By Shannon Lukens.
Local Steamboat Springs veterans are making plans to renovate and revitalize the old VFW building, in the 9th block of Lincoln Ave. in downtown Steamboat Springs. They want to make it a central gathering place for veterans and active duty military personnel and they families.
Local veterans say the building was built in 1898. It was part of the Gambles Department store. It was a bank, a barber shop, and a bowling alley. And it was a bar, and people played Bingo there. Then in 1948, the building was home to the VFW, which is the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The VFW post agreed to donate the building to become The Veterans Center.
But $3M dollars in repairs is needed, especially after the 2019 fire next door at what was then the Steamboat Smokehouse.
Jeff Steck is the president of the Board of Directors for the Veterans Center. He says these places used to be community centers, and they want this building to be that again.
“We wanted to restore it to be a community center, that would serve veterans, of course, but also serve the greater Steamboat community. Ideally, I hope this place is used 24-hours a day, seven days a week by someone in the community. We want to give back. We’re grateful that we’re here. We just want to serve the community and our veterans.”
The Veterans Center has been set up as a 501©3, run by the VFW members. It will have a full kitchen and a vet center to serve about 1,200 estimated veterans in Routt County. They’re working on grants, but they are also fundraising to hopefully raise enough money by the end of January 2024.
The bar has since been removed. Part of the drywall has also been removed. Underneath it, you can see the original white wood and glass storefront. Another layer shows cinder block and bricks were placed in front of it as a new façade.
The Veterans Center always has a tent at the Farmers Market so stop by and say hello. They also have a website on which you can donate. It’s at SteamboatVeterans.org
The Veterans Center Board:
- D. Jeffrey Steck, President djsteck11@gmail.com
- Bruce Hannon, Vice President bhannon3642@gmail.com
- Loretta Kuhlman, Secretary/Treasurer jerryandloretta@comcast.net
- Joe Armstrong, Sr., Director armstrongjoesr123@gmail.com
- Jim Stanko, Director jstankoranch@gmail.com
Contact: 970-846-9746 or email: TheVetsCenter@gmail.com
The Veterans Center, P.O. Box 883323, Steamboat Springs, CO 80488
If anyone knows where the old VFW neon sign is, please reach out to Shannon@SteamboatRadio.com There is someone who would like to refurbish it for the building.