Read up on the latest Colorado Outdoors news.

August 23, 2026 – Montrose, Colorado, is now the home to the largest collection of fly fishing brands in North America following the relocation of iconic fly-tying vise and tools manufacturer Renzetti.

July 15, 2026 – Mayfly Outdoors announced Tuesday that it has relocated Renzetti’s manufacturing operations from Titusville, Florida, to the company’s Colorado Outdoors campus, bringing production of the high-end fly-tying vises and tools alongside fellow heritage brands Ross Reels and Abel Reels. 

July 8, 2026 – Three more hotels are planned for the Colorado Outdoors development in Montrose – a Home2 Suites by Hilton and a SpringHill Suites by Marriott – adjacent to a previously announced Hampton Inn & Suites, which is expected to break ground before October.

June 11, 2026 – Chef Uma Stout, who has run a local food truck and cooked at Montrose restaurants, opened Chef Uma’s Kitchen in February at Colorado Outdoors. She aims to introduce customers to a wider range of authentic Thai dishes beyond the ubiquitous pad thai – and to get to know her through her cooking.

May 27, 2026 – The Fairfield Inn & Suites Montrose, led by General Manager Tonia Masse, has been recognized by Marriott International with two distinguished honors: the Loyalty Mindset Award and the Opening of the Year Award.

May 20, 2026 – Anacapa Poke Co. opened in March 2026 at Colorado Outdoors, founded by a couple who relocated from the West Coast and wanted to bring mainland-style Hawaiian poke bowls to the area. The build-your-own concept features sushi-grade fish, 20+ toppings, and house-made sauces, with plans to renovate the space into a coastal-feeling sushi bar experience.

May 7, 2026 – Business is booming at Colorado Outdoors, with owner David Dragoo reporting at a May MURA board meeting that businesses within the project generated $1.5M+ in tax revenue in 2025 — a 66% increase from 2024, with more big names and three upcoming projects on the horizon.

March 12, 2026 – The Montrose Rec District (MRD) has announced plans to relocate and expand its Community Fieldhouse — and it’s coming to Colorado Outdoors.

December 31, 2025 – See how Colorado Outdoors supported business, community, and outdoor recreation in Montrose, CO with key highlights from 2025.

September 22, 2025 – Three years ago, Secret Creek built their headquarters on the Colorado Outdoors campus. They’ve been creating yurts, tipis, and tents for nearly 50 years.

September 8, 2025 – The third annual Colorado Outdoors Block Party was one for the books. Even with a little cloud cover, Montrose brought the energy: music, laughter, kids dancing, dogs wagging, and incredible food everywhere you turned.

May 1, 2025 – From job creation and community growth to the revitalization of the Uncompahgre River corridor, this work is about more than development – it’s about investing in Montrose’s future. And there’s a lot more to come.

April 29, 2025 – In 2024, Colorado Outdoors added 240 jobs and welcomed six new businesses. More openings and major projects are planned for 2025, including a Hampton Inn and two mixed-use developments—Rivers Edge featuring retail, restaurant, and office space—driving job growth and private investment in the community.

April 16, 2025 – Colorado Outdoors will open their doors to even more businesses in 2025, and construction will begin on a few major projects. In 2024, new and existing businesses within Colorado Outdoors added 240 jobs to the community.

January 7, 2025 – Shelter Distilling expanded from Mammoth Lakes, CA, to Montrose, CO, in May 2024, opening a facility with increased production, a restaurant, and a bar. Located in the Colorado Outdoors development, it uses local grains and mountain water, with a tasting room also in Montrose Regional Airport.

November 13, 2024 – If you’re looking for a workout that will really warm you up during these cold winter months, HOTWORX, located at 1337 Mayfly Drive, might just do the trick. Montrose’s newest boutique fitness studio, which opened in September, boasts a unique pitch: work out in infrared saunas to reap the health benefits of both components at the same time.

