Cañon City commission forms committee to explore hosting Saving Places on the Road

The Cañon City Historic Preservation Commission voted June 24 to form a committee to explore hosting the Saving Places on the Road program at a future date, with members to be named outside the meeting.

Lisa, who received the application from Colorado Preservation, Inc., told commissioners the organization had sent a “quite long” application form but gave no specific hosting date. She said the program prefers summer months — generally June through September — and that applicants should demonstrate community readiness, venue support, behind-the-scenes tours and signature sites.

Commissioners discussed the benefits of hosting, citing state-level preservation officials’ presence at recent events and examples of successful restorations supported by the State Historical Fund (St. Elmo was cited as an example). One commissioner noted Buena Vista contributed $5,000 to host a recent event.

Members agreed the commission should plan for a 2028 hosting opportunity rather than assume it could be scheduled next year, and they approved a motion to form a committee to research feasibility and coordination. The chair said membership would be chosen offline; the motion passed by majority.

Next steps: the committee will draft recommended tasks and funding approaches and report back to the full commission; staff indicated the commission may pursue city contributions or outside sponsorship if it proceeds.