Great Stupa saved, but some other buildings lost
Among the buildings damaged or destroyed by the Cameron Peak Fire are some belonging to the Shambhala Mountain Center near Red Feather Lakes.
But despite the impacts of the fire and the pandemic before it, the Buddhist center is expecting to rebuild and recover, according to Michael Gayner, executive director.
The center started nearly 50 years ago by Tibetan meditation master and teacher Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche as a retreat center for the Buddhist community. Over the years it has become an educational nonprofit organization whose mission is to “serve as a contemplative center for the exploration of individual and societal wisdom,” according to the organization’s website.
The center offers both day- trip experiences to the 108- foot tall Great Stupa of Dharmakaya — which usually sees around 7,000 day visitors a year — as well as longer retreats and Shambhala teachings.
“It is a pretty powerful spot,” Gayner said. Gayner said many buildings were lost to the fire, including staff housing, meditation buildings, a Stupa support building as well as an art studio and trailer, which led to the loss of around 1,000 unique art pieces. Among the buildings that withstood the fire include the Great Stupa itself, a building made mostly out of concrete. However, many of the buildings, including the Stupa, sustained smoke damage.
“The incredible service of the firefighters was huge; there’s burn marks that stop within a few feet of some of the buildings,” Gayner said.