Moffat Tunnel oil-train decision now at Supreme Court

PAGE 6 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALL PAGE 7 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALLAugust 21, 2025

BH glamping site eyes opening in September

The Nest at Black Hawk,

a luxury overnight lodging

neighborhood featuring

geodesic domes, is targeting a

mid-September opening.

In fact, social media buzz

– and a 25 percent online

discount code – are causing

pre-bookings to pile up quick-

ly, according to company rep-

resentatives who addressed

Black Hawk City Council

during its meeting last week.

Initially, the site on Gregory

Hill will feature 27 private

domes, with an additional 23

planned for the final construc-

tion phase. The city council

approved The Nest’s liquor

license during the meeting,

allowing the developer, Club

Vista II, to serve alcohol in its

“Entertainment Dome” event

center and deliver it to guests

staying in the two different

sizes of geodesic structures

that offer scenic views of na-

ture at 8,655 feet. The ameni-

ties will include private bath-

rooms, sleeping arrangements

for up to four people, and a

pet-friendly environment.

Michael Overland, oper-

ating manager, and Angela

Euston, hospitality manager,

told the council that their

previous work experience

included working at Disney

World will help them deliver

excellent customer service

to the patrons who make the

mile-long drive from Black

Hawk’s casino district to the

top of Gregory Hill, where The

Nest is located at 990 Miners

Road.

According to the company,

The Nest at Black Hawk will

offer an on-site convenience

store, free shuttles to down-

town Black Hawk, in-dome

meal delivery, eight outdoor

communal fire pits, outdoor

seating and picnic areas, ham-

mocks and telescope access

for stargazing sessions.

Originally, The Nest was

ing-resort plans.

former mining claims

for $120,000 from the

Branecki Family Trust.

The claims, named Banzi,

Banzi South, and After

Supper, are near the

city’s Dory Hill wa-

ter-treatment plant.

• Also approved was a

$256,000 contract with

JVA Inc., which will engi-

neer a final design for the

upcoming Bobtail Surge

Tank along Bobtail Road.

City Water Resources

said the surge tank will

help prevent fluctuating

water pressures currently

experienced in parts of

the city.

• Fire Chief Christopher

Woolley and City Clerk

plained the potential

costly risks for the city if

Black Hawk ever con-

sidered hosting large

fireworks displays again

in the future. Woolley

said a growing number of

dying trees—blamed on

Mountain Pine Beetles—

could help spread fires

from burning fireworks

embers. He noted the

city has spent hundreds

of thousands of dollars

on fire mitigation with

city-owned trees in recent

years, even as the pine

beetle problem continues

to grow at an increasingly

rapid rate.

Greiner mentioned that

the city’s insurance provider

would cover no more than $10

million in damages if Black

Hawk launched fireworks

displays that caused wildfires.

She noted that this amount

would be tiny compared to

the Marshall Fire in Boulder

County, which caused over a

billion dollars in damages.

City Manager Stephen Cole

said Black Hawk has created

a letter that explains why the

city won’t consider bringing

back its gigantic and popular

“Boom Town” fireworks show,

which were discontinued

several years ago during the

pandemic. (Note: A copy of

the letter being sent to casi-

nos and commercial property

owners. It is posted online.)

Mayor David Spellman said

using drone light shows

to replace fireworks

but found no suitable

location to launch the

could be seen across

the city. He mentioned

laser-light show near

Gregory Plaza in 2026,

when the nation cele-

statehood.

city police for their

quick response after

in recent weeks.

Angela Euston and Michael Eveland of “The Nest at Black Hawk” were invited

to ring the historic bell at Black Hawk City Council Chambers last week. The bell

ringing signals the start of bi-monthly council meetings to the community. During

the session, city council approved a lodging liquor license for the luxury glamping

neighborhood on Gregory Hill, with the first phase opening in September.

Photo by Don Ireland

Angela Euston and Michael Eveland of “The Nest at Black

Hawk” were invited to ring the historic bell at Black Hawk City

Council Chambers last week. The bell ringing signals the start

of bi-monthly council meetings to the community. During the

session, city council approved a lodging liquor license for the

luxury glamping neighborhood on Gregory Hill, with the first

phase opening in September.

