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‘Up and coming’: Denver7 | Your Voice visits Erie to discover the people and places that make it unique

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ERIE, Colo. — Perfectly positioned between Denver and Boulder is the town of Erie, with a charming main street that brings together local businesses and the loyal community members who support their favorite spots. Denver7 | Your Voice visited the area to hear from the people who live and work there about what makes this place so special.

Briggs Street bustles with businesses and local stores and is known as the Old Town district. Denver7 | Your Voice stopped inside Fox Dog Coffee to experience the local flavor and community charm firsthand. Steph Hauser and her husband opened the doors to the business in 2019. Since then, they have been serving up coffee drinks and bites to eat.

“Our biggest mission in building Fox Dog was to create a space where the community could come together, and our biggest motto is love, serve, inspire,” Hauser said. “So, what we do is we sort of want to create the environment for our friends here in Erie to come and feel like they can be loved on, they can be served, but they can also serve and love each other.”

Having been in the business for seven years, Hauser has witnessed the area’s remarkable growth and the community’s generous heart.

Cesar Sabogal

“There is nothing like this group of people here in Erie,” Hauser said. “They are so supportive of each other. They are so wanting to do good for their neighbors. We’ve seen that time and time again. We just have such a lucky vantage point from behind the counter here.”

Behind the counter, customers can see a mural depicting the town of Erie and the surrounding cities. Hauser understands the importance of the town’s location and its ability to bring together people from all walks of life.

“It’s become the sort of nucleus for big families, starting families, people who are retiring,” Hauser said. “You have this incredible mix of people who have been here for decades and decades, and seeing the city change over time, and us coming in — we get to be a part of that change.”

On a cold January day, Larry Faulks and Seajay Crosson were inside the business enjoying a warm drink along with the pastry. The two moved from Fayetteville, Arkansas, to Erie to be closer to family.

Cesar Sabogal

“It’s a different world here. I’m familiar with Texas plants and Arkansas plants, and she’s familiar with Indiana plants and Arkansas plants,” Faulks said. “But Colorado is a different world.”

While the two moved to an unknown place, they quickly discovered the strong sense of community and the immense pride many have for Erie.

“When we moved here, a couple neighbors actually brought us over cookies, and I don’t think I’ve ever lived somewhere where neighbors brought us cookies,” Crosson said.

When it comes to the biggest challenges of living in Erie, the two expressed concerns about the rapid growth impacting the small-town charm and the lack of grocery stores nearby.

Cesar Sabogal

“You actually have to get in the car and go quite some distance to get some groceries, and then another thing: It’s mostly restaurants here. So, I wish there was a fuller array of businesses so that we didn’t have to drive so much to other places,” Crosson said.

Carly Brooks Rogers was another customer enjoying a cup of coffee. Originally from Washington, she moved to Erie to stay close to family and loved that it felt like a safe place to call home.

“I was kind of deciding between places and wanted to be closer to family, and I had only been here during the winter, actually, because I used to work with a ski team, so I would go to the mountains, and then I would come here and see my aunt. So, I just wanted to be closer, and it was a cute small little town,” Rogers said.

Cesar Sabogal

During her time living in Erie, Rogers has watched the town become “up and coming” and wonders how the continued growth might impact crime and traffic.

Just a couple of blocks from the coffee shop is Briggs Street Books and Music, run by Casey and Dan Gump. The store celebrated a major milestone recently: one full year in business after opening on Feb. 1, 2025.

“We wanted to add something to the community down here, and we really love it down here,” Dan Gump said. “So, we need more retailers.”

The store is located inside the Coal Park building and is upstairs next to the restaurant Piripi. Besides books, records are on sale, where there is a listening station for customers to enjoy.

Cesar Sabogal

“Music brings people together, and so we wanted that kind of space that like, you can just come out, you can come hang out and go sit at the listening station and listen to some music,” he said. “Buy a book, sit in the corner, hang out, go grab a cup of coffee and come down, or have dinner across the hall.”

While the business is fairly new to the area, Gump has lived in Erie since 2020 and has watched more people discover the town alongside the other local businesses that have opened.

“It’s growing, it’s changing. We’ve got new restaurants coming in. We’ve got new retail things coming in, and it’s just I would say it’s very up and coming, and give it a shot,” Gump said.

