COMO ROUNDHOUSE ACQUISTION EFFORT UPDATE – WE DID IT!!!!

WE DID IT! THANKS to the vast support of South Park Rail Society members and Supporters and with the successful awarding of a HISTORY COLORADO funding grant we raised the $400,000 to purchase the historic Como Roundhouse from Kathy and Dr Charles Brantigan.

We closed on the sale Tuesday June 9 at First American Title in Golden. Closing were Kathy and Dr Charles Brantigan, Bill Kazel, the person who originally saved the Como Roundhouse, Norm Acker, President of the SPRS, Tom Lawson VP / Treasurer of SPRS and Lisa Comito, Escrow Officer, First American Title.

After a three year effort orchestrated by one very focused perseverant individual; to agree on a sales price, terms, fundraising, grant application process and the co-operation of Kathy and Dr. Chuck Brantigan for their efforts to keep the Como Roundhouse preservation effort alive helping to organize an organization to take procession, and finally a closing.

This culmination of efforts called for a celebration lunch at Mickey’s Sirloin in Denver, with Dr. Charles and Kathy Brantigan, Tom Lawson, Paul Blanchard, SPRS Volunteer Coordinator / Life Member and Bill Kazel, supporter.

This is a very important chapter of the Como Heritage Site that the historic Como Roundhouse is now in ownership of the non-profit South Park Rail Society dedicated to the ongoing preservation and ensuring its long-term viability on behalf of the general public to appreciate the history of an operating narrow gauge heritage site. It is also important to the dedicated Volunteers who have toiled, sacrificed and devoted their time to restore this Heritage Site and provide the general public open houses and educational experiences that they now have a an equity and pride of ownership as stakeholders.

We move on to the next chapter, acquisition of the pasture that surrounds the Como Roundhouse, Como Depot and the Como Hotel.