US Forest Service Axes $1.5-Mil Aspen Visitors' Center

ASPEN, CO-The US Forest Service is bowing to pressure and nipping a plan to build a 4,500-sf visitors’ center at the base of the Maroon Bells.

The site, outside Aspen, is one of the most photographed mountain scenes in the country. The forest service has backed down on its $1.5-million proposal after receiving numerous and highly vocal complaints from residents and environmental groups. The latest plan calls for constructing the center at the Highlands ski area at the base of the road leading to the Maroon Bells. The center is expected to accommodate 250,000 visitors annually.