Tico Time River Resort and RV Park owner Rob Holmes says the resort is taking actions to mitigate noise for upcoming music festivals this spring and summer after neighborhood complaints last year.
“We have 80 acres, and we feel like we can do things to mitigate noise, and be a good neighbor,” he said.
Holmes gave a presentation to the San Juan County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday to talk about the resort’s noise mitigation plans. The resort is less than a mile south of the Colorado state line between Aztec and Durango.
During his presentation, Holmes said there would be fewer musical acts at the festivals this year and the main stage would be finished by 10:30 p.m. Holmes also said the number of music acts scheduled on Sundays will be limited.
San Juan County Commissioner Steve Lanier thanked Holmes for his presentation and asked if there would be any security this year. Holmes said a 24-hour security team has been hired and will enforce quiet time after 11 p.m.
Last year when the resort began hosting festivals, a number of residents complained about loud music and nude festivalgoers after The River of Souls Festival on May 20-22, 2021.
The River of Souls Festival was not produced by Tico Time, and performers brought their own equipment.
“That festival we had huge speakers that were brought in, and we got noise complaints from like 4 miles away,” Holmes said. “So what we’re doing this year is not bringing in any outside producers, and no outside equipment so that we don’t have really loud noises.”
Holmes said Tico Time is a family-friendly resort, and he wants to offer more family-friendly activities during upcoming festivals.
“This year, we’re trying to add more stuff like yoga, fitness and spirituality stuff,” he said. “We’re going in more of a wellness direction in addition to having music, and we believe that’s going to be a much more wholesome and family-friendly environment.”
Tico Time employees will be monitoring decibels in the adjacent neighborhood during festivals to try to regulate the decibel levels of their equipment.
“This way we can track and show what the noise levels actually are,” Holmes said.
Additionally, he said that a wall is being built on the south and west sides of the main stage in an effort to mitigate noise.
“We’re not sure that’s going to help, because some of the noise bounces off the cliffs anyway,” he said. “It might help some.”
Holmes said this year there will not be a firework show every Saturday, only on Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July weekend and Labor Day weekend.
Tico Time’s Festival season is set to kick off with Sangha Fest, May 5-8.
“Sangha Fest celebrates wellness, community, spiritual growth and personal development through yoga, breath, music, meditation, movement, art, dance, nature, ceremony and play,” the Tico Time website says.
njohnson@durangoherald.com