A short drive from the Old Town district is Lil’ Buckaroo’s Petting Zoo , which opened in 2021. The farm manager, Martina Carlucci, said there are 40 animals total, including miniature donkeys, miniature belted galloway cows, alpacas, and more.

Cesar Sabogal

“It’s really cool to see people come in here and just light up and laugh and giggle when they’re feeding the goats, and it’s a really big confidence builder for little kids as well, to go in there with an animal that’s maybe larger than their comfort zone,” Carlucci said.

Growing up around horses, Carlucci said she went to college for horse management and has always wanted to be around these animals. She first started working on the property on the horse boarding side and then moved over to the petting zoo.

Cesar Sabogal

“There’s a ton of benefits to being with animals from a mental standpoint. It also gets people outside, and you’re able to meet people in your area. It’s a fun rainy day activity,” Carlucci said.

Over the years, she has also seen firsthand how Erie has developed.

“Even just when I moved here a couple of years ago, there were a lot less neighborhoods around us, so I’ve been here about four years,” said Carlucci. “There’s been some pretty rapid growth around here.”

As more people move to Erie and call it home, Carlucci believes the town’s small business community will flourish alongside it.

In these Denver7 | Your Voice stories, we want to hear from you about what matters most in your community. We hope to hear what makes our communities special, the challenges facing them, and everything in between. Have an idea or want to share your thoughts? Fill out the contact form below.

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Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Maggy Wolanske

Denver7’s Maggy Wolanske is a multimedia journalist who covers topics that have an impact across Colorado, but specializes in reporting on climate and environment, as well as stories impacting animals and wildlife. If you’d like to get in touch with Maggy, fill out the form below to send her an email.

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Maggy Wolanske

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February 25, 2026
Reflection of the community: Denver7 | Your Voice goes live in Edgewater and listens to lifelong residents

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EDGEWATER, Colo. — It’s a community many are proud to be a part of. Edgewater may be small in size, but it beats with a big heart. Denver7 | Your Voice spent Friday in the community listening to locals and sharing many unique stories live from Edgewater Public Market.

Born and raised in Edgewater, Nathan Guerrero has watched the city grow over the years and appreciates the culture and diversity in the small city.

Jacob Curtis

“It’s been amazing. I feel like we have grown up so much,” Guerrero said. “I would have never expected to see this today. I remember Cub Foods being exactly right here. It’s grown up. Lots of food options, so many people coming through, and it feels like a melting pot of cultures here.”

Brooklyn Chacon was also born and raised here, and has noticed the changes the city has experienced over the years. She has noticed the structural changes and people from outside Colorado moving into the area.

Erin Kirby

“I think it’s grown a lot. It’s definitely different, definitely the hot spot,” Chacon said. “I think people talk about being in Edgewater a lot, so I like it.”

Local businesses buzz inside Edgewater Public Market, with over 30 different spots to choose from. Less than 24 hours from Valentine’s Day, Landfall Floral Co. sprouted with eager customers getting their special someone a special bouquet.

The business opened over a year ago, with owner Emily Guin explaining she wanted to branch out to a bigger spot and is proud to serve this community.

Jacob Curtis

“We have a growing list of regulars, which is really sweet,” Guin said. “We have people who come back weekly, monthly, and we get to know their preferences, and we get to know about what they like and don’t like, and it’s really fun to build those relationships.”

One of those flower customers was Ryan Burrer, who reflected on supporting local businesses and the overall sense of community in the city.

“When you’re in the marketplace, there’s no chains like that. You’re super supporting small restaurateurs and businesses. Especially from the flower place. I think this Landfall flowers down in there, just a really cool pinnacle of community,” said Burrer.

Jacob Curtis

When it comes to challenges in Edgewater, it was hard for locals to pinpoint. Burrer laughed, saying it was balancing “eating out and eating in, not destroying your budget at the end of the day.”

For Guin, she explained, “I wish people knew we were here because anytime someone does come into the market and discover this food hall, they’re like, ‘I had no idea’ and no idea there was so many restaurants and so many shops, and it’s a one-stop shop for everything.”

Denver7 anchors Micah Smith and Jessica Porter shared the opportunity to be live in Edgewater as a way to celebrate small businesses, meet new people, and really feel part of the community.

