According to the owner, about 80% of annual sales occur in the summer.
TWIN LAKES, Colo. — Small business owners in the Twin Lakes area are breathing a sigh of relief after the Interlaken Fire is nearly contained.
The wildfires have had a major impact on shops near the town, with shopkeepers saying they need summer trade to survive the winter.
“Our livelihood depends on June, July and August,” said Bob Mathes, owner of Twin Lakes General Store.
Summer is the most important season of the year in the small mountain town of Twin Lakes.
“June, July and especially August is when probably 80 percent of our business for the year happens,” Mattes said.
The fire affected the number of people passing through the town.
“We're probably seeing a 30% drop,” Mattes said. “We were worried that we would lose out completely in June.”
The Interlaken Fire has burned 698 acres since it began burning June 11. As of Saturday, it was 96% contained.
“Honestly, it's been really emotional,” Roadhouse Lodge owner Shanna Cohen said. “The community has come together. We've definitely felt the impact of the fires. People who are visiting the area, understandably, don't want to go into a lot of smoke and put themselves at risk.”
Her appointments have been canceled multiple times since the fire began.
“Well, the main reason is that they said it couldn't be replicated as they intended,” Cohen said.
“It also affected people in Aspen and the surrounding areas who normally drive here. They were detouring on I-70 so the town was definitely affected last week because they thought we were closed, but we were actually open,” Mattes said.
Twin Lakes welcomes visitors with open arms and hopes to share in your favorite season.
“We want everyone to know that Twin Lakes is open and looking forward to your business,” Cohen said.
Visitors can now access the western lake of Twin Lakes.
Due to the fire, Lower Lake, East Lake and some trails will remain closed for now.
Recommended Videos: Colorado wildfires
