Riverview RV Park - Loveland, CO (Update)

[Lauren]

I have always highly recommended Riverview RV Park in Loveland, CO for visits to Estes Park in that the parks in Estes have degenerated so much after the last few years - owner faults, not nature faults.

I called for an update at Riverview this morning as they got hit badly with that massive flood coming down the Big Thompson Canyon (Hwy 34) here this last fall. They are at the bottom of the canyon just where it then goes into flatland -- so it really, really dumped on them.

They are re-building the riverbank now as best they can with the spring runoff occurring. Also re-building sites. They will have some sites open this summer to visitors but the majority of their sites opening will be for their long term people.

God willing, they will be fully re-built for the 2015 season.

You can follow their progress on Facebook.

They are good people with a great place so our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to them.

Lauren

[Thom02099]

Another irony, showing the fickle nature of floods...

The Dam Store, the first/last business (depending on your perspective) at the mouth of the canyon, a souvenir shop famous for their t-shirts, was untouched and open for business shortly after the flood. The tower is still standing to view the falls there, but the falls themselves were significantly impacted.

[Lauren]

I know all that area very well - Inn of Glen Haven and the General Store were two of our favorites -- one for dinner and one for the rolls! I have seen video of all those roads you mention; truly hard to comprehend.

Unless someone has been thru something like this they have absolutely no conception of the destruction.

Lots of fires up that way in the past due a lot to the pine beetle kill somewhat (turns to the trees to dry tinder) and that only makes flooding easier.

For those who do not know, the Big Thompson River comes down from Estes to Loveland in about 20 miles; the last section of which is called The Narrows - high walls and very narrow; sharing only the river and Hwy 34 the last couple of miles. Then wide open to the Ranch and the RV Park on each side of the highway. The water coming out of there to them must have been unreal.

The good news, if any, was that there was almost no loss of life in the disaster.

[Thom02099]

Lauren wrote:
Having lived in Estes for 8 years we know the area well and still have friends there who sent us video that was not public. You simply cannot imagine the devastation to property and lives. And point well made above - the RV park and the ranch are right at the bottom of the canyon walls and got the full force coming out.

But they will be back!

As they say up there...Canyon Strong !

Lauren, you would not believe what it looks like going up to Glen Haven. It's just heartbreaking the amount of damage. Are you familiar with the Stage Stop store and campground in Drake? The store survived, but the RV spaces were nearly all wiped out. Heading up the Glen Haven Rd from Drake, is like going back in time; there are whole sections where the road and everything around it were completely washed away. And coming DOWN the Glen Haven Rd from Estes, you don't have any idea of the destruction til you get just outside of Glen Haven, and then it gets worse as you head in to where the General Store is/was (it was moved off it's foundation or looks that way).

They too will be back ! ! !

[Lauren]

Having lived in Estes for 8 years we know the area well and still have friends there who sent us video that was not public. You simply cannot imagine the devastation to property and lives. And point well made above - the RV park and the ranch are right at the bottom of the canyon walls and got the full force coming out.

But they will be back!

[Thom02099]

The thing about floods, the videos and news reports don't do them justice, the magnitude of their destructive power. The damage to this park was significant, moreso than most locations other than the Sylvan Dale Ranch, both of which sit east of the mouth of the Big T. And the damage looks like it was selective...Riverview damaged, Fireside untouched (in fairness, it sits a bit higher on a bluff); Glade Park destroyed, but Fort Namaqua untouched. When I was last by there, the folks at Riverview were working dilligently to get the mess cleaned up as best they can. Here's hoping they can at least get partially open this year.

And to add on a bit, CDOT is now starting some additional construction in the Big Thompson Canyon/US 34. Not as extensive as US36 out of Lyons to Estes Park, but blasting some rocks for hillside stabilization. Right now, there's some delays in getting up the canyon but nothing significant. They want to get this done before the spring thaw and runoff, which is still several weeks away.

EDIT: Dang, did it again!! RiverVIEW, the subject of this thread. RiverBEND, which is further up the canyon and quite a bit smaller, was totally destroyed for the sites, but the buildings remain.

[wanderingdawgs]

Thank you so much for posting this info. We spent two nights there last summer in one of their river front sites and really enjoyed it. We were so sad to see the videos of the floods and the damage to the RV park which occurred just a couple of weeks after we left. So happy to hear there is some progress being made.

[magnusfide]

Thanks for the HT, Lauren.