The Salida sun sets over the Colorado Rockies, painting the sky a fiery orange as the town slowly winds down after another day of adventure. A place where the outdoor enthusiasts come to play, the river runs wild with white water rafting, the mountain slopes are kissed with snow for the skiers, and the endless trails for biking and camping. This is the land of Roxy, who arrived in '97 as a wide-eyed 15-year-old sophomore in high school, ready to take on the world. She raises her glass and toasts to the Salida motto, "Safety Third!" A reminder that life is about taking risks, and that it's the journey that matters most. And here in Salida, the journey is filled with adventure, community, and love. Roxy wouldn't have it any other way.
Roxy is the epitome of a Salida local.
She's seen the town transform from a sleepy little mountain village to a bustling hub of activity. And throughout all the changes, one thing has remained constant: the community's acceptance and welcoming spirit. With a grin on her face, she'll tell you that the reason she's always come back to Salida is because of the people. They are what makes this place special.
For the past 13+ years, Roxy has slung drinks behind the bar, connecting with the community on a personal level. As she pours another round of beers, she'll regale you with tales of local legends and stories of a time when the town was just a handful of hippies living off the land. Bartending has brought her closer to the community than she ever thought possible.
But as much as she loves Salida, it's not always easy. Renting a place to live has become increasingly difficult as the town grows in popularity. For Roxy, it's not just about the price, it's also about availability. Fortunately, her strong community connections have helped her find a way to make it work. Without them, she knows things would be different. She currently resides in a fairly-priced apartment provided to her by her employers, Michael & Linsi McGovern, who are by no means the only business owners in town to have banded together to make sure their employees have adequate housing.
This shouldn’t be necessary, but Roxy appreciates it. She loves her job, and relishes in her ability to serve and connectwith her community. However, if our local business owners are doing more to house Salida’s workforce than the powers that be, what does that tell us about our community’s “acceptance and welcoming spirit?” What does that tell us about how our labor & services are valued? Roxy wants to know, and so do we.
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