The newly completed and occupied Rocky Terraces provides housing for Rocky Mountain National Park and Conservancy staff/Rocky Mountain Conservancy

A housing complex with 16 private bedrooms has opened for seasonal Rocky Mountain National Park employees and Rocky Mountain Conservancy staff. The $2.85 million facility located on Route 66 in Estes Park, Colorado, opened last Friday and welcomed some of its first residents.

"Affordable housing options for park staff is a top priority for me. We can't take care of this amazing national park without our staff," said Rocky Mountain Superintendent Gary Ingram. "This critical workforce housing project, funded by Rocky Mountain Conservancy, helps chip away at this need. We are grateful for the Conservancy's ongoing support as we tackle housing challenges together."

The Conservancy raised donations to pay for the housing complex, which was named Rocky Terraces.

A lack of employee housing is a critical issue across the National Park System. The problem has been exasperated by rundown NPS housing and the advent of home vacation rentals surrounding parks that have drawn down the number of existing rentals while, at the same time, driving up pricing for other rental properties. Earlier this year the National Park Service announced it was looking to lease some housing in Hawai'i for Haleakalā National Park employees, and some park friends groups across the country have worked to raise funds to acquire housing for park employees.

The shortage of affordable housing in the Estes Valley has also affected the Conservancy’s ability to hire and retain staff as well as research and education fellows.

“Through the Rocky Terraces project, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy has taken the lead in confronting an issue facing every national park gateway community in the west,” said Conservancy Board President Walt Borneman. “The Conservancy recognized a need, and through the generosity of several large donors and the support of many of our other donors and members, we brought this vision to fruition.”

“Attracting the best and brightest talent to conduct research and educational programs in the park is core to the mission of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy,” added Charles Cofas, Conservancy board member and chairman of the facilities committee. “Constructing this housing is the single largest project ever undertaken by the Conservancy and will enhance the Conservancy’s direct support to the park.”

Kathryn Conley, a field coordinator for the Conservancy’s Conservation Corps, was one of the first residents, moving into a private bedroom just hours after Larimer County issued the certificate of occupancy.

“I’ve spent plenty of time living in tents and out of the back of my Subaru, so I was happily surprised by the quality and convenience of the units,” Conley said. 

Housemate and Conservation Corps crew leader Emily Dewing is equally enthusiastic and says seeing the units for the first time was “the shock of a lifetime.”

“I’ve never lived in such a nice place,” Dewing said. “It’s super convenient and I’m able to walk to work.”

The duplexes have fully furnished living rooms, kitchens, decks, and laundry rooms. Each bedroom includes a full-size bed, dresser, nightstand, and closet. The complex includes garage and off-street parking, and one unit includes accessibility modifications for team members with disabilities.

Rooms are available for National Park Service seasonal staff to rent.  The proximity to the park is particularly helpful for park staff who assist with search and rescue operations.

Rocky Terraces is not the Conservancy’s first collaboration with the park on housing. In 2018, the Conservancy funded the work of the Larimer County Conservation Corps to complete the interiors of two new park dormitories which added a total of eight bedrooms and 16 beds to the housing inventory.

“Rocky Terraces is an exciting milestone for the Conservancy knowing that talented and passionate candidates can accept jobs and fellowships critical to supporting the park and the Conservancy. In the past, too many exceptional candidates had to withdraw from these life-changing opportunities because of the lack of suitable housing," said Estee Rivera, the Conservancy's executive director.