Lift-Up: “A beaming light in a trying time of darkness”

As most people familiar with Music on the Mountain know, we partner with the non-profit organization Lift-Up for Can for a Tram, a program that collects cans of food at the tram base at every concert. We also collect turkeys in November for Lift-Up’s Thanksgiving meals during our Turkey-Tram-a-Ganza event. We thought we would shine a spotlight on this important organization that’s helped thousands of people all over the region!

Lift-Up began during the oil shale boom in Rifle, when workers flooded into the area, looking for jobs but living in cars and under bridges. In the ensuing oil shale bust in the 1980s, Lift-Up was invaluable when Exxon closed overnight and 2,000 people were suddenly unemployed. Ever since, they’ve been a facilitator for the community to respond to people in need.

While food collection and donation is a big part of their program, they do much more. “Lift-Up’s mission is to provide essential humanitarian assistance in the communities we serve,” says Kim Loving, Lift-Up’s director. “We serve the unemployed, underemployed and homeless in our communities.”

To show the impact they have, let’s look at the year 2015: in that year alone, Lift-Up gave out over 35,000 bags of groceries! They assisted 42,872  people in 2015 with everything from groceries, prescriptions, thrift store vouchers, bus passes, emergency help, and soup kitchen meals. Last year, Lift-Up assembled and distributed 1,738 food baskets during the holidays. “To me, our numbers served show the impact we have on the community,” Loving points out.

There are also the personal stories that put a face to the individuals that Lift-Up helps. Take the case of Lisa (name changed for privacy), a struggling mother who was at her wit’s end:
“This past winter, we found ourselves in need of help. We had mounting medical bills due to a sick child, and I was sick myself. This resulted in numerous ER visits and surgeries. We didn’t have medical insurance at the time so the bills added up quickly. We paid $800 a month in medical bills on top of a mortgage and other various bills. Soon, we were struggling to keep food in the pantry and on the table. In November, one of our debtors decided to raise our bill significantly, and would sue us if we didn’t keep up. This was most of our budget for food. We had no choice but to swallow our pride and reach out for help. I reached out to a friend who told me about Lift-Up and what it was all about. I remember crying all the way down to Lift-Up, thanking God that there was someplace that could help us keep our children fed.

When we arrived, I didn’t know what to expect. Debi, a Lift-Up employee, was so wonderful and just started filling boxes and bags of food for our family. She was so sweet and caring. There was no judgement; just love.
Lift Up helped us get through Thanksgiving and Christmas. They helped me with jackets and snow pants for my kids, so they could be warm during winter. We are so grateful for Lift-Up and what they did for our family. They were a beaming light in a trying time of darkness. We appreciate them and we are eternally grateful for providing what we needed and for their love and compassion.”

The organization is always trying to branch out and fulfill needs that aren’t being taken care of. Lift-Up began a new Mobile Friday Lunch program last November, in collaboration with the school district. Kids going to Garfield RE2 schools only go four days a week, so Lift-Up makes and distributes a nutritious sack lunch at three lower-income locations in Rifle on the days when school is not in session.

“We have distributed over 1,800 lunches so far in 2016. This program has been such a blessing for Lift-Up. I personally enjoy handing out the lunches to the kids. They have been so thankful and a joy to be around!” exclaims Loving.

During Turkey Tram-a-Ganza, people donating turkeys get free tram rides to the top of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

“I would encourage anyone who can to come join us and hand out lunches on Fridays. We start at 11:00 at Davidson Park in Rifle and end up at Joyce Park at 12:00. The middle stop is Cottonwood Springs Park, which begins at 11:30. The smiles and thank you’s are so worth it, even when it is really cold out.”

If you’d like to donate to Lift-Up in other ways, Loving says, “we are always in need of donated food items or even gift cards from grocery stores, where we can purchase meat for the pantries. Monetary donations are welcomed too!” A full list of items Lift-Up always wants on their shelves can help guide you.

“I would like the community to know that all of Lift-Ups’s programs wouldn’t be possible without the support we have received. I can’t ever thank everyone enough,” Loving concluded.

Bring at least one can of food to donate to Lift-Up and receive a FREE tram ride to the top for Music on the Mountain this weekend, and every Music on the Mountain show in the future. Thank you for making a positive impact on our community! For more information about upcoming concerts, visit Music on the Mountain.

Music on the Mountain is back!

