A Renewable Energy Education Center Revitalizes Monte Vista’s Historic Railroad Depot

Monte Vista’s Victorian-era railroad depot—once a symbol of civic pride and railroad heritage—has fallen into serious disrepair. Its deteriorating condition undermines the city’s beautification efforts and discourages people from exploring the local businesses around it. With six downtown tourist-related businesses having closed in the past 18 months, one volunteer with the Sustainable Environmental & Economic Development (S.E.E.D.) Park saw a solution and reached out to LOR. LOR’s funding will help S.E.E.D. Park hire a contractor to complete the required architectural survey prior to beginning stabilization and restoration of the historic structure. These first steps will position S.E.E.D. Park to pursue additional funding to fully transform the depot into a Renewable Energy Education Center that honors Monte Vista’s railroad history while contributing to the region’s long-term economic vitality.