What is Mainstreet Steamboat Springs?
MAINSTREET STEAMBOAT SPRINGS MISSION STATEMENT:

The mission of Mainstreet Steamboat Springs is to preserve, promote and enhance downtown Steamboat Springs. This is accomplished using the 4-Point Approach of Design, Organization, Promotion and Economic Restructuring as prescribed by the National Main Street Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

What is MainStreet?
Steamboat Springs is one of those places that people visit and then they return year after year for vacations. Many folks end up moving here permanently. What is it that draws people to return? Locals fondly call it the "the Yampa Valley curse"- friends will move away for awhile, only to return. Is it really a friendly curse that draws people to the valley and makes them want to stay?

Downtown Steamboat Springs does have a special feeling and it transcends to locals and visitors alike, making them come together as a community. This feeling comes from a rich history that is in everything from the buildings, the names, the people, and all the events and activities that take place year after year with the same continued enthusiasm and pride.

The faces change but the name remains the same...
Many businesses are rich in history, such as FM Light & Sons who celebrated their 100 years in business just last year. Other old businesses have new owners, but if you ask, they can tell you quite a bit about when and who established the business, and probably some fun stories to go along. And there are many new businesses, but if you ask them they may tell you the curse got them many years ago and they finally gave in and moved to the valley. What they all have in common is a feeling of community, pride and respect for the history of the valley. From ranching and mining to skiing, the people, businesses and events that shaped Steamboat many years ago are still evident today. If you drive just outside the city limits in any direction, you'll see working ranches and active coal mines. Steamboat Springs has been producing winter Olympians since 1932. The oldest continuing winter carnival west of the Mississippi is here in Steamboat Springs! The SS Winter Sports Club has been training and sponsoring Olympians and sent 20 athletes to Italy this past winter. (See page 16 for more about the Winter Sports Club and Ski Town USA).

The times they are a changin' ...
How does a community maintain its identity in this age of fast paced development and advanced technology in a highly mobile society? Through a group called Main Street Steamboat Springs. The Main Street model was created 25 years ago by the National Trust for Historic Preservation when the historic downtowns of our country were being abandoned for the suburbs. The historic architecture of our country was being left to decay and many of these historic resources were razed to make way for parking lots. In recent years, this exodus to the suburbs has turned around, making living, shopping and working downtown very desirable. The Main Street Center provides model plans and expert consultants for local groups to develop a comprehensive approach to organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring of their historic downtown districts. The local Main Street group works to not only preserve historic downtown Steamboat, but to keep it economically and aesthetically viable and environmentally friendly. Main Street is a community driven group working together with businesses, government and community for the benefit of downtown Steamboat Springs.

The concept was inspired by Steamboats' economic gardener Noreen Moore. After attending a presentation about the program, Noreen felt the program was a perfect fit for downtown Steamboat Springs. The Main Street group was organized and combined with the long-standing Downtown Business Association in 2003. In 2004 a board was created and Tracy Barnett was hired full time to run the local program. In 2005 Main Street was awarded official status in the State of Colorado as one of only seven designated communities in the state.

Yes, the times are changing, and downtown Steamboat will make the changes to keep up with society while maintaining that special feeling that makes visitors and locals alike return and stay.