Our popular concert series returns August 20th after a mid-summer hiatus! Music on the Mountain, showcasing local and regional bands, has been a staple in the Glenwood Springs, Colorado live music scene for eight seasons now. Music on the Mountain also helps to serve the community. By collecting canned goods for Lift-Up in exchange for a free tram ride to the top, we’ve been able to donate thousands of cans to needy families in the Roaring Fork Valley. In the 2016 season alone, our Can for a Tram program has collected 2,571 cans so far!

Kicking off the August concerts is Fifty50, a local rock band who have won many Local’s Choice Awards over the years. Beth Getzen Stoltzfus, Dave Stoltzfus, Dale Loper, Jerry Larsen and Tom Mercer play covers of favorite tunes and original music, and they’re known for a special blend of instrumental energy and unique harmonies.

They’ll be followed the next week by the Gerry Goodman Band, a rockin’ trio that plays classic rock. The band specializes in Stevie Ray Vaughan tunes, paying tribute to one of the most influential electric guitarists of all time.

Music on the Mountain returns August 20th with Fifty50

September 10th brings us “A Tribute to Bob Dylan and The Band.” This special night will bring together a select group of valley musicians to honor Americana music at its best. Folk, rock, bluegrass and gospel music blend together for a magical evening!

September 11th, a special Sunday show, showcases The Orchard and New Creation Church. Bringing faith-based music to the mountain, these local church groups will celebrate worship and spirituality with their passionate, uplifting music.

On September 17th, Fifty50 makes a return to Music on the Mountain, bringing back their infectious enthusiasm and love for music.

The Missing Link Band will close out the 2016 Music on the Mountain series on September 24th. Fans love this local band for their diverse sound and energetic performances. It’s been a tradition for the Missing Link Band to play the last show of the season, and they always make it a party!

Don’t forget to bring at least one can of food to donate for a free tram ride to the top, where there will be amazing views, great food and drink specials waiting for you. Can for a Tram starts at 4pm and music is from 6 to 10pm (except for the Sunday show with The Orchard and New Creation Church, which has a Can for a Tram start at 2pm and music from 4 to 8pm). For more information, visit Music on the Mountain.

August 16th is National Roller Coaster Day!

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 16th and get ready to scream: it’s National Roller Coaster Day! We will  be celebrating at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park by riding the nation’s highest roller coaster, the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster. There will be prize giveaways, including Annual Thrill Passes for the 100th and 300th Cliffhanger riders!

At a whopping 7,100 feet above sea level, the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster overlooks Glenwood Canyon and the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Riding the Cliffhanger is a breathtaking experience with unbelievable views, and it’s the perfect way to celebrate roller coasters!

 

The Cliffhanger Roller Coaster offers incredible views and huge thrills!

National Roller Coaster Day 2016 celebrates 138 years of roller coasters, starting in 1878 when a U.S. patent was awarded to Richard Knudsen and J.G. Taylor for a design that would eventually be called a wooden roller coaster. Roller coasters enjoyed a boom in popularity in the late 1910s and early 1920s. The most famous of the roller coasters from that era is the historic Coney Island Cyclone, built in 1927, which is still in operation today.

Today, wood and steel roller coasters are bigger and better than ever. The Kingda Ka Coaster, in the Six Flags Great Adventure Park, is the word’s highest coaster. Kingda Ka is 456 feet off the ground; about 23 giraffes stacked on top of each other! The coaster drops 416 feet from the first hill: not for the faint of heart!

Have the need for speed? The Formula Rossa coaster in Dubai is the world’s fastest roller coaster, with a top speed of 149 miles per hour. Riding the Formula Rossa, you’ll experience the same g-forces as Formula 1 drivers!

Roller coasters provide all different kinds of experiences, but they have one thing in common: they are all a lot of fun! We’re excited to be a part of National Roller Coaster Day, and we hope you’ll join us on August 16th for roller coaster thrills! We will be open from 10am to 6pm. Regular admission applies. For more information, visit our park info page.

Beatles music & fire performances kick off Music on the Mountain

It’s that time of the year again in Glenwood Springs, Colorado: live music season! Music on the Mountain, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park’s free mountaintop music series, returns this weekend for its 8th year. We can’t wait for another season of great music, mountaintop dancing and summertime enjoyment.