In the video player below, hear from both anchors as they reflect on Edgewater:

Denver7 anchors Micah Smith and Jessica Porter on Edgewater

Overall, Denver7 | Your Voice heard all about the immense heart in the small town and why so many hope it stays this way forever.

In these Denver7 | Your Voice stories, we want to hear from you about what matters most in your community. We hope to hear what makes our communities special, the challenges facing them, and everything in between. Have an idea or want to share your thoughts? Fill out the contact form below.

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Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Maggy Wolanske

Denver7’s Maggy Wolanske is a multimedia journalist who covers topics that have an impact across Colorado, but specializes in reporting on climate and environment, as well as stories impacting animals and wildlife. If you’d like to get in touch with Maggy, fill out the form below to send her an email.

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Maggy Wolanske

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February 13, 2026
Taste of Edgewater, where local spots are filled with community connections and signature flavors

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EDGEWATER, Colo. — Strangers become family in Edgewater, where the food and drink scene serves up flavor alongside genuine connections in this tight-knit community. Denver7 | Your Voice stopped at five different spots to speak with locals and business owners about what makes their businesses so unique.

What started as a food truck has now turned into a thriving restaurant. Orrapan Botthaison is the owner of La Mai Thai Kitchen, which is named after her mother, La Mai. In college, Botthaison said friends kept asking her to make Thai food, and she created a delicious pad thai that is now one of the most popular items on the menu.

“I have to tell you this. I’ve been open for almost four years this August — La Mai Pad Thai is still the best,” Botthaison said.

Maggy Wolanske

Besides having signature items like the La Mai Pad Thai, Botthaison explained the restaurant has changed to match the Edgewater style by providing both takeout and dine-in options. The biggest challenge, she said, is simply reminding people they’re open for business.

“I want people coming in and feel like friends and family,” Botthaison said.

Edgewater spots filled with community connections and signature flavors

Being across from Sloan’s Lake, the Thai restaurant is surrounded by other businesses with a big parking lot. Botthaison said people stop by when skiing or snowboarding to pick up some bites to eat.

“I wake up every day, I smile, and just like, is this real? It looks like a dream,” Botthaison said.

Maggy Wolanske

Just a couple of blocks from La Mai Thai Kitchen is Lakeview Lounge, owned by Jill and Eugene Martinez. They took over the local bar just six months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“It was scary, but what is so great is our customers — they hung in there with us,” said Jill Martinez. “They were here any time we were able to be open, they supported us, and we are very fortunate to have such a great customer base.”

Besides the great view, this local dive bar has stories to match. The bar has been named Lakeview Lounge since 1975 and still runs cash-only, with an ATM available for customers to use. While the drinks or pool tables may draw people in, the frozen pizzas are also a fan favorite, with the owners saying the bites are baked to perfection.

Maggy Wolanske

Looking to the future, Jill and Eugene Martinez are grateful to have such a strong bond with their customers and hope construction in the area will not cause any issues.

“I would just say the upcoming construction that’s going to be happening on Sheridan — that’s going to pose some traffic issues for us, and we just hope that customers will still come and know they can get into our business despite the traffic,” Jill Martinez said.

Open 365 days a year, the owners have witnessed something special, seeing customers find a second family and a place they can always count on.

Anaya Salcedo

“We have a lot of customers that say they, for their first time — they’ve driven by for years and years and never stopped in. They weren’t sure what it’s like inside, and so once you step inside, you’re a customer for life; it’s hard to leave,” Jill and Eugene Martinez said.

Just a couple of blocks from Sheridan Boulevard on 25th Avenue is a pocket of businesses surrounding the neighborhood. Denver7’s Maggy Wolanske checked out Suzette Bakery and Café, Sloan’s Bar & Grille, and Edgewater Beer Garden. She discovered the roles these spots have in the community both during the daytime and nighttime.

Maggy Wolanske

Suzette Bakery and Café opened in April of 2023. Culinary director Kevin McCormick explained they make everything in-house, from pastries to signature syrups for their drinks. He said the neighborhood has embraced the business with open arms, and they’ve been thrilled to be part of the community.

