GOLDEN — American frontiersman William “Buffalo Bill” Cody may have died more than 100 years ago, but each year the city of Golden — where the Army scout, bison hunter and showman was buried — celebrates the legendary figure.
More than 30,000 people were expected to attend Buffalo Bill Days, a free, three-day community event, which ended Sunday.
Golden has been celebrating Buffalo Bill for decades, dating back to the trail ride in the 1940s up to Lookout Mountain where Cody is buried.
It is the largest festival held in Golden.
“We keep coming back because it’s a wonderful event and we’re proud of it,” said Renee Marcellis, a volunteer with Buffalo Bill Days. “People have a great time here.”
While innertubes were not permitted into Parfet Park, the river inflatables loomed large over this year’s event.
In May, the Golden City Council approved an ordinance that limits the sale of recreational float by permitted outfitters during peak days.
That meant visitors on Saturday at Clear Creek — one of Colorado’s most popular whitewater rafting adventures — had to bring their own tube to float down the river.
If the new ordinance was intended to protect and manage the number of people on Clear Creek — as city officials have contended — the river showed few signs of dissuading floaters Saturday.
Mitch and Beth Battilla — who own Adventure West — said that despite Saturday’s ban they shuttled people up and down the river who had showed up expecting to rent, but left only to return with an innertube purchased at Target.
What has gotten lost in all the talk about the controversy, Mitch Battilla said, is how dangerous a Class II river like Clear Creek can be without safety equipment and a little education.
“This is not a lazy river,” Battilla said.
On Sunday, the river flowed at 131 cubic feet per second, according to the United States Geological Survey. When the river flow hits 225 cubic feet per second — indicating a faster speed — Battilla requires all his tubers to wear a life jacket.
The Battillas credit safety on the river to outfitters like his.
“Safety in numbers and education on the creek are really paying off,” said Battilla, adding there have been no recent deaths on the river in Golden.
With spring snow melt increasing the volume and speed of many of Colorado’s rivers, the state has seen an alarming number of water-related deaths.
No statewide authority tracks water-related deaths.
But officials at Colorado Parks and Wildlife became so concerned that they began keeping a running tally of water-related fatalities a couple of years back.
In the days leading up to the Fourth of July holiday, state officials begged the public to wear life vests on the water. At the time, the state already had more than 20 water-related deaths.
The water-related deaths this year appear to be on track to outpace last year, when 32 people died. In 2022, Colorado hit a record-breaking 42 deaths in the water.
It’s not just river safety that has residents in this community of 20,000 in Jefferson County concerned. River visitors often return home with memories, but leave trash behind.
Joseph Helwink, who lives a stone’s throw from the path to the river, said he picked up two bags of trash last week.
“It’s annoying really,” Helwink said.
Helwink said he was unaware of the new ordinance.
So was Todd Deutsch.
The Arvada resident said he usually floats down the river in Boulder, but took his kids to Clear Creek on Sunday.
“I think they’re looking out for safety,” Deutsch said. “If you leave it up to people, they’re going to make bad decisions.”
An avid floater, Keith Dauper and his family brought their own tubes Sunday to beat the heat as the mercury rose into the 90s. While the ordinance will not impact him as a tube owner, the Denver resident does worry about the impact on business.
“We want to promote tourism,” Dauper said. “We want people to come to Golden. It’s a hidden gem.”
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