It all kicks off this Friday, May 27, with Doctor Robert. It’s become a tradition to start Music on the Mountain with this Crested Butte-based Beatles tribute band. Doctor Robert has well over 100 (and counting) Beatles tunes in its catalog. The four-member group celebrates the Fab Four in style with high energy, retro dress and a true love for playing the music. You will certainly have a great time bopping along and you can be sure that they sound amazing wherever they perform. That may be down to the Graham Slee HiFi equipment they use. The fun they have on-stage is always infectious!

Doctor Robert kicks off Music on the Mountain’s 8th season

To add to the celebration this year, Maciej Mrotek will perform the Dance of the Sacred Fire at 8:20 and 9 p.m. Mrotek and his team manipulate fire to create innovative, mesmerizing shows. Dance of the Sacred Fire has been performed on national and international stages, and we can’t wait to see it for ourselves. This magical performance is not to be missed!

Every year, Music on the Mountain, through the Can for a Tram program, raises thousands of cans of food for the Lift-Up community food pantry. This grassroots non-profit is committed to making sure no one in our Valley goes hungry. They truly “lift up” those in need, and Glenwood Caverns has been able to collect more than 53,700 food items for them since Music on the Mountain began in 2009.

The park is buzzing with activity, summer rides are open and the Summer Funday Pass is back. Come for the day to soar through the air on our Giant Canyon Swing or zoom across the cliff on the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster. Stay for an evening of music, fire, drink specials and merriment!

Bring at least one can of food to donate to Lift-Up for a free tram ride to the top. For more information, please visit Music on the Mountain. Hope to see you there!

It’s Game Time!

The big game is almost here! Whether you bleed Broncos orange and blue, will be rooting for the Carolina Panthers, or are just in it for the snacks, Sunday is a good chance to kick back, relax, and enjoy the day and catch up on some fantasy football news before the big game.

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is the spot to be for the Broncos-Panthers showdown! We’ll be offering appetizer specials, game-time drink specials for kids of all ages with a spinning drink wheel, and football face painting for the kids. Get a free tram ride to the top by printing off this coupon and bringing it with you (or showing it on your phone).

In celebration of the big day, here are a few random fun facts about this year’s game:

• Behind Thanksgiving, tomorrow will be the second-highest day for food consumption in the country. Americans will consume around one billion chicken wings, four million pizzas, and 325 million gallons of beer!

• For the Star Wars fans out there, Denver quarterback Peyton Manning was once named by a Star Wars author as the NFL member “most likely to be a Jedi knight.” Additionally, his nickname with the Colts was R2D2!

• Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is a pescatarian; he eats fish but not meat.

• This Sunday will mark the first time that two quarterbacks who were No. 1 overall draft picks will face off in the biggest football event of the year. Payton Manning was a No. 1 draft pick in 1998, and Cam Newton was a No. 1 draft pick in 2011, this would make anyone who had them picked for their fantasy football team (read more here https://www.draftkings.com/fantasy-football) very happy.

• Additionally, their age difference is a new record: at 39 years and 26 years respectively, Manning and Newton’s age gap is the largest ever between quarterbacks at the big game.

• Finally, a 30-second commercial spot during the game will cost advertisers a record-breaking $5 million dollars!

Sunday’s weather forecast in Glenwood Springs, CO is meant to be around 40 degrees and sunny; it’s downright balmy weather for February! It’s a great opportunity to come up and enjoy the Alpine Coaster and Soaring Eagle Zip Ride before the game starts at 4:30. Click here for more info on tickets and hours. Hope to see you up here for the big game!

Winter on the Mountain at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Welcome to Winter on the Mountain at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park! Join us on top of Iron Mountain in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, for a sparkling display of a half million lights, lighted thrill rides, a giant musical Christmas tree, tram rides, fire pits for roasting s’mores, live music, visits from Santa and more.

Evenings at Winter on the Mountain begin as you ride the Iron Mountain Tramway from the floor of the Roaring Fork Valley up to the Adventure Park, rising above the lights of Glenwood Springs. At the top, you’re treated to one of the largest light displays on the Western Slope. Lights on the tracks for the state’s longest Alpine Coaster and on the Soaring Eagle Zip Ride enable you to enjoy these thrill rides at night as well as during the daytime, and holiday-themed lighting inside Glenwood Caverns make the King’s Row Tour even more colorful than usual.