“One of the cool things about being in this neighborhood is being able to adjust and change our menu as the season goes on to really meet the needs of the people around you,” McCormick said.

While the smell of freshly baked croissants or the taste of a vanilla latte may bring customers through the door, McCormick explained the community connection has made a mark on the business.

Maggy Wolanske

“I think the coolest part about this neighborhood is just the feeling of being a part of a community and that everybody feels so close to each other,” McCormick said.

Across the street from Suzette Bakery and Café, the Edgewater Beer Garden has found its home in a converted historic firehouse. Lexi Bordewish, general manager, explained that the business honors its roots with old trophies, murals, and photos on display of the firefighters who once served the community from this very building.

“We have these two giant garage doors that the fire trucks used to come in and out of and we have those wide open with all of our gorgeous Colorado weather, so it’s almost like you are immersed outside the entire time you are here even while you are ordering at the bar and everything,” Bordewish said.

Maggy Wolanske

With 18 taps at the beer garden — 90% from Colorado breweries — local beer lovers have plenty to choose from. Surprisingly, beer isn’t the biggest draw, Bordewish said. Frosé is “by far No. 1,” and they keep it available even during the colder months.

From lunch through dinner, the beer garden attracts visitors of all ages, with Bordewish noting that dogs seem to lead their owners inside, too. When asked about the biggest challenge, she said it is staying true to the town’s character while embracing growth and change.

“Being here in Edgewater, the community has changed so much, especially in the last 20 years, so we are trying to honor everyone that’s been here, but also everyone that’s coming into this community and honoring both sides of that and how everything is always changing,” Bordewish said. “But also, like I said, we are in a historical building — not forgetting the roots of where we are.”

Maggy Wolanske

Another spot that honors commitment to community is Sloan’s Bar and Grille, which has been a go-to spot for over 20 years. Chris Cunningham, who oversees operations at the restaurant, reflected on what it means to serve the area for decades.

“We were definitely one of the first establishments, I think, in the Sloans Lake and Edgewater area, at least as far as local, so to speak,” Cunningham said. “So, naming it after the community or the lake that’s so entrenched in the community, where the community is around, was really important to us.”

Maggy Wolanske

While the chef likes to “express himself creatively” with a mostly scratch-made menu, Cunningham said the gluten-free fried chicken stands out.

“It certainly is a niche and something new that we are able to take advantage of — the opportunity to offer this for people,” Cunningham said. “But to be frank with you, when we were taste testing, the batter that we were putting the chicken in, the gluten-free batter, was the best. It was definitely the crunchiest; it adhered to the chicken the best and allowed us to produce the most delicious product.”

While this neighborhood spot serves up plenty of dishes and drinks, Wednesday nights bring a packed crowd for trivia. The restaurant takes great pride in the almost weekly event, knowing it creates lasting connections with customers who look forward to it all week long.

Maggy Wolanske

“I think sticking true to our mission and being the third place, making sure that we’re available for the community, it’s not so much about running a super profitable business or making a bunch of money, but really just being here to offer what we have for the community,” Cunningham said.

Each business brings something different to the table, but they all share a common thread of serving longtime neighbors and newcomers with Edgewater pride.

In these Denver7 | Your Voice stories, we want to hear from you about what matters most in your community. We hope to hear what makes our communities special, the challenges facing them, and everything in between. Have an idea or want to share your thoughts? Fill out the contact form below.

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Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Maggy Wolanske

Denver7’s Maggy Wolanske is a multimedia journalist who covers topics that have an impact across Colorado, but specializes in reporting on climate and environment, as well as stories impacting animals and wildlife. If you’d like to get in touch with Maggy, fill out the form below to send her an email.

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Maggy Wolanske

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February 13, 2026
‘Relationships are the most important’: Denver7 | Your Voice heads west of Denver to Edgewater

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EDGEWATER, Colo. — To the east of Sloan’s Lake is Denver’s city skyline, but it’s to the west of the popular park where you’ll find the charming City of Edgewater.

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City of Edgewater sign

Nearly 5,000 people call Edgewater home, according to the most recent census data. Compared to the City of Denver, which is home to nearly 800,000 people, it’s a smaller city, but despite its size, the small-town feel and business community keep residents there and visitors coming back.