Photo by Don Ireland

A free Gilpin Astro Day will

be hosted from 1 to 4 p.m.

tomorrow (Friday, Aug. 22) by

the Friends of Gilpin County

Community Center. The event

at the Gilpin rec center will offer

children an opportunity to learn

about astronomy and stargaz-

ing.

Star shows will be presented

in an inflatable dome, spon-

sored by the University of

Colorado’s Fiske Planetarium.

The CU representatives will

also bring a solar telescope

that enables people to catch

a safe view of the sun. Space

and astronomy-related talks

will be in the multi-purpose

room.

Later that night, there will

be a star party beginning at

7:30 p.m. at Reverend Ridge

campground in Golden Gate

State Park.

waste-transfer station will

be closed on Sunday, Aug. 31

(Labor Day weekend).

Local post offices and

governmental offices will be

closed on Monday, Sept. 1, for

Labor Day. The closings will

impact Gilpin County, Central

City and Black Hawk.

the Commissioners” event

from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday,

Aug. 26.

The meeting will be in the

Monte Lobo restaurant, bar

and arcade, 131 Main St.,

Central City. Commission-

ers Jeff Aiken (District 1),

Susan Berumen (District 2)

and Sandy Hollingsworth

(District 3) are scheduled to

attend. The BoCC will hear

about issues or topics that

are on residents’ minds. The

results of July’s “Quality

of Life & Communications

Survey,” also will be dis-

cussed.

Gilpin County Democrat-

ic Committee will hold its

annual fundraiser from 2 to

5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24,

at the Gilpin County Arts

p.m.

ers will be U.S.

Senator Dylan Roberts, Col-

orado State Representative

Leslie Smith, State Attorney

General Phil Weiser and

District Attorney Michael

Dougherty. Admission is $25

a person, with children admit-

ted free.

Retired senior judge Gary

Jackson will be a guest speak-

er who will give a presentation

on the history of the Lincoln

Hills neighborhood of Gilpin

County. Lincoln Hills, estab-

lished more than a century

ago, was the first mountain re-

treat for Black Americans and

has gained national historical

recognition in recent years.

For additional information

on party events, visit Gilpin-

countydems.org.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on Aug.

16, Timberline Fire Protec-

tion District was dispatched

to a report of a house on fire

near Roy’s Last Shot. The

first units were on scene

within eight minutes. With

the help of firefighters and

Gilpin County deputies, a

victim was quickly removed

from near the front door. That

victim was transported to the

hospital for smoke inhalation.

The other two occupants were

uninjured.

After removing the victim,

crews made an aggressive

interior fire attack, containing

the fire to the room of origin

and the hallway. The rest of

the house sustained extensive

smoke damage. Firefighters

said functioning smoke detec-

tors in all three bedrooms and

sleeping with the bedroom

doors closed saved the lives of

the occupants.

The cause of the fire is

under investigation. Assisting

TPFD was the Gilpin County

Sheriff’s Office, Nederland

Fire, Golden Gate Fire, Black

Hawk Fire and Gilpin Ambu-

lance.

High Country Auxiliary will

hold its annual flea market

from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on

Friday, Sept. 5, and 8 a.m. to

2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, in

the Barn, 230 Norton Drive in

mid-county.

Those who wish to donate

vintage items and collectibles,

kitchenware, framed pic-

tures and décor, refurbished

bicycles, toys, tools, games,

suitcases, books and some fur-

niture can drop them off from

3 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 3 and 8

a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 4.

Proceeds raised will be

donated to help support first

responders in the county. For

information about donating,

email HCA80422@gmail.

com.

Charlie’s Place is offering

help for owners who have

training and behavior questions

about their dog. Each Saturday

between noon and 1 p.m., Gina

DeStaffany, a certified trainer

from The Joyful Dog Company,

will be at the Clear Creek An-

imal Shelter to field questions

from dog owners.

The no-kill animal shelter,

which serves Gilpin and Clear

Creek Counties, is at 500 W.

Dumont Road, Dumont. For

information, call 303-679-

2477.

– By Don Ireland

Moffat Tunnel oil-train decision now at Supreme Court

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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