Main Street Steamboat urges county to allow historic ‘Santa House’ on courthