1 year ago: Breckenridge officials debate where to move free skier parking

A newly proposed neighborhood is going to have impacts on Breckenridge Ski Resort’s free parking lot, and officials can’t agree on whether to move the lot or not. Breckenridge Town Council discussed two possibilities for the future of the Airport Road lot at a July 24, 2024, meeting. The lot could stay on Airport Road, which is anticipated to get busier thanks to the future introduction of 100 or so new housing units, or it could be moved towards the entrance of town. (Officials continued to discuss the topic at a June 24, 2025, meeting, with a proposal to move parking to the McCain Parcel off of Colorado Highway 9 and Coyne Valley Road near the entrance of town looking to be a likely option.)

— From the July 26, 2024, edition of the Summit Daily News

5 years ago: Dice Hill Fire in northern Summit County grows to 30 acres

Emergency workers from Summit and Grand counties were able to quickly contain a wildfire in the far northern part of Summit County that was likely started by lightning on July 20, 2020. The Dice Hill Fire was initially reported at about 10 acres. Fire crews from Grand and Summit counties battled the blaze alongside firefighters from the Bureau of Land Management before operations were handed over to federal agencies the next day. By July 22, firefighters had the wildfire 100% contained, with 27 acres burned.

— From the July 21 and 23, 2020, editions of the Summit Daily News

10 years ago: Loveland Ski Area matriarch Virginia Upham dies at 91

Virginia Frances Lee Upham, the owner of Loveland Ski Area, died July 13, 2015 at age 91. She was born in 1924, in Phoenix, Arizona. She instructed Air Force pilots at Williams Air Force Base during World War II and went on to work as a flight attendant for American Airlines. She met Chester (Chet) R. Upham Jr., on a flight from Dallas to Los Angeles. They were married on Dec. 16, 1946. In 1956 Virginia and Chet became owners of Loveland Ski Area with other investing partners — they eventually bought out Loveland’s remaining partners in 1972. Chet died in 2008.

— From the July 23, 2015, edition of the Summit Daily News

15 years ago: Senator visits Dillon for update on mountain pine beetle fight

U.S. Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) was in Dillon July 25, 2010, to have a first-hand look at devastation caused by the mountain pine beetle and to reassure local officials help is on the way. Udall met with a state senator, U.S. Forest Service district ranger and others on the site of a clear-cut near the Tenderfoot Trail in Dillon. Udall stood on a thick carpet of felled lodgepole pines and got an update on local efforts to address the pine-beetle crisis. Udall said the $30 million he’s helped appropriate to address the problem will soon start to be felt as a comprehensive plan falls into place.

— From the July 26, 2010, edition of the Summit Daily News

30 years ago: Late-night road compactor ride destroys about $50,000 worth of trees

About 44 trees and a dozen large shrubs crashed to the ground when a Breckenridge man and an accomplice allegedly got behind the controls of a road compactor on July 20, 1995. One man has been charged with motor vehicle theft and criminal mischief for his destructive midnight ride through the Highlands at Breckenridge subdivision, according to Breckenridge Police. A second man remained at large. Contractors had apparently left the keys in the vehicle that evening. The estimated cost of the damages was about $50,000.

— From the July 22, 1995, edition of the Summit Daily News

125 years ago: Public invited to excursion for Ringling Brothers’ circus in Leadville

Arrangements have been completed to allow all who wish to attend the performance at Ringling Bros.’ Worlds Greatest Shows in Leadville on Aug. 11, 1900. This will be the only place in this vicinity where the show will exhibit during the season. The exhibition has more than doubled in size since last year, with more than 200 high-salaried specialists in three rings, on two stages, in midair and a huge hippodrome (race course) in addition to trained animals.

— From the July 28, 1900 edition of the Summit County Journal