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National Alpaca Weekend and Art For the Sangres
Cool mountain vistas, white hot art and toasty warm
alpacas await visitors in the Wet Mountain Valley.
September 29 and 30 in Westcliffe, Colorado is a
fun-filled weekend for culturistas. This crisp, fall
weekend offers a one-two punch with National Alpaca
Weekend and Art For the Sangres.
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Just 60 miles west of
Pueblo, this small rural community that has a
sophisticated flair, is a place to get away from it all.
Quaint B&Bs, exceptional dining experiences and the
small town feel will melt your worries away. Alpacas, a
South American camelid, are a high-priced livestock
offering Americans a low-key, lifestyle. Breeding
females cost $10,000 to $15,000 and up. The industry has
commanded such prices for over 20 years when alpacas
were first brought to the states. With an eleven month
gestation period and more and more people interested in
the fuzzy creatures, the market has remained strong.
Once a female is born, the original purchase price is
regained while another baby is on the way.
Five alpaca farmers in Westcliffe are opening their barn
doors during National Alpaca Weekend. Eighty-two alpacas
will show off their fine fiber at four farms during the
two-day event. Visitors can talk to seven breeders with
39 years combined experience to learn about every aspect
of this business. One owner, who is a fiber aficiando,
will wrap you in exquisite handcrafted shawls like
you’re never seen or felt.
The laid-back rural lifestyle (even if breeders live in
the suburbs) isn’t the only draw of alpacas. Their fiber
is softer and warmer than wool. It is a luxury in the
truest sense of the word.
Each farm will conduct a seminar covering subjects from
using alpacas for a non-profit organization to “Starting
from Scratch in Alpacas.” At its heart, Westcliffe
is a ranching community with wide open spaces dotted
with cattle, bales of hay, and barns.
In an effort to keep the valley pristine, The San Isabel
Land Trust was established in 1995. Since then over
18,000 acres have been saved from future development.
Landowners either sell or donate the development rights
of their property to the trust. The trust owns the
development rights forever thus ending the possibility
the land will be subdivided. This endeavor is
accomplished through grants and donations. One of San
Isabel’s biggest fundraisers of the year is Art For the
Sangres on September 29. Twenty-seven regional artists
will display oils, pastels, fine art photography and
hand blown glass at the upscale gala. A third of the
arts’ sale price is donated to the land trust. The
evening is held at the historic Pines Ranch at the base
of the Sangres.
Photos courtesy Art for the Sangres
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For more information,
visit www.sanisabel.org or call the trust at
719/783-3018.
More travel and lodging information can be found at
www.custercountyco.com.
For more information about Westcliffe’s National Alpaca
Weekend, call Janet Hufford at 719/783-3272.
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