In the past two decades, new studies have explored alternative approaches to alleviating the pain of mental health disorders, gaining credibility in the scientific community and showing real-life benefits for patients. I’m talking about the fields of art therapy and music therapy.

In February 2025, Undiscovered Earth took over the lease at the six-plex movie theater in Wildhorse Plaza, renaming the space Wildhorse Cinema & Arts, and reimagining what it means to be a cultural gathering place in the Yampa Valley.

EARLE HAMMOND had worked outdoors all his life, and his sixty years had left his sinewy body lean and slightly bent. His hands were big and gnarled, and he had the habit of scratching the backs of them while he talked.

Steamboat Springs is a place where art thrives—not only through world-class exhibitions but through a deep-rooted encouragement of participation. Here, creativity is not just something to observe but something to experience.

A summer road trip. Everyone piles in the car, eats snacks and plays variations of I spy. Occasionally, a roadside attraction helps pass the time.

Some people belong to book clubs, Steamboat Springs artist Laurie Milne prefers her hooker’s circle. To be clear, Milne’s medium is non-traditional primitive form rug hooking, an artform she has perfected over decades, and it’s appreciated by several others who occasionally join her.

In the Yampa Valley, there are approximately 200 nonprofit organizations providing services across a wide spectrum—from environmental conservation and outdoor recreation to healthcare, food insecurity, housing, mental health and, of course, arts and culture.

Sculptor David Marshall's latest installation, Tangled Web, at City Hall in Steamboat Springs, is a testament to his extraordinary ability to transfer contemplation into creation.

Emily Stein loves to push the boundaries of body and mind through movement and dance. In 2019, she and her husband, Josh, started Mod Vaude (Modern Vaudeville), an event and performance group focused on burlesque dance, with classes based in Steamboat Springs.

For the members of the Delectable Mountain Quilters Guild, each quilt represents shared memories and conversations from the group’s many meetups and community events. After 30 years, the Guild is still stitching together close friendships—one quilt at a time.