Mountain retreat near Ruedi Reservoir accused of permit misuse
Andrew Denaro/Courtesy photo
A high-mountain lodge and retreat near Ruedi Reservoir faces scrutiny for allegedly misusing a temporary tent erected during the COVID-19 pandemic as a venue for concerts, weddings, and large gatherings.
The Beyul Retreat, a 32-acre private complex in Meredith, was originally issued a 2020 permit from Pitkin County to use the tent for socially-distanced dining. But according to allegations brought on by local residents and a citizen-advisory organization, the retreat allegedly never operated the tent as a restaurant requiring such accommodations.
Instead, accusations state that Beyul, which was recently in the news after its co-founder Reuben Sadowsky stepped down after being cited for poaching a bull moose in the Upper Fryingpan Valley, has used the tent as a hub for events that sometimes draw hundreds of attendees, according to accusations.
“They have a permit for what is supposed to be a temporary tent for social distancing for restaurants,” Meredith resident Maggie Roth stated in a letter to the Pitkin County Commission, describing regular large gatherings that surpass the site’s approved capacity. “Not only does Beyul not have a restaurant, they are using it for the opposite of social distancing.”
The Upper Fryingpan Valley Caucus, made up of hundreds of residents who advise Pitkin and Eagle counties on land use issues, also raised concerns about noise, safety, and the environmental impact of these large gatherings, noting that the “tent’s use as an eating facility and a concert venue, which often includes large numbers of people and loud music until the wee hours of the night” disrupts the quiet, rural character of the area.
Residents as far away as Thomasville have reported hearing noise from Beyul’s events, according to a caucus letter sent to the commission. The caucus questions why Beyul’s operations seem exempt from regulations that other businesses and homeowners in the area are required to follow.
“Other Pitkin County homes and businesses strive to meet County requirements, as we’re required to do, so we’d expect the same treatment for Beyul,” the letter states.
Concerns also extend to the retreat’s future growth. The caucus expressed unease over Beyul’s shift toward becoming a concert venue, a development not in line with the valley’s community vision.
“A concert venue is not what we understood the facility to be, nor what we particularly desire in our community,” the caucus noted, requesting greater transparency and involvement in any reviews concerning the retreat’s expansion.
Melanie Buchholz, the caucus secretary, provided detailed documentation highlighting inconsistencies between Beyul’s permit and its current operations. Buchholz pointed to the lack of a consistently operating restaurant, discrepancies in seating capacity, and the erection of what she described as a permanent structure under the alleged guise of a temporary tent.
“Beyul used the COVID ordinance to expand their footprint by 1,500 square feet and erected a permanent structure, not a ‘temporary’ COVID tent,” Buchholz explained, questioning why the structure remains long after the expiration of the temporary permit.
While Beyul holds a hotel and restaurant liquor license, Buchholz also accused Beyul of serving alcohol in areas outside of the approved premises.
“Beyul has never, since the time of their liquor license being issued, notified the State or the County that they would be serving liquor on the optional premises,” Buchholz wrote, alleging that the retreat may have been operating out of compliance.
Beyul owner Abby Stern said the tent for the retreat, originally established in the 1890s, was for expanded seating for social distancing and is allowed to remain until Wednesday, when the ordinance is expected to sunset and will be reviewed by the commission.
“The cabins and lodge were added in the 1920s and 1930s, and the group retreats and lodging have been happening since then,” Stern said. “When we bought the property in 2020, we applied for the COVID ordinance to have the temporary tent structure.”
Stern also pointed out that Beyul currently has a 180-day permit for operations while they complete the overall permit application process.
“We have been getting a wave of support from the Roaring Fork and Fryingpan Valleys. We have a change.org petition where 375 people have signed in support,” she said. “A lot of people in the local community are surprised at these accusations. We are working with the county and BOCC to go through the permitting process.”
Stern said that the past owners have had events with 150 people, but Beyul’s events have not come close to those numbers.
“We have some historical documentation that shows what the previous owners have been doing, how many people have been there, and have been in communication with the Pitkin County Environmental Health Department about what that looks like,” Stern said. “In the Upper Fryingpan Master Plan, we are grandfathered in for usage as a guest ranch.”
The caucus and local residents are now urging the Pitkin County Commission to address these issues. They have requested clarification on the fate of the tent should the COVID ordinance expire, along with a broader review of Beyul’s capacity and adherence to county regulations.
Pitkin County Commissioner Patti Clapper said that Wednesday’s regular meeting will address the COVID ordinance and subsequent sunset date, but that the permitting process that Beyul is currently going through cannot be discussed until the permit application is complete.
“The alleged violations would be rectified as part of the permit application process. For Beyul to rectify the violations, we (county commissioners) have to go through the application process,” Clapper said. “We have been trying to explain to the Fryingpan Caucus people and the concerned citizens who have submitted letters that their concerns, for the most part, are related to the application that has not yet come before the board.”
Clapper said that Wednesday’s issue is to repeal the temporary use for extra seating during COVID and that Beyul’s permit application will be before the board sooner rather than later.
Stern said that she is not trying to fight fire with fire.
“I am open to whatever kind of things we are hearing from the neighbors, and I want to collaborate with them. I have asked if there is anything that they would like to see us do differently or any requests that they have so we can be more of an asset to the community,” she said. “We want to try to find that balance.”
She said they are not corporate kings.
“We are not this international real estate, hospitality, and development firm backed by all this money and lawyers,” Stern said. “We are a group of locals who are working really hard to create something special and beautiful and a place that so many locals come up and use.”
She said that the Rocky Mountain Institute, Aspen High School x-ed, local yoga teachers, and a National Geographic kids photo camp have all taken place at Beyul.
“Our true intention is to work with the county and find a path forward to work with the neighbors to understand how to do this together,” Stern said.
For those interested in showing support for Beyul, visit their petition at change.org. Public comments in support or to report any further alleged violations or concerns may be submitted to the Pitkin County commissioners at pitkincounty.com/publiccomment.
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