How small is Grand Lake? The boardwalk (the main "shopping district") on Grand Avenue extends for three blocks; Grand Avenue extends about one block further east, and three blocks further west. Grand Avenue is parallel to the shore of Grand Lake, one block away. From the lake, you can walk four blocks north. In the winter, there are about 250 people within the village limits; in summer about 1-2,000, except on Independence Day (July 4th), when about 75,000 people gather to watch the spectacular fireworks over the lake. It is difficult to calculate the "real" population of Grand Lake, as there are many "subdivisions" nearby whose residents consider themselves part of Grand Lake.
Grand Lake, like many rural Colorado towns, still has a town square. Our town square has a community building for important gatherings, town council meetings, the Olde Fashioned Christmas Bazaar, and summer theater. It has a gazebo to sit out of the sun (or summer afternoon thunder storm). It has tennis courts, a playground, and a large lawn. The local branch library sits at one corner of the town square. A large covered picnic area hosts busloads of visitors by day, and bingo on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Grand Lake has several motels, lots of rental cabins, two small grocery stores, a drug store, many restaurants (ranging from Continental cuisine, to sub sandwiches, pizza, and hamburgers), gift shops, candy and ice cream shops, antique store, clothing stores, and more. The elementary school has a student population of about 100 children in kindergarten through fifth grade. For Middle School (sixth through eighth grades) and High School, children are bussed to Granby, about 16 miles south. School is almost never closed for weather (only for power outages that shut down the heating system), and children go outside to play in all but the worst rain or lightning storms. March of 2003 the District had its first ever "snow day". It's not that the buses couldn't get to the school, it's that the kids couldn't get to the highway to get on the buses.
In summer it is connected to Estes Park by Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in America. In winter it is "Snowmobiling Capital of Colorado". Any time of year you can find something fun to do. The greatest number of activities and businesses are available in summer and winter. "Mud Season" is the quietest time of year, when local folks avoid the mud and get their vacations.
One of the most beautiful times of year is Christmas. Any time of year Grand Lake is like a living post card; during the holidays it is like a living Christmas card.
For more information, contact the Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
Last updated September 7, 2003 dm