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Edgewater Inn

“I grew up coming here, grew up in the neighborhood, and I hadn’t been in a long time, because I was spending all my days on Tennyson,” said Niya Gingerich, the owner of the Edgewater Inn and Lot 46 Music Bar.

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Denver7’s Veronica Acosta and Niya Gingerich at Edgewater Inn.

Denver7’s Veronica Acosta met with Gingerich at Edgewater Inn, a popular spot near the main strip in the city, and spoke with her about how she became the eventual owner of the historic pizza spot in January of 2023.

What is Denver7 | Your Voice? Read about the project here

“I actually sat right here, and I was having a beer and a salad in the middle of the day, and the bartender, Haley, was Ben DiPietro, the founder of Edgewater Inn’s granddaughter,” she said. “Her and I got to chatting…she literally leaned over the bar and whispered, ‘You should buy this place.’”

“I mean, I got chills,” Gingerich added. “I said, ‘Is it for sale?’ And she said, ‘We literally just listed it.’”

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Niya Gingerich at the Edgewater Inn

Gingerich told Denver7’s Veronica Acosta she never looked back after that moment, making the Edgewater Inn her new home.

“We got to carry on the pizza parlor legacy and then build Lot 46 next door,” she said.

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Pizza at Edgewater Inn

Still, it hasn’t all been easy.

“It’s hard. I mean, this industry is hard in general,” Gingerich told Denver7. “I don’t think that’s a surprise to anybody, but we’re, you know, the independent restaurant community, are facing challenges across the board.”

Gingerich told Denver7 one of those challenges was resolved in the new year.

“We just had a huge win. Something that I fought really hard for, was the tip credit increase that we just had,” she said. “It was a matter of honestly life or death — death for our business and for a lot of independent restaurants in Edgewater.”

READ MORE: Edgewater becomes first Colo. city to increase tip credit for restaurant workers

Despite the business hurdles, it’s the overall feel Edgewater offers that keep Gingerich and other business owners cemented in their community.

“The mayor and city council, they are real faces. They are real community members that come in here and have pizza with their families. And the sense of community is very strong in Edgewater,” she said.

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Denver7’s Veronica Acosta and Jim Hesser, co-owner of Wesco Dog Grooming.

Right down the street from the Edgewater Inn, is Wesco Dog Grooming, which has been a staple for more than four decades.

“We’re the third to maybe the fourth owner,” said Jim Hesser, the co-owner of Wesco Dog Grooming. “It’s been around a long time, but we’ve owned it now 27 well, maybe 28 years, something like that.”

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WEsco Dog Grooming in Edgewater

As the longest business owner on the main street of Edgewater, Hesser told Denver7’s Veronica Acosta he’s seen the city change a lot.

“It went from Mayberry to, like any other neighborhood. You used to be able to buy a house under $100,000 you know, when we first moved in here, easily in this part of town,” said Hesser, who added now, homes right behind his business sell for upwards of $700,000, and continue increasing in price.

“You’re seeing the development like everywhere else, which is good,” he said. “It brings in a new clientele. So I guess all businesses need that, you know, a lot (of) new, younger people with dogs, thank heavens.”

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Dog being groomed at Wesco Dog Grooming

“The change has been somewhat positive, but you miss the old days like anything else and I’m sure there’s people older than me that would even say, ‘I don’t remember the good times,’ you know, but we can still remember when Edgewater was small and quaint,” he added.

For those like Sara Miles, who’s called Edgewater home for 12 years, the small business community, walkability and history of the city keeps her around, with a certain piece of the city’s history really sticking out in her mind.

“Back in the 1900s at Sloan’s Lake, there was sort of, like, an amusement park or carnival, where the rich people lived and they had circus animals there,” she said. “One of them was an elephant, and on the Edgewater side was where all the bars and the brothels were. Anyways, this nice family was visiting the amusement park carnival and unfortunately, the elephant crushed the little boy,” Miles said.

Our Colorado

The history of Sloan’s Lake and the Edgewater elephant

“So, they decided to kill the elephant and the elephant is buried either underneath the Target or the Edgewater Marketplace. When you go to Joy Ride Brewery, you’ll see that there’s an elephant. If you go look at the side of the Lakeview Lounge, there’s this whole mural of fancy people with their parasols walking around Sloane’s Lake,” she said.

