Monday, April 6, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1860, Auraria and Denver merged into one town, forming what would ultimately become modern-day Denver.

Colorado’s “mud season” is arriving early this year, and mountain towns are feeling it after a sluggish winter. As we report below, businesses are already bracing for a longer-than-usual spring slowdown.

Today's edition of The Colorado Flyover is abbreviated as our staff took time to celebrate Easter with their families. We'll be back with the full lineup tomorrow.

If you’re ready to finally take control of your weight and your health, today's sponsor, DirectMeds, makes it simple to start—with trusted GLP-1 treatments prescribed online and delivered straight to your door.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Mud Season Starts after Slow Winter

In the wake of a warm, dry winter that left Colorado’s recreation industry in a lurch, mountain-town businesses are heading into “mud season,” the springtime gap between winter and summer tourism.

Mud season typically begins when the snowpack starts to melt, usually in late April. This year, March heat triggered early snowmelt, sending the already-low snowpack into a nosedive.

Many of Colorado’s ski resorts have announced early or accelerated closures for the 2025-26 season, during which local businesses, dependent on tourism, reported significantly slower traffic. Some Breckenridge retailers saw a nearly 50% drop in sales.

While spring snowstorms are possible, many locals’ hopes rest on a strong, or early, summer season, with trail, rafting, and fishing conditions beginning to pick up.

Mighty Argo Eyes Completion

The Mighty Argo Cable Car, a $71 million, 1.3-mile mountainside gondola route in Idaho Springs, is nearing completion after a lengthy development process.

The gondolas will ferry visitors from a retired gold mine to the top of the mountain, a 1,300-foot vertical rise. At the mountaintop, there will be bars, restaurants, a playground, an amphitheater, and entry to city-run trails.

In total, the cable has 22 gold-colored gondola cars, including some with glass floors and five cars for carrying mountain bikes—the first bicycle-devoted gondola cars in the nation.

The project is undergoing final testing, with state testing scheduled for this week. If the gondolas pass inspection, backers plan to set an opening date later this month.

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➤ Farmers markets across the state have begun posting their opening dates, with some already underway. Most markets kick off in May or June and run through the fall, offering fresh, local goods. (See List)

➤ Roughly 17,000 to 20,000 bears across the state are emerging from winter torpor. Wildlife officials warn that a lack of moisture has reduced natural forage, likely driving the bears into urban areas in search of food. (See Details)

➤ Bigfoot Days, an annual Sasquatch-themed festival in Estes Park, takes place this month, April 24-25. Activities include a Bigfoot 5K, a Bigfoot-calling contest, celebrity and expert appearances, and more. (See Details)

➤ Are pythons the key to weight loss? A new University of Colorado Boulder study suggests a molecule produced by the reptiles could be used to develop new weight loss drugs with fewer side effects. (See Details)

➤ Wild turkeys are increasingly spotted across the Denver metro as populations rebound after past declines, with spring mating season making them more visible. Officials urge residents not to feed or approach them. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Eye doctors alarmed by vision threat standard exams miss. More people now suffer age-related vision loss than ever—yet routine exams don't screen for it. A study found four specific nutrients improved tear production by 10%, cut dryness in half, and sharpened vision by a full eye-chart line. Learn More

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Flying together with our sponsor

Take control of your weight and health with DirectMeds. Their licensed providers prescribe trusted GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide—clinically proven to curb appetite, balance blood sugar, and promote lasting fat loss. Lower your risk of diabetes, boost energy, and feel confident again. Start today with a quick online consultation and 24-hour approval.