bring your own pots, pans, or coffee maker if you need something special. With a kitchen on board, you don’t have to worry about dietary needs, picky eaters, or going over your food budget. You can cook what you want, whenever you want.

Gas prices go up. RVers get creative

Everyone is thinking about fuel costs these days, but that hasn’t stopped people from taking RV trips. Instead, travelers are finding smarter ways to make it work.

“The trend we see when gas prices spike is not that people skip their RV trips,” Bourgerie says. “Instead, they adapt their plans.”

That might mean picking a destination closer to home, trimming a few stops off the itinerary, or skipping the driving altogether. That last option is more important than it might seem. Bourgerie says over half of the company’s RV rentals are delivered directly to travelers. Instead of driving the RV across the country and using extra gas, you can pay a delivery fee and have the RV waiting for you when you arrive.

Opt for a smaller ride

Boyd Fletcher has watched this play out from the ground level. He’s owned in Denver for 12 years, and he says gas prices haven’t slowed his bookings down. But they’ve changed the conversation.

“There’s a lot more asking about gas mileage before they rent,” Fletcher says. “But the prices don’t put people off.”

His camper vans get 15 to 20 mpg, he says, which puts them in the same range as a lot of SUVs and pickups already sitting in people’s driveways. RV fuel efficiency depends on the type and weight of the vehicle. Mid-size Class C RVs get 10 to 14 mpg, while large Class A RVs typically drop to 6 to 10 mpg. Towing drops fuel economy by 20-35%.

The bigger threat to bookings isn’t the price at the pump. It����ap potential confusion over national park access if the government shuts down. “That����ap when I see people freak out,” Fletcher says. Visitors, especially ones flying in from the East Coast, assume a shutdown means a locked gate. It usually just means fewer services, not a closed park.

Finding what works for you

Not sure which type of RV is right for your group? Here’s a quick guide: Camper vans are usually best for couples or small families who want something compact and easy to drive, like when you need to parallel park at the grocery store or handle narrow mountain roads. Class C RVs have more space and built-in features, making them popular with bigger groups or families who want extra room, but they can feel more like driving a moving truck than a car.

If you’re new to RVing or nervous about driving something large, a van might be less stressful. If you want more comfort and space, especially with kids, a Class C could be a better fit. Either way, check the rental listings for the layout and sleeping arrangements to make sure everyone has a place to sleep.

Does the math actually work?

This is where it really matters. Renting an RV isn’t just an old-fashioned alternative to flying. For many families, it����ap the better plan.

An industry study found that RV trips can save travelers about 60% compared to flying and staying in hotels for a group of four, and about 46% for couples. The average domestic plane ticket is over $380 this year, and that����ap before you add hotel rooms, rental cars, and restaurant bills. Some RVs can be rented for as little as $50 a night. Even the more expensive $200-a-night RVs often end up being cheaper once you factor in the savings on hotels and rental cars.

Just remember to budget for extra costs like campground fees, insurance, and sometimes a cleaning or prep fee when you return the RV. These costs can change depending on where you go and the type of RV you choose, but knowing about them ahead of time helps you avoid surprise charges later.

Fletcher says renting a camper van is about as expensive as a rental car, but it saves on lodging and meals. With an RV, all those costs are combined into one bill. You don’t need a separate hotel reservation, a rental car counter, or to worry about where you’ll eat. But value isn’t just about money. Fletcher, who takes his family of six camping, says the real reward comes after the hike.

“There’s something nice about coming back from a hike and hanging out by the bumper with ice cream or popsicles.”

He makes sure potential camper van renters know what to expect. A camper van isn’t a hotel suite on wheels, and it shouldn’t be seen that way. Most camper vans have a small bed in the back, usually a convertible sofa or platform bed, and some have pop-tops for extra sleeping space for kids. This means a family of four can sleep together, but it will be cozy.

Larger Class C RVs offer more sleeping options, such as overhead bunks, fold-out sofas, and a rear bed, making them better for larger groups or anyone who wants more space. The van gets you to places like Zion or Arches and lets you sleep right by the trailhead instead of far away in a hotel parking lot. That����ap the real benefit, he says.

“The camper van is icing on top of cake,” Fletcher adds. “The destination is the cake.”

Choosing the right option for you

So is renting an RV worth it this summer? It really depends on what you want from your trip. If you prefer a couch, a flatscreen, and someone else taking care of the details, a hotel is probably best.

But if you like the idea of eating ice cream by the van after a long hike, and waking up to a view better than any hotel window, an RV could be the best choice you make all year.

Rental options

Cruise America
Address: 8950 Federal Blvd. in Federal Heights
Phone: (303) 482-1120 | 1-800-671-8042
Website:

Fireside RV Rental
Address: 23905 E. 26th Ave. in Aurora
Phone: (720) 526-4848
Website:

Road Bear RV Rentals & Sales
Address: 6586 Brighton Blvd. in Commerce City
Phone: (720) 570-1100
Website:

Native Campervans
Address: 2919 E 42nd Ave. in Denver
Phone: (877) 550-5335
Website:

Rocky Mountain Campervans
Address: 5455 W. 59th Ave., Unit S in Arvada
Phone: (720) 593-0433
Website:

Outdoorsy (peer-to-peer marketplace)
Website:

RVshare (peer-to-peer marketplace)
Website:

Sara B. Hansen is a Denver-based freelance writer.

The board will decide whether the proposed Buc-ee’s qualifies as a “convenience store” allowed in the C-1 zoning district under the Land Development Code.

The hearing does not approve or deny construction of a Buc-ee’s, the county said Monday afternoon on its . It only resolves the land-use classification question. Any future development would still require additional county reviews and approvals, as applicable.

The Board of County Commissioners’ is scheduled for 9 a.m., according to the county’s website.

The appeal follows a July decision by Meggan Herington, the county’s executive director of planning and community development, who said it was “difficult to classify the proposed use” of the Buc-ee’s development.

“El Paso County is committed to providing a public hearing process that is transparent, respectful, and fair. Public input is part of the Board of County Commissioners’ hearing process, and residents may participate by submitting written comments, attending the hearing, or speaking during the public comment portion of the hearing,” county officials said on the project website.

The proposal has divided residents across the Tri-Lakes area for nearly two years over water usage, open space and traffic. A ruling in Buc-ee’s favor could move the project one step closer to development as the company’s second Colorado travel center.

This is a developing story and may be updated.