Estes Park
A Mountain Town above the Rest
Well over a mile above sea level sits Estes Park, basecamp to Rocky Mountain National Park and host to nearly 4.5 million tourists each year. The year-round destination entices adventurers, explorers, photographers and connoisseurs who enjoy local breweries, wineries and distilleries as well as fine dining.
No surprise then that tourism – retail, hospitality, dining and outdoor adventure – is the town’s largest industry, followed by health care. Though visitors come and go, locals provide the foundation for the community, ensuring the town’s economy vitality. Over 2,000 local residents commute to jobs outside the Estes Valley, with about 4,500 residents who live and work in Estes. YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park Health, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park R-3 School District and the Town of Estes Park are among the area’s top employers. Also on the list is the famous and infamous Stanley Hotel, the setting for Stephen King’s “The Shining.” The Estes Valley Community Center opened in 2018, providing access to a wealth of indoor recreation amenities and activities, complementing access to outdoor recreation throughout the Estes Valley.
Recently, Estes Park has emerged as a place for startups who are taking advantage of the region’s dense entrepreneur network and Estes Park EDC is launching new E-Center programming in 2019.