Dear Action Line: What the heck is the large dome building north of the Old Fort on 550? I can see it from my porch and just wondering what it is. Any answers? – Sherri Libby
Dear Sherri: This took a long time to answer for several reasons, one being that Action Line thought of the “Old Fort” as being the old Fort Lewis College south of Hesperus. But THAT “Old Fort” is on state Highway 140, not on U.S. Highway 550.
The Old Fort on Highway 550 was a tall wooden tower near the former glider park, as Action Line recalls.
After tripping and hemming, with a little bit of stumbling and hawing thrown in, Action Line finally figured out that the folks at River Bend Ranch might know about the white dome, since it is next door. You want the truth? Mrs. Action Line suggested this. She’s smart.
River Bend owners Dan and Jenny Diehl, who operate a popular wedding and events center in the Animas Valley about 3 miles north of Durango, responded:
“Yes, we have been fielding a lot of questions from folks about the dome, so it is nice to know you can get the word out. The dome is not a rec center, igloo, yoga studio, or space telescope. It is part of the River Bend Ranch and it is a greenhouse!”
The dome was manufactured by a Pagosa Springs company called Growing Spaces, and it was erected along Highway 550 in October. The Diehls are busy finishing the inside of the dome with raised beds, a pond and sitting area.
Their plan is to grow fruits and vegetables along with flowering plants and a variety of herbs. This is for a second business called Cura.Te, which makes and sells everything from soaps to body butters to salves to laundry soap to herbal teas.
“Our intention is to begin growing our own organic/wild harvested herbs year-round in the dome,” they said.
Also, a World Cup friendly will be held in the dome in July. Ha. Action Line is kidding.
Dear Action Line: A few years ago, Durango had some of the better gas prices in Southwest Colorado. But then two national chains bought up most of the gas stations in town. Now prices seem to be pegged, both chains charging the same exorbitant price. The few remaining independent stations appear to be riding the coattails of this price curve. Since when does gas in Durango cost more than in Silverton?! I’m picking up a whiff of collusion in the fumes. – M.T. Tanque
Dear M.T.: More than half of Action Line’s life has now been spent in Durango, and this question or one like it has popped up just about every year. You may not know how many years half of Action Line’s life is, but it’s a lot. Maybe this will help: It’s more than, let’s say, five.
Is there collusion? Action Line went underground to investigate, but found only rocks, sand, a few assorted bones, and some dinosaur droppings that you may one day pump into your gas tank. There may be collusion, but Action Line doesn’t know about that. From previous stories (Action Line was too lazy to do fresh reporting on this issue), here is what the “experts” say about gas prices.
Prices generally vary from state to state because of three factors: taxes, distance to refineries (distribution costs) and additives. If you look at gas prices around the country, found at gasprices.AAA.com, Colorado’s are basically average.
If you look around the Four Corners, Durango’s prices weren’t out of whack earlier this week: $4.49 average in Durango, $4.45 in Farmington, $4.75 in Flagstaff, Arizona. However, if you look around Southwest Colorado, it does seem a little weird: Why are prices in a teeming metropolis such as Durango higher than in Montezuma County ($4.24), Dolores County ($4.46), and yes, San Juan County ($4.45), where Silverton is the county seat?
Over the Continental Divide, Rio Grande County was at $4.01 and Saguache County at $4.04. Say what?! These discrepancies can’t be accounted for by taxes, distribution costs and additives. So what’s up?
Back in December 2019, Durango’s gas prices were temporarily lowest in the state. A spokesman for AAA Colorado said then that Durango’s gas comes from a different region (New Mexico) than much of the rest of the state, and that region was well-stocked at the time with a lower demand. Many other parts of Colorado get gas from California refineries.
Then, just a few months later, the situation flipped. In April 2020, Durango suddenly had the highest prices in the state, excluding luxury resort markets. Two reasons were given then by “experts”: One, tourists hadn’t arrived yet, and so older, more expensive gasoline was still in gas stations’ underground tanks. They didn’t want to lose money on gas they’d already bought, so they charged accordingly. Two, fewer competitors in smaller markets such as Southwest Colorado mean less competition. In large metro areas, more competition does indeed temper prices.
“Two” was the answer you were looking for, wasn’t it?
Bottom line: There are a lot of factors. Living in a relatively remote part of the country, with less competition than larger markets, may indeed be a factor. And if that’s collusion, nobody’s fessing up.
Email questions and suggestions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. The 2022 World Cup will be held Nov. 21-Dec. 18 in Qatar, which is weird but better than having it in Russia as it was in 2018. Especially that time of year. Especially now.
