Aspen Chamber Resort Association and Wheeler Opera House Partners in First-Ever Colorado Historic Opera House Circuit

(ASPEN, COLO, Nov. 3, 2021) – Aspen Chamber Resort Association and Wheeler Opera House are proud to partners in the first-ever Colorado Historic Opera Houses Circuit, a joint promotion of five mountain opera houses. The program is supported by a $40,000 grant from the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO). The CTO has awarded a 2022 Marketing Matching Grant to build this new cultural heritage travel offering. The project will share the performances, programs, history, and stories of these opera houses, which were built between 1878 and 1913 and retain their original character.

The Circuit will feature a map, website, and other promotions to attract visitors interested in history, arts and culture, live entertainment, and private event rentals. It will include practical information on how to visit the opera houses and will promote the destinations and related travel attractions in the rural cities where the opera houses sit.

The following organizations are Circuit partners:

• Aspen Chamber Resort Association
• Central City Opera
• City of Central City
• City of Ouray
• Gilpin Historical Society
• Lake County Tourism Panel
• Sheridan Opera House
• Tabor Opera House Preservation Foundation
• The Wright Opera House
• Wheeler Opera House

“Aspen Chamber Resort Association is excited at the announcement of the Historic Opera Houses Grant,” says Eliza Voss, Vice President Destination Marketing. “This collaboration, not only with our beloved Wheeler Opera House, but other historic opera houses across the state, allows us to reach the niche traveler interested in this unique aspect of our cultural heritage and celebrate today’s offerings at these venues as well as the charming towns, in which they are located, and all they have to offer.”

Wheeler Opera House Executive Director Lisa Rigsby Peterson says, “The Wheeler has been the pride of Aspen from the time it was built in 1889. That over a hundred and thirty years later visitors can come not just to our jewel of a theatre but also to other communities across the state who are lucky enough to have historic opera houses, makes us even more proud. We can’t wait to welcome visitors on the Historic Opera Houses circuit to Aspen and the Wheeler to see what makes these buildings so very special.”

About the Colorado Tourism Office Marketing Matching Grant

The grant program awards funding to eligible applicants for projects that promote the state as a tourism destination, supporting CTO’s mission to “drive traveler spending through promotion and development of compelling, sustainable travel experiences throughout our four-corner state.” Additionally, these grants may be used for marketing projects that support better destination management such as educating visitors on how to recreate responsibly.

Project work will begin in January 2022 and will spur future economic development and recovery for the tourism industry throughout the year and beyond. The CTO’s Marketing Matching Grant Program awards grants up to $40,000 and applicants must demonstrate a 2:1 match, including an in-kind match of up to 20 percent. All participating organizations are equal partners; the Lake County Tourism Panel is the formal project lead.

ABOUT WHEELER OPERA HOUSE: 

Since 1889, the Wheeler Opera House has been Aspen’s community performance venue and has become the Roaring Fork Valley’s premiere site for concerts, movies, festivals, lectures, community events, opera, and more. In recent years, the Wheeler has been a leader in producing exceptional festivals in Aspen, celebrating the comedy arts, global issues, and the craft of songwriting.