November 6, 2024 – Just weeks into its run, Toasty All Day Eatery is busy even on a weekday, serving unique breakfast and lunch items, coffee and, as the Freismuths have become known for, cocktails. “We thought Montrose needed another option for breakfast,” Phil said. “We wanted to come up with some things that you can’t get anywhere else in town.”

October 29, 2024 – Montrose locals and visitors can now enjoy delicious sweet and savory dishes at Toasty All Day Eatery at Colorado Outdoors! Phil and Melanie Freismuth, owners of local outfit Horsefly Brewing, celebrated the grand opening of their new breakfast and lunch concept on September 9th.

August 5, 2024 – At Movement Medicine, owner and chiropractor Dr. Don Funke combines decades of chiropractic experience with his personal journey to recovery to guide patients back to health. As a functional chiropractic and personal training practice, Movement Medicine is conveniently located within the Montrose Recreation District’s FlexRec space at Colorado Outdoors.

July 24, 2024 – Shelter Distilling’s production facility is now fully operational, and the first Montrose-brewed beers will be on tap by the weekend.  Shelter opened its bar and restaurant in May, but it took longer to get the 10,000 square foot production space running. The team began brewing beers and spirits a few weeks ago, and they will soon be available on taps, in bottles, and in cans.

July 17, 2024 – With 700+ locations in the US (and 3 overseas), HOTWORX has brought its proven success to Montrose with a new location within Colorado Outdoors – and members will have full access in the coming months. Members can choose from a 30-minute isometric workout or a 15-minute HIIT session in their patented infrared saunas.

July 11, 2024 – Montrose is now home to an all-accessible, 24,000 square ft. park located on Mayfly Dr. Flex Park includes ADA accessible parking, sidewalk ramps and ramps that provide easy access to the riverfront trail. The walkway is lit for visibility.

June 15, 2024 – A 5.5-mile section of the Uncompahgre River flowing through the heart of Montrose recently made the cut to be named one of 53 “Colorado Quality Waters” by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

June 13, 2024 – When the founders of California’s Shelter Distilling searched for a new location, they needed a large space for production, regional distribution accessibility, and ample outdoor access. According to co-founder Matt Hammer, finding a place that met all these criteria seemed almost impossible despite an extensive nationwide search. However, the team eventually discovered a plot of land on the Uncompahgre River in Montrose, seeing it as a blank canvas for their dream brewstillery.

May 28, 2024 – Now going on six years, the Dragoo family is taking the longview on the Colorado Outdoors community. As Colorado Outdoors keeps growing, an emphasis will continue to be placed on attracting businesses to the area that contribute to the local community – essentially looking for projects that can embrace efforts such as restoration work on the Uncompahgre River, trail work or the new “pocket park,” just as easy as they can embrace a new hotel or restaurant.

May 22, 2024 – After months of construction, California-born Shelter Distilling finally opened its doors of its new 14,000 square foot flagship facility in Colorado Outdoors. The grand opening on May 18th saw a packed house for the entire day, nearly filling the space’s 200 seats inside and outdoors on the spacious riverfront patio.

May 15, 2024 – Family Time Spas, which was formed around eight years ago in Grand Junction, just celebrated its first year at the newer Montrose location within Colorado Outdoors. Family Time Spas carries hot tubs ranging from entry-level to luxury, providing Montrose locals just what they need after a long day of skiing, hiking, biking, and other Western Slope outdoor activities.

April 26, 2024 – The Fairfield by Marriott opened its doors last Thursday, April 18th in the Colorado Outdoors campus. Situated in a prime location close to downtown, the airport, and all the recreational activities Montrose has to offer (including the Connect Trail), the Fairfield aims to provide a comfortable and convenient stay for all visitors.

February 22, 2024 – Lamont Companies, the developer behind the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Montrose that will open within Colorado Outdoors this spring, is planning a second brand-name hotel within the campus. Developers presented the idea at a Montrose Urban Renewal Authority meeting Wednesday, with the plan of breaking ground in 2025 after operating the Marriott location for a year to get a sense of the local market.