READ MORE: The history of Sloan’s Lake and the Edgewater elephant

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Main Street in Edgewater

For others, the diversity of the City of Edgewater is the driving force behind staying.

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Denver7’s Veronica Acosta and Edgewater council member, Joel Newton.

“Depending on where you move around, Edgewater, we have a lot of Spanish speakers. We have a lot of folks that have lived here for many years, and then we have a new crop of folks moving in,” said Joel Newton, a council member for the City of Edgewater. “The diversity of it and the fact that we can know our neighbors, so when we talk about big issues on a national scale, we can actually talk to the people that are impacted by that right here in town.”

While Newton agrees his love for Edgewater is rooted in its diversity and the feel it has to offer compared to other city’s nearby, he worries for those who hope to make it home but are priced out.

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Denver7’s Veronica Acosta and Edgewater council member Joel Newton

“I’d say, for a majority of people that are hoping to make a home in Edgewater, it’s really tough,” Newton told Denver7’s Veronica Acosta. “We’re hoping to find a way to make it more affordable. There’s not necessarily a fix, I wish there was, but trying to look at things from a community lens, working with partners to make it more affordable. Though, like every metro area community, it’s really (a) tough issue to try and solve.”

Still, those Denver7’s Veronica Acosta spoke with say Edgewater is a place they’ve chosen to make home because of the atmosphere and community it has to offer.

In these Denver7 | Your Voice stories, we want to hear from you about what matters most in your community. We hope to hear what makes our communities special, the challenges facing them, and everything in between. Have an idea or want to share your thoughts? Fill out the contact form below.

Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Veronica Acosta

Denver7’s Veronica Acosta covers stories that have an impact in all of Colorado’s communities, but specializes in reporting on immigration and wildfire management in our state. If you’d like to get in touch with Veronica, fill out the form below to send her an email.

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Veronica Acosta

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February 11, 2026
Globeville man’s push for green space stuck in neutral: Denver7 | Your Voice

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DENVER — Every day, Denverites and Interstate 70 drivers pass by a barren plot of land where Washington Street meets the interstate in Denver’s Globeville neighborhood.

It backs up to the home of Joseph Herrera, who calls it “a dust bowl.” He has spoken with Denver7 before about the land being a dumping ground for trash or home to a homeless encampment.

Denver7 first spoke with Herrera about the land, owned by the Colorado Department of Transportation, in 2021 when he started a petition for CDOT to turn the land into a community space, specifically a park or green space.

Read our previous coverage below:

“Trees and grass do help clean our pollution, especially here, the highway being so close to us,” he said.

When asked what has changed since 2021, Herrera responded, “Nothing, really. I mean, yes, CDOT does come and clean, but they have to.”

CDOT put the land up for auction in 2022. The agency told Denver7 it wasn’t able to finalize a deal with a couple of private bidders at the time, eventually accepting a below-market offer from the City of Denver. But that sale still has not gone through as of Wednesday. CDOT said that’s in part because both sides have “strict rules on contracts, and getting those to match has been difficult.”

Denver7 | Your Voice

Globeville residents feel left behind by Denver leaders: Denver7 | Your Voice

Denver7 | Your Voice spoke with several Globeville residents who feel they are often ignored or overlooked by local leaders. The sale of the land hitting a standstill is another example, and Herrera fears the land will remain a blight on the neighborhood even after the sale is finalized.

“I’m afraid that once this property is sold to the City of Denver, it’ll just fall into the cracks,” he told Denver7. “We have been fighting for fresh air, clean air, and we can’t get anywhere.”

But Herrera said he has no plans to move. When asked why, he explained, “You have to fight for what you love.”

He also said finding an affordable alternative in the city is difficult.

“Imagine trying to find a home here in Denver,” he said, noting his own home value has gone up in recent years. “Rents have gone up. Taxes have gone up. Everything has gone up.”

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Pictured: Denver7’s Ryan Fish (left) speaking with Joseph Herrera (right)

Herrera said he will keep fighting to beautify his neighborhood, starting with the decrepit land next to his home.

CDOT told Denver7 that as of this week, contract language regarding the sale has been agreed upon and is awaiting signatures.

