ESTES PARK, Colo. — What would you take with you if you had to evacuate in a fire?
That question was more that just hyperbole for Bob Fixter, whose antique store, Fall River Jewelry, was threatened by the East Troublesome Fire. In a matter of minutes, he had to decide which of the thousands of valuable artifacts that adorn his store to take with him when he left.
"We just threw everything - literally - into banker's boxes and carried that out of the store for safety," said Fixter. "A lot of it was probably stuff that we should not have taken and we left a lot of stuff that we should have taken. But we had no time."
But his store was spared by the fires that ravaged the areas near Estes Park. Now the businesses are opening once again.
"I think we are ready," he said. "We are excited to have people come back."
The town of Estes Park was barely damaged by the flames, though they came within just miles of the town limit. Business leaders say the biggest challenge now is getting people to come back.
"Rocky Mountain National Park opening up the Fall River entrance. That is a crucial element to bringing people to town," said Donna Carlson, the executive director of the Estes Park Chamber of Commerce. "This weekend for us, in particular, is a celebration for us that we are open."
