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High Winds and Future Renovations in Fort Collins
- Simon Story
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
On March 12-13, winds blowing dust and gusting to nearly 90mph (~145km/h), were creating difficult driving conditions north of Fort Collins, leading to the closure of Interstate 25 (I-25). The I-25 closure was from the Prospect Road exit to the Wyoming border. Multiple semi-trucks were blown over on I-25 by high winds earlier in the day, and U.S. Highway 85, farther east, was also closed because of safety concerns. There was also a high-wind warning and a red flag warning for fire danger in effect for the Fort Collins area during this 36-48 hour period of high wind.
On another note, beginning April 20th, the ice rinks at Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC), will be closed for renovations. The renovations are to improve facility operations, energy efficiency and the overall skating experience. Both ice sheets, programs and rentals will be unavailable, and rinks are expected to reopen in July, 2026. The pools and pool locker rooms will remain open during the renovation.
The renovation project includes the following: Installation of a new chiller system designed to provide consistent, high-quality ice while improving energy efficiency and aligning with the City’s Climate Action Plan. New dasher boards, glass and netting will enhance safety, durability and visibility for skaters and spectators. New flooring and interior paint to improve functionality and refresh key areas within the rink. Operational improvements, including room reassignments and service relocations, to support daily facility operations. As part of the project, the two ice sheets will also be renamed West Rink and East Rink, providing clearer navigation for visitors. When construction is complete, the facility will resume regular programming, including public skating, lessons, leagues and rentals.
EPIC is the region's premier ice and aquatics facility, with more than 1 million visits per year. It serves the entire community, with a variety of ice skating and aquatics programs, classes, events and activities, including a 25-yard-long* lap swimming pool. The facility is home to Colorado State University (CSU) Hockey, the Fort Collins Area Swim Team (FAST), and the Fort Collins Figure Skating Club.
EPIC hours of operation:
Monday-Friday | 5:30am-8pm
Saturday-Sunday | 8am-5pm
Holidays hours:
April 4: All facilities close at 2pm
April 5: All facilities closed
EPIC is located at 1801 Riverside Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80525.
*Roughly 75 feet or 22.86 meters
Simon Story is a 11th grader at Poudre High School, and this is his first year with the Poudre Press. The column he is working on is about war. He is not currently involved in any school activities, but he has interests in filming, video games, and reading. Some of his plans for post-graduation are either going into a trade, or doing something in the food industry, or in IT.
Works Cited
The Coloradoan Newspaper. “Covered in haze, Fort Collins wakes up to lots of wind drama.” Coloradoan.com, 13 March 2026, https://www.coloradoan.com/picture-gallery/news/local/colorado/2026/03/13/see-the-damage-in-fort-collins-after-windstorm/89140057007/. Accessed 25 March 2026.
Fort Collins City Government. “Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC).” City of Fort Collins, 2026, https://www.fortcollins.gov/Venues/Edora-Pool-Ice-Center-EPIC. Accessed 23 March 2026.
Fort Collins City Government. “Ice Rink Renovations Planned at Edora Pool Ice Center.” City of Fort Collins, 18 March 2026, https://www.fortcollins.gov/News-Articles/News/2026-Q1/Ice-Rink-Renovations-Planned-at-Edora-Pool-Ice-Center. Accessed 3 March 2026.
Lyell, Kelly. “High winds close I-25 near Fort Collins, with snow in weekend forecast.” Coloradoan.com, 12 March 2026, https://www.coloradoan.com/story/weather/closures/2026/03/12/i-25-closes-near-fort-collins-due-to-high-winds-snow-in-forecast/89119977007/. Accessed 12 March 2026.
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