Stories in this list received the most page views on postindependent.com from Jan. 5-Jan 12.

1. Basalt’s MovieLand to close its doors

MovieLand 7, one of only a few movie theaters operating in the Roaring Fork Valley, will be closing its doors for movies before the end of January after more than 34 years in business. 

MovieLand was established in the fall of 1991 when Charles Moss, a real-estate and entertainment entrepreneur, began spending time in the Roaring Fork Valley with his family. He eventually moved his family to the valley full-time a few months before opening the El Jebel theater. Charles died in September 2025. 

“He (Charles) built MovieLand, along with the Orchard Plaza commercial condominiums that sit in front of it, and the retail center that sits next to City Market, all in 1991,” said Ben Moss, Charles’ son and owner of Bow Tie Partners. “There were cows on it and El Jebel was nowhere near the center of activity it is today. I remember distinctly at the time that he had a vision that El Jebel would at some point become a major hub of activity.” 

-Colin Suszynski 

2. A tiny Colorado town has approved a $120 million purchase of a ski resort on the Ikon Pass

A small Colorado town of about 1,500 people is closing in on a deal to purchase a popular ski area on the Front Range.

Nederland’s board of trustees voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve an asset purchase agreement outlining a $120 million price tag for the purchase of Eldora Mountain Resort. The trustees also unanimously approved a transition services agreement.

“This is really exciting,” Nederland Mayor Billy Giblin said. “It is just the beginning of an exciting process and, as trustees, we’ve been doing this for the past year. The dedication to a thorough evaluation of this has been incredibly serious. We’ve really taken this on as the future of our town.”

-Ryan Spencer 

3. LIFT-UP opens new Rifle food pantry

LIFT-UP, a local food security nonprofit, celebrated the opening of its new Rifle pantry with a ribbon cutting Friday morning.

Previously located at 800 Railroad Ave., the pantry is now on the second floor of the Rifle Branch Library. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays.

“We are very thankful to Garfield County Libraries, specifically the Rifle Branch Library, for allowing us the space,” Hannah Snaza, LIFT-UP programs manager, told guests at the ribbon cutting Friday morning. “It’s very welcoming in here. I don’t know if you all have seen our other pantry, but it was a little tighter and a little darker, so this will be really nice for our guests. I’m very excited to see how it’s received today.”

-Julianna O’Clair 

4. Parachute man building future with degree in construction management from Colorado Mesa University

Blue collar jobs are most of the Western Slope’s workforce, skills that ask for physical labor and quick-thinking, but it’s a misconception to think that you can’t get a degree in those things, like Parachute local Hector de la Cruz-Rodriguez is showing you can. 

“I grew up in Parachute and graduated from Grand Valley High School,” de la Cruz-Rodriguez said. “I was planning on being a salesman, maybe buying and selling shoes, but my marketing classes just went in one ear and out the other.”

He originally went to Greensborough College in North Carolina. His family is originally from Chapel Hill in North Carolina. In 2007, they came to Parachute and have been there ever since. 

-Katherine Tomanek 

5. Colorado Parks and Wildlife launches potential hunting opportunity for wild bison

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is creating a roster where individuals can sign up for a bison hunting license. 

Interested hunters can apply to be added to the list, which will only be used if management action — such as preventing property of agricultural damage — is required for wild bison that enter Colorado. The state is not creating a regular hunting season for bison. 

Colorado is not home to any herds of wild bison after the species was systematically killed across the West in the 1800s. 

-Ali Longwell