The City of Denver did not respond to requests for updates or plans for the land once the sale is complete, though an email sent from the city’s Department of Finance to Herrera said once the sale is complete, the city will first need to evaluate possible uses for the land, go through community outreach and a competitive contract bid process before it can move forward with a project.

In these Denver7 | Your Voice stories, we want to hear from you about what matters most in your community. We hope to hear what makes our communities special, the challenges facing them, and everything in between. Have an idea or want to share your thoughts? Fill out the contact form below.

Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Ryan Fish

Denver7’s Ryan Fish covers stories that have an impact in all of Colorado’s communities, but specializes in covering artificial intelligence, technology, aviation and space. If you’d like to get in touch with Ryan, fill out the form below to send him an email.

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October 22, 2025
New CSU vet school, hospital takes shot at vet school supremacy, offering community state-of-the-art services

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. — A few years ago, Colorado State University announced a bold vision: a quarter-billion-dollar veterinary teaching hospital right on its Fort Collins campus. They say the new facility will allow them to admit more students, providing a solution to the mountain of applications they get every year.

The state-of-the-art facility will also allow them to reinvent the veterinary curriculum and provide better, more comprehensive care to the community in northern Colorado and their pets.

CSU wrote to Denver7 a few months ago, stating in part: “We think it would be good for you to tour the progress of our new veterinary teaching hospital on-campus.”

And so, we took their advice and Denver7 | Your Voice headed up to CSU.

Denver7

Denver7’s Russell Haythorn gets hard hat tour of new CSU veterinary school set to open fall of 2026.

A hard hat tour of a game-changer

Clad in hard hats instead of stethoscopes, my photographer Cesar Sabogal and I joined CSU leaders as they walked us through what they believe could become one of the most advanced veterinary facilities in the country.

“A lot of thought has gone into the design of the building,” said Caleb Jones, senior project manager with JE Dunn Construction, who led the tour.

“It’ll be certified by something called WELL-building certification. We think it’s the first vet clinic and hospital to have this kind of certification,” explained Sue VandeWoude, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at CSU.

Designed for animals and the humans who care for them

The building has been carefully engineered with both patients and students in mind: Floors are designed to prevent slipping. Color schemes are intentionally chosen to avoid startling animals. And the walls are thick enough so the animals won’t be disrupted by the patients in another room.

“A barking dog in this room won’t be heard by the cat in that room,” said VandeWoude.

Denver7

Sue VandeWoude, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University standing outside new college and vet hospital

The facility will be a world-class hospital for livestock and large animals as well.

For students, the facility features an active learning auditorium on the main level and modern classrooms upstairs, including mock surgical suites where students can be observed by professors through mirrored walls.

“This is very unique for the region and probably the country and the world,” VandeWoude said.

Calmer check-ins and separate entrances

Just like human hospitals, the new facility includes separate entrances and check-in areas for different services including primary care, emergency care, and specialized treatments.

“If you’re coming for really specialized care — oncology, ophthalmology, you’ll come to this entrance, and they’ll receive you,” Jones said.

Small wing walls between check-in stations add an extra layer of comfort and privacy for pets.

“How do we build it so when the animal arrives, we’re already trying to reduce that anxiety?” Jones said, explaining the building planning process.

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Denver7’s Russell Haythorn and Caleb Jones, senior project manager for JE Dunn Construction tour the severe illness isolation wing of the new CSU vet school and hospital.

Leading the pack in education and innovation

The new hospital will support CSU’s veterinary school, which already ranks among the best in the country. Currently, the school graduates about 150 students per year.

Dean VandeWoude calls the project the pinnacle of her time in veterinary medicine.

“I’ve been at CSU for three decades, but this is definitely the capstone of my career,” she said.

U.S. News & World Report ranks CSU’s veterinary school at No. 2 in the country. But the dean said that still isn’t quite good enough for her.

CSU

“CSU is the No. 2 vet school in the country at the moment, but you say otherwise, right?” asked Denver7’s Russell Haythorn.

“We’re the best,” VandeWoude said. “We’re the absolute best.”

CSU’s No. 2 ranking has it trailing only UC Davis in California, which has long held the top spot. CSU graduates about 140 students per year, with plans to expand that number to around 170 once the new college and hospital open.