February 6, 2024 – The City of Montrose recently approved a contract for the construction of a half-acre park within Colorado Outdoors near the Flex Buildings. A grant from the Colorado Health Foundation covers most of the cost for the riverside park, which will include landscaped areas, sidewalks, benches and boulders for sitting, and more to be added in the future.

September 29, 2023 – A new bar is officially open at Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ). Currently in the process of building a major facility within Colorado Outdoors, Shelter Distilling has expanded its reach to travelers flying through Montrose. You can find them on the second-level terminal, with 12-15 bar seats, a separate and more relaxed seating area, and their full menu – a huge selection of cocktails, 4-5 beers on tap, and a small wine menu.

August 22, 2023 – Montrose families will soon have even more high-quality medical care for their children right in town. Kids First Pediatrics will be making Montrose its home, with an 7,500 square-foot clinic on the Colorado Outdoors campus. The practice’s approach is welcoming and community-minded, promising to accept every patient that walks through the doors and refer to local physicians when appropriate.

August 16, 2023 – Secret Creek, local manufacturer of yurts, tipis, and tents, is excited to open its Yurt Village at Colorado Outdoors to overnight guests.

The yurts provide a unique lodging option for visitors to Montrose, as well as an opportunity to unwind along the Uncompahgre River.

April 26, 2023 – Shelter Distilling broke ground earlier this month on a 14,000 square feet distillery at the Colorado Outdoors campus in Montrose. The distillery is expected to open in January 2024.

April 26, 2023 – Looking back at when he first visited Montrose, David Dragoo says he knew Montrose, and the Colorado Outdoors, was a prime area for growth.

“We could do it right, or we could do it fast,” he said.

The project has moved along steadily, never fast, and Dragoo and co. have done their best to make sure it’s been done right.

April 11, 2023 – The annual Montrose Outlook publication has been released for 2023, in which readers find a variety of stories depicting the growth that is happening in Montrose.

Colorado Outdoors, the seed that was planted by David and Doug Dragoo along with the City of Montrose, Montrose Urban Renewal Association and Montrose Economic Development Council and others is starting to blossom.

April 5, 2023 – Shelter Distilling founders and employees poured drinks and posed with ceremonial shovels inside the Mayfly building at Colorado Outdoors on Monday, April 3, as stakeholders and guests celebrated Shelter’s official local groundbreaking.

March 10, 2023 – It’s nearly move-in time for those wanting to call Montrose’s newest river-front residential neighborhood home, as the first of the newly constructed Basecamp Apartments open for occupancy in the Montrose Urban Renewal Authority (MURA) development. Units within Building 1 are currently available with subsequent buildings nearing completion.

March 1, 2023 – Montrose Regional Airport took over the lead as the most-traveled airport on the western slope in 2022. The airport saw over 460,000 passengers last year, which was an increase of 20 percent from 2021. Additionally, Montrose Regional Airport is entering the final phases of a $37 million terminal expansion and remodel project. The estimated completion is early fall.

February 15, 2023 – With construction moving forward on multiple projects within the Colorado Outdoors Campus, the Montrose Urban Renewal Authority (MURA) has a lot to look forward to this year. MURA aids Colorado Outdoors with restoration of the land as well as the building of infrastructure.

February 7, 2023 – Starting this week, construction of the new Fairfield by Marriott hotel within the Colorado Outdoors development will enter a remarkable phase as heavy machinery begins lifting 54 modular building units into place. The hotel is set for completion later this year.

February 1, 2023 – The Montrose Recreation District has officially opened the doors of its newest facility, FlexRec, in the Colorado Outdoors campus. Dedicated to advanced functional fitness, the 5,500 square-foot space caters to casual gym-goers as well as high-performing outdoor athletes.

January 6, 2023 – The Colorado Outdoors Medical Center (COMC), a centerpiece to the Colorado Outdoors 164-acre economic development, is gaining ground in construction of the 50,000-square-foot facility that will provide quality, cost-effective outpatient care, clinical and administrative job opportunities, and millions of dollars to the city’s tax base.

October 4, 2022 – The City of Montrose was ranked among the nation’s most dynamic small cities, as reported in a detailed study by Heartland Forward. The study examined 536 metropolitans or those with populations between 10,000 and 50,000 people.

