Businesses wait for Manitou Incline’s re-opening

Even on cooler days, more people are usually walking the streets of Manitou Springs.

“I definitely know the Incline stays pretty busy. The Incline brings people to Manitou,” said Sarah Ballard, a shift leader at Patsy’s Original Store.

And it’s hard to sell a lot of “I survived the Incline” products when there’s no incline available.

“Since the Incline’s been shut down, I think I’ve sold maybe two,” said Kinzie Wilson, retailer at Flying Eagle in Manitou. “That’s just people who have done it previously.”

“All the debris is gone. Before there was rebar, there were T-posts,” said Sarah Bryarly, landscape architect for Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation Department. “Jagged edges all over; you had to make sure you didn’t scratch yourself over. All of that’s been cleaned up.”

That’s good news for businesses.

“There’s a few people who do it every day, and they haven’t been able to do that,” said Wilson.

“I think it’ll be packed, that it will bring some good business,” Ballard said.

In terms of an actual economic impact from the closure, the Manitou chamber says it’s too early to estimate, but they don’t expect a big hit.

Other improvements include reinforced steps, and some new landscaping that should reduce the risk of flooding during heavy rains.