Vandalism adds urgency to plans for restoration

Vandalism at the Chief Theater in downtown Steamboat Springs has created urgency around restoration plans from a local nonprofit aiming to buy and renovate the historic downtown space for future use.

The damage reported includes smashed windows and chandeliers, paint thrown across carpets and graffiti sprayed over historical murals and on film screens that were also slashed, according to Undiscovered Earth, the nonprofit that hopes to purchase and revitalize the historic theater.

“The building is close to 100 years old now, and to see it in continued disrepair, if we don’t move forward with it, we don’t know how much longer it would take before someone else would be able to develop it,” said Dagny Mckinley, executive director of Undiscovered Earth.

“We want to make sure that this stays for our community as a source for people to gather, for vocal performing arts groups to have a space to perform and to show the kids in our community that we should be proud of our buildings, and we shouldn’t leave them empty if we can help it,” she added.

Mckinley said the vandalism occurred between October and mid-november and was reported to Steamboat Springs police. There is also evidence from information provided by neighboring businesses and trash bags found in the building that one or more people may have lived in the theater for a period over the summer.

Mckinley said there is no estimate for the cost of the damage at this time, but anyone with information about the vandalism is encouraged to contact local police.

The historic Chief Theater was built in 1926 by Mark Schafermeyer, who owned the property and deeded it to local visionary “Chief” Harry Gordon for $25,000, according to Paul Van Horn, whose father managed the Village and Time Square Cinemas. Gordon was a descendant of the Miami tribe.