September 15, 2022 – Rowan Oak, an experiential hospitality company in Montrose, announced today its plans for expansion. Leveraging years of experience, Rowan Oak specializes in providing turn-key glamping products and custom event offerings to some of North America’s largest music festivals and events.

March 13, 2022 – Two developments on the Western Slope intended to spur economic activity were conceived around the same time. Sam Klomhaus writes on the success of the Montrose project.

March 1, 2022 – The Montrose Recreation District (MRD) is excited to announce the expansion of its facilities to the north end of Montrose within Colorado Outdoors.

February 9, 2022 – The Colorado Outdoors Medical Center (COMC), a partnership between several private surgeon groups, a national specialty healthcare provider, and Colorado Outdoors, was announced today.

March 1, 2022 – The Montrose Recreation District (MRD) is excited to announce the expansion of its facilities to the north end of Montrose within Colorado Outdoors.

January 20, 2022 – Shelter Distilling, a distillery, brewery, and kitchen currently located in Mammoth Lakes, California, announced plans on Wednesday to build a two-story, 23,000 square-foot facility within the Colorado Outdoors campus.

December 9, 2021 – The return on a mixture of public and private investment into the Montrose Urban Renewal Authority, MURA, is quickly becoming tangible as this prime riverfront area emerges as a magnet for new commercial, light-industrial, and residential development, which will help Montrose prosper for generations to come.

October 20, 2021 – Montrose Anglers, a local Montrose fly shop, online retailer and guide service, announced today its expansion plans at Colorado Outdoors.

September 27, 2021 – Colorado Outdoors is transforming an overlooked stretch along the Uncompahgre River in Montrose into a mixed-use manufacturing hub. Makers of everything from fishing gear to tents will feel right at home.

August 27, 2021 – Construction on the modular sections of the Fairfield by Marriott hotel within Colorado Outdoors is already underway, Jeff Lamont, CEO of Lamont Companies, said on Thursday. Construction of those sections is occurring off-site, in South Dakota where Lamont Companies is headquartered.

July 23, 2021 – Construction of over 30,000 square feet of new office and manufacturing space at Colorado Outdoors officially began yesterday for the Colorado Yurt Company (Colorado Yurt).

April 28, 2021 – (KKCO) -The Colorado Lottery is honoring the City of Montrose and the Montrose Recreation District for the completion of the Connecting the People to Their Parks and Recreation “Connect Trail” project.

April 23, 2021 – The City of Montrose & Colorado Outdoors marked the completion of its Uncompahgre River Improvement project Thursday afternoon, at the North Ninth Street trailhead, just steps away from the improved river channel.

April 9, 2021 – The City of Montrose, in partnership with the Montrose Urban Renewal Authority (MURA), announced Wednesday the successful approval of an $853,935 permanent horizontal site improvement incentive to make way for a new, 30,000 square-foot manufacturing facility and 3.4-acre campus for the Colorado Yurt Company.

April 6, 2021 – Construction of 55,000 square feet of new showroom, warehouse, office, and distribution space at Colorado Outdoors officially began today. The project kickstarts what is expected to be several major commercial and residential projects for 2021 within the Colorado Outdoors Project (COP).

February 9, 2021 – As outdoor brands look to reshore production, they’re finding mountain towns and rural communities are not only great places to test gear, they can also support tech-fueled manufacturing operations.

November 19, 2020 – Restoration of 3,400 feet of the Uncompahgre River is now underway through the city of Montrose on the Western Slope.  The $1.6 million restoration project is a multi-year public-private partnership focused on ecological enhancements.

June 29, 2020 – Colorado Parks and Wildlife has selected the City of Montrose to receive a $284,588 Fishing is Fun grant for the Uncompahgre River Improvements Project in the Colorado Outdoors project.

May 25, 2020 – Wedge Brands, LLC announced today plans to build a 76,000 square foot logistics and distribution center for the outdoor industry on the Colorado Outdoors campus.

