Walsh Colorado? (Vilas: hotel, new home, construction)

[fortworthtexas]

I heard a rumor the other day that walsh was dying, wouldnt be around much longer. Was wondering if this info was true or not. I also heard that an old friend of mine passed away by the name of Dave dunivan, anybody know anything about this?

[mcolo]

It is true that Walsh could not be around much longer. There is a govenment proposal called the Pinion Canyon Expansion Plan that could give the Army up to 2.5 million acres in Southeast Colorado for testing, thereby sacrificing the local cattle ranches and farmground. You might check out this website: http://www.springfieldcolorado.com/Pinon-Canyon.html. It has a little information as to what might happen. Also the youth in Walsh aren't really in a hurry to move back there. About 10 of my good friends are twenty-somethings originally from Walsh and only one wanted to move back there; so the town may have eventually faded out anyway.

[fortworthtexas]

Oh wow, that really sucks, Baca county cant live much longer the way they are going anyway from what I hear. Everybody is leaving and not coming back, but I cant blame them.

[fsd1962]

I can tell you there are alot of lawns and trees dying in Walsh (compliments of the recent water project?) but the town seems to have leveled off on its loss of residents. Hopefully, at some point the rates will be more affordable for all the residents of the town. All of the community properties are looking great...the recently renovated City Park, the recently expanded baseball fields, the swimming pool, the grade school and high school (while both providing great learning environments) as well as the nursing home and assisted care facilities. The past 10 years have brought to town a cabinet shop (6 jobs), a center pivot business (4 jobs), a new elevator east of Walsh (unsure of employees), a financial planning office (several self-employeed positions), an off road 4 wheeler dealership (1 job), an ethanol plant that is trying to get re-established (should provide several decent jobs once it gets going) and most recently the local grocery store has re-opened. We have lost an auto repair business and lumber yard but the remedy would only require the right person with the desire to succeed at it. Every one of the nice homes in the area are occupied with the exception of the recently remodeled Oasis Hotel (would be a great opportunity for a bed and breakfast or simply a magnificent home in the downtown area). In fact, I would venture to say the town could use more new home construction to couple with an abundant supply of lower cost housing to support an entry level workforce for additional business's in the area. The state recently re-paved Hwy 160 from the colorado/kansas state line to a couple miles east of Vilas....if we could get a decent road linking us to Texas through the Oklahoma panhandle (south) then possibly tying back into Hwy 50 or 287 (to the north).....Walsh would be in great shape. Most of the maps I have looked at concerning the pinion canyon expansion leave Walsh out of the buffer zone and area of expansion. Also, there is a local group working to bring wind power to the area. It sounds like you are familiar with the area so I am sure you can back up the claim that "we get our fair share of wind." Should also mention that the sunny days and mild climate add to the areas charm. Personally, I think we are turning the corner and things are starting to look better. Most of the people in the community are doing well if not great (whether they tell you that or not) and the others that are struggling at least have the comfort of knowing that they are not the first nor the last people of this rural setting to weather a storm (literal or financial). And yes, unfortunetly Dave was killed in a farming accident a few years ago.

[codydunivan]

Originally Posted by fortworthtexas

I heard a rumor the other day that walsh was dying, wouldnt be around much longer. Was wondering if this info was true or not. I also heard that an old friend of mine passed away by the name of Dave dunivan, anybody know anything about this?

wow im daves son cody and yes indeed my dad died march 3rd 2005. ive got a ? 4 u . how do u no my dad?

[codydunivan]

Originally Posted by fortworthtexas

I heard a rumor the other day that walsh was dying, wouldnt be around much longer. Was wondering if this info was true or not. I also heard that an old friend of mine passed away by the name of Dave dunivan, anybody know anything about this?

plzzz e mail me at codydunivan@hotmail.com

[btacre]

Walsh is not drying up. We have a great little community here. We have some new families that have moved in and some young couples who have moved back. The ethanol plant is currently closed but rumor has it that it has been purchased and will be opening soon.