Fire pits in the plaza are a natural gathering place to warm the hands and roast s’mores, with a tempting selection of hot cocoa, cider and winter beverages for kids and adults inside the Lookout Grille. Along with a cozy fireplace and holiday décor, the restaurant offers appetizers, sandwiches, hearty winter specials and desserts. Beer, wine, cocktails and a robust Bloody Mary bar round out the drink options. Throughout the winter, the Lookout Grille will host Friday Afternoon Club from 5 to 8:30 p.m., with free tram rides after 4 p.m., live music and drink specials.

There’s fun indoors, too. The 4D Motion Theater is showing “Winter Wipeout,” which features two jolly snowmen racing down a snowy mountain while trying to avoid troublesome Yeti and penguins, as well as “Rats Race,” “Bamboo Express” and “Pirates Rapids.” The Wild West laser tag arena, located on the top floor, is a great way to burn off a little energy after dinner.

Winter on the Mountain at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, and closed Monday through Thursday, through Feb. 28, 2016. During the holidays, it will be open daily Dec. 18 to Jan. 3, except for Christmas Day.

More information about the park, including hours of operation and a list of which attractions are open, can be found at GlenwoodCaverns.com or by calling 800-530-1635 or 970-945-4228, ext. 0.

The Bobby Mason Band arrives at Music on the Mountain

Local legend Bobby Mason will take the Music on the Mountain stage this Saturday, June 14. He’ll be joined by Hap Harriman, Bryan Savage and Hayden Gregg for Americana rock ‘n’ roll, soulful originals and classic hits.

Bobby Mason arrived in Aspen, CO in 1969, just as the town entered something of a “Golden Age” for artists, eccentric characters, partiers, skiers, and everyone in between. He soon joined up with the storied Aspen band Black Pearl, and went on to form Home Brew with Bob Carpenter, who now plays keyboard with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Home Brew evolved into Starwood, which gained national traction, signing with Columbia Records and touring with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Bryan Savage and Hayden Gregg were members of the band as well, so their performances together are something of a Starwood resurrection.

Starwood eventually broke up, but Mason and Home Brew went on to collaborate with John Denver, recording an album of originals under Denver’s Windsong Records. Mason has continued his distinguished career even after undergoing open heart surgery in 2012. He is listed in the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame Anthology. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is honored to have The Bobby Mason Band for a second year, and we can’t wait to see the show!

Bring at least one can of food to donate to Lift-Up for a free tram ride to the top. Rides and attractions will be open until dusk. The Lookout Grille and Snack Shack will be serving dinner, snacks and drink specials.

The Bobby Mason Band performs a free show this Saturday, June 14 at Music on the Mountain

Night Plane Descends on Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park this Saturday

Get ready for longtime local favorites Night Plane, who will be playing originals and classic hits at Music on the Mountain this weekend. Although they are often joined by additional musicians, this weekend’s Night Plane will be an acoustic trio comprised of Jimmy Dykann, Haden Gregg, and John Zajicek. Night Plane has been in existence since 1979, and they have been all over the country together: they recorded their debut album Night Plane in Los Angeles in 1982 and completed another album in New York in the 1990s. They are currently promoting a re-release of their first album on vinyl, which features four new original songs.

Veteran local band Night Plane to play free concert Saturday, June 8

“We mix it up, we like to play old rock and blues classics, maybe throw some reggae in there, but we also write a lot of our own material,” says Dykann. Dykann and Gregg are the primary songwriters, and they have been writing together since before they even had a band, in the 1970s. “We mainly just like to write about what’s going on in our lives,” added Dykann.

Night Plane has been out in California doing shows to promote the re-release, but they are back in the Valley for the summer. They play mostly private parties, but they will be appearing July 3rd in the park in Basalt and also at a benefit for the Aspen Deaf Camp with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band this summer.

The band has played with the likes of John Denver, Jimmy Buffett, and a ton of other musicians who passed through the Roaring Fork Valley throughout the decades. “We played with just about everybody that came through in the ‘70s and ‘80s. We opened a lot of shows. There’s been a good group of local players here for 40 years and we’ve had a lot of great shows around here.”

This will be Night Plane’s second appearance at Music on the Mountain. “We’re looking forward to going up on the mountain and playing. It’s always fun,” says Dykann. “The views, the people…it’s a great concert venue. We love it; outdoor shows are what we love. We were well-received last year, a lot of our friends came up. It’s always nice to have locals come to our shows.”

