SOUTH FORK—The South Fork Chamber of Commerce held their first holiday business highlight event the week before Christmas. The chamber has undergone several changes in the past few months, beginning with a new president and board members that have focused on highlighting areas business and worked hand in hand with owners to market the small town and bring people to the area. The purpose of the event was to get everyone in the South Fork area in the holiday spirit by creating enticing holiday displays for traveling guests.

In early November, the Yuletide Committee with the help of several area volunteers and plentiful donations were able to create a winter wonderland around the visitor center which sparked a trend that carried throughout town. Each participating business was tasked with the challenge to make their business shine with holiday delight and the results were more than anyone could expect. Slowly, as the days before Christmas wound down, the town transformed into a holiday delight for travelers driving along the Highway 160/149 corridor, especially at night.

Businesses with fronts facing the highway took the time to set up lights, festive displays that could be seen as guests ventured through town, ultimately enticing people to stop and take in the sights. The purpose was for guests to come back during the day to check out the many stores and gift shops hiding along the town streets or to bring travelers to stay at the motels and other accommodations that are available this time of year.

The Ute Bluff Lodge located just outside of town was the first business many travelers came upon. The entire property was lit with sparkling blue lights, wrapped along the fence and entry way, lighting the night with the holiday spirit. Once inside the lodge, guests were welcomed by festive displays of Santa and his bag full of gifts, wooden reindeer and wreaths of blue, gold and red. The entire effect highlighted a country style getaway for anyone looking for a unique Colorado Christmas.

As travelers ventured into town, other businesses like The Cabin, the Spruce Lodge and many others stole the show with holiday displays of their own. South Fork genuinely turned into a holiday destination that would land on the top of anyone’s Christmas wish list for many years to come.

Website

The chamber has also been working on their new website that is now up and running for area businesses to access local resources geared towards marketing. In an interview conducted earlier this year, new Chamber President Joe McCarn stated that the board is working with local web design company B4 Studios to create the user-friendly website and now it can be accessed for area events, business support and resources as well as up to date information on the town and surrounding areas.

Efforts put forth this year are sure to carry on into the future, making South fork the adventure destination they have worked to hard to be.

McCarn commented, “It is so awesome to see South Fork as beautifully decorated as it is. Everyone has done such an amazing job decorating. In years’ past it was the houses around South Fork that brought folks from all over the San Luis Valley to see the Christmas lights. This year it is so much more than just a few houses.”