April 30, 2020 – Colorado Outdoors Pearl Fund, LP announced today it has made the largest opportunity zone venture investment to date in the country by investing $1MM dollars from it’s newly formed qualified opportunity zone business fund into outdoor industry holding company, Wedge Brands, LLC.

March 20, 2020 – Colorado Outdoors, the local Montrose riverfront economic development project, announced today the company has paid off the Montrose County School District (MCSD) elementary and early childhood lunch balances.

January 22, 2020 -Development agreements for a new hotel and a multi-family housing project were given the green light this week by the Montrose Urban Renewal Authority (MURA) and Montrose City Council. Both projects are set to begin later this year in Colorado Outdoors.

January 17, 2020 – The City of Montrose is pleased to announce the new Connect Initiative Recreation Trail is complete and now open to the public. The trail adds 2.25 miles of new recreation trails to the city’s trail network, and runs along the Uncompahgre river adjacent to the Colorado Outdoors project.

December 13, 2019 – Montrose and The Pearl Fund both earned national recognition by Forbes magazine as one of The Forbes OZ 20: Top Opportunity Zone Catalysts, a partnership between the Sorenson Impact Center and the namesake magazine.

November 19, 2019 – The Pearl Fund, the nation’s first Opportunity Zone Venture Capital Fund, is pleased its newest member to the fund, The Colorado Outdoors Pearl Fund.

October 24, 2019 – Montrose and Grand Junction are at the forefront of new investment through the tax program created to bolster growth in rural and low-income areas.

October 2, 2019 – For companies with outdoor products or services, Colorado has emerged as one of the trendiest places to set up shop. Now that Denver hosts Outdoor Retailer three times a year, the state has growing cachet with the industry’s biggest and brightest businesses.

September 25, 2019 – Earlier this month, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) approved the City of Montrose’s grant request of $60,000 from the State Basin Fund and $40,000 from the Gunnison Basin Roundtable.

July 1, 2019 – David Dragoo, president and founder of Colorado Outdoors, a multi-use riverfront economic development project serving the outdoor recreation industry, has been appointed by Colorado Sen. Leroy M. Garcia, Jr., Senate President, to the Colorado Economic Development Commission.

April 22, 2019 – The Montrose Urban Renewal Authority (MURA) was formally established in late 2016 to revitalize the northern end of Montrose. MURA encompasses approximately 164 acres of property along the Uncompahgre River, just northwest of downtown. Last week, the Downtown Colorado, Inc. awarded the 2019 Governor’s Award for Downtown Excellence to MURA as Best Urban Renewal Project.

April 14 , 2019 – The new Mayfly headquarters has enabled better equipment to be produced faster than ever before, according to Mayfly Outdoors Vice President Craig Baker.

March 10, 2019 – A new stretch on the Uncompahgre River near Mayfly Outdoors will become the destination for fly fishermen, kayakers and even bikers.

February 1, 2019 – Layers of federal, state, city incentives luring outdoor companies, including one of Colorado’s first Opportunity Zone investment projects.

January 16, 2019 – Jimmy Atkinson of OpportunityDb (The Opportunity Zones Database) interviews John Renfrow and David Dragoo in Episode #7. The interview covers the 164-acre Colorado Outdoors project, aiming to transform Montrose and provide a positive social impact for the community.

December 28, 2018 – Montrose City Councilors have approved the final plat of the Colorado Outdoors development, opening new investment opportunities for developers and businesses looking to expand in Montrose.

December 18, 2018 – Funds for the construction of over two miles of new recreation trail connecting Colorado Outdoors and the southern ends of the City of Montrose were approved Tuesday evening.

November 19, 2018 – David Dragoo’s two companies own 164 acres of former farmland along the Uncompahgre River near downtown Montrose, Colorado. He’s planning to redevelop the area by adding a hotel, apartments, space for outdoor recreation businesses and a path along the river.

November 14, 2018 – State representatives from the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) visited Montrose and Mayfly Outdoors’ headquarters to promote Colorado’s Opportunity Zones and capture vital economic data from the community’s resurgence.