Don’t miss the chance to see these Colorado legends in their element, mountaintop this Saturday, June 8 for a free concert.  Bring at least one can of food for a free tram ride to the top, where you can enjoy rides, drink specials, and much more. It will also be the last Music on the Mountain concert until August, so make sure to follow Dykann’s advice and “Come see us!”

For ticket information, go to Glenwood Caverns’ Music on the Mountain

Already Gone is All Ready to Go at Glenwood Caverns

After a successful kick-off concert with Doctor Robert on Friday, the Music on the Mountain series continues with Already Gone performing this Saturday, June 1st at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park!

The popular local band, known for covering a wide variety of musical genres, is a Glenwood Caverns favorite: this will be their third year playing Music on the Mountain. “We look forward to it every year!” says Lisa Poplish, lead singer of the group that also includes Eddie Muniz on drums, Mark Chenoweth on lead guitar, Randy DeHerrera on saxophone and keyboards, and Billy Conn on bass. Poplish’s powerful, spirited female voice is perfectly complimented by the male band members. “The guys pull off some pretty impressive back up vocal harmonies!” says Poplish.

Already Gone performs this Saturday at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

“We strive to play a little something for everyone in the crowd,” Poplish says. “As individuals, we have quite different tastes in music, which accounts for our extraordinarily diverse song list.” Poplish cites Grace Potter as a favorite artist to cover, but the band enjoys playing a range of everything including funk, R&B, and straight up rock ‘n’ roll. “Audiences can expect high energy brought by talented musicians, a wide variety of music, and just an all-around good time!” Poplish added.

As far as the band’s name, Poplish admits that “coming up with a name, I would say, was one of our most difficult feats thus far. We spent hours in the band’s infancy in Mark’s basement studio racking our brains for band names. We had several viable options written down, and then the Eagles song (“Already Gone”) came on. We were all singing it, and I said ‘How about Already Gone?’ The name ended up sticking.”

The band has been together for about four years (and many of the band members played together in a previous group called In the Pocket). Their time together has created close bonds. “We are truly like family,” says Poplish. These guys are some of my best friends, and I think that shows when we are on stage. We really enjoy playing music together.”

They’ve also had some interesting experiences along the way. “Once, out on the road, we were all crammed into a big Dodge truck headed out of town to play a wedding. The driver, who shall remain nameless, drove almost an hour in the wrong direction, insisting the whole time that we were on the right track. Thankfully we had given ourselves plenty of time to get there and the wedding went off without a hitch!”

Already Gone travels extensively around the state, playing tons of festivals, outdoor concerts, weddings, and private parties. They will be opening the July 10th Glenwood Summer of Music concert in Two Rivers Park.

Come check out Already Gone’s robust sound for yourself this Saturday. They’ll be ready for you! “Come party with us! We can’t wait to see you all there!” says Poplish.

Summer Music on the Mountain Kick-Off Party a Success!

Memorial Day typically signals the unofficial start of summer, but Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park kicked off summer early with the start of the Music on the Mountain summer concert series on Friday night. The mountain was alive with activity, music, rides, and good times! Doctor Robert, a Beatles tribute band, played a ton of songs from the Beatles catalogue (and took numerous audience requests) until late into the evening, performing rousing renditions of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” “Come Together,” and many more, inspiring people of all ages to get out and dance. During band breaks, you could hear the screams coming from the Giant Swing as riders soared to new heights 1300 feet above the Colorado River! 

 If you are a fan of the Beatles as much as Doctor Robert is and are looking to show your support to them in some way, such as starting an Instagram account, looking to get free instagram followers could help boost your social following. The more followers you have on your page, the more people will be able to see the array of Paul McCartney photos you post! Who wouldn’t want to see that? There were clear skies and balmy temperatures on the mountain for the kick-off party–you could wear shorts without getting cold, even well into the night. Our wet spring has meant that everything is looking really green, which gives way to gorgeous viewing of the surrounding mountains, Colorado River and the Roaring Fork Valley.

The views, especially at sunset, were even more spectacular atop the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster, on the Mine Wheel, and on the Soaring Eagle Zip Ride! A trip on the Alpine Coaster was a zooming thrill ride through an abundance of wildflowers.

It was all fun for a good cause, too–Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park collected a total of 866 cans of food to be donated to the Lift Up Food Bank of Glenwood.

Doctor Robert plays Beatles favorites at Music on the Mountain