The school sees over 3,000 applications annually and handles roughly 42,000 patient visits through its teaching hospital each year, offering nearly 30 specialties ranging from oncology to cardiology.

What sets CSU apart, beyond its rankings and affordability, is the brand-new, wellness-certified hospital design, built to reduce stress for animals and streamline student training.

While Cornell, Penn, and UC Davis are powerhouses in research and specialty care, CSU is positioning itself as a national leader in real-world training, community-based care, and cutting-edge hospital design.

A $230 million investment in the future

The cost is about $230 million and the state has kicked in roughly $50 million. The rest comes from fundraising efforts, grateful clients, and alumni support.

“We know there’s a societal need for many types of veterinarians,” VandeWoulde said.

With a culture of collaboration and a deep sense of pride, CSU believes this new hospital will help them stay at the top of their field.

“We also have a really great culture. It’s very collaborative,” she said. “I think there’s a lot of pride among the faculty and staff that work here.”

Opening next year

Set to open its doors in 2026, the new facility is expected to set a global benchmark in veterinary education and care.

“It’s going to propel our curriculum and our ability to educate the next generation of students,” VandeWoude said.

From sick puppies to prized livestock, CSU’s new veterinary hospital aims to heal, teach, and lead, both nationally and internationally.

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In these Denver7 | Your Voice stories, we want to hear from you about what matters most in your community. We hope to hear what makes our communities special, the challenges facing them, and everything in between. Have an idea or want to share your thoughts? Fill out the contact form below.

Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Russell Haythorn

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October 10, 2025
Elbert County drivers call Highway 86 an ‘asphalt disaster.’ How CDOT plans to fix it

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ELBERT COUNTY, Colo. — Denver7 | Your Voice hit the road to the Eastern Plains Friday after a viewer reached out to us about the conditions on Highway 86 in Elbert County.

Jody Daughenbaugh wrote into our newsroom, “Our roads need some serious help! Highway 86 in an asphalt disaster- maybe this will get the State of Colorado to take notice.”

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It didn’t take long to find what Daughenbaugh was talking about. The 36-mile state highway shows signs of needed repair, from potholes to crumbling edges, especially through the Towns of Elizabeth and Kiowa.

“When I go out in it, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, this is ridiculous,’” Daughenbaugh told Denver7 in an interview on Friday.

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Elbert County residents Mark & Jodie Daughenbaugh speaking with Denver7’s Claire Lavezzorio.

Daughenbaugh isn’t the only one who’s noticed the need for repairs.

Jamie Polk is the owner of Bino’s Pizza in the Town of Kiowa. She told us the family-run business hears about Highway 86 issues daily.

“One of the biggest complaints when they’re out here is… the road conditions are terrible,” Polk said.

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Jamie Polk, owner of Bino’s Pizza in Kiowa

Denver7 reached out to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to find out if there are smoother roads ahead.

“86 is a lot like a lot of other roads we have,” said Jared Fiel, CDOT’s northeast regional communications manager. “Population increasing, truck traffic increased, and what we find is that… it’s fun to try to keep up with all of it.”

Fiel explained that aging infrastructure under the road can limit what the state can fix.

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In the next three to five years, a local project in Kiowa will address aging waterlines, followed by a full roadway reconstruction of Highway 86 through the town.

“We have areas where we do have some aging infrastructure, but we’re trying to stay on top of that as best we can with the dollars that we have,” Fiel explained.

Next spring, construction will begin on a full bridge replacement on the west end of Kiowa, according to CDOT. Next spring/summer, there’s an asphalt project scheduled through Elizabeth.

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Residents told Denver7 they hope the future fixes will lead to smooth sailing in the years to come.

“I’m just hoping the projects will be successful and hoping they’re sooner rather than later,” said Polk.

In these Denver7 | Your Voice stories, we want to hear from you about what matters most in your community. We hope to hear what makes our communities special, the challenges facing them, and everything in between. Have an idea or want to share your thoughts? Fill out the contact form below.

Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Claire Lavezzorio

Denver7’s Claire Lavezzorio covers topics that have an impact across Colorado, but specializes in reporting on stories in the military and veteran communities. If you’d like to get in touch with Claire, fill out the form below to send her an email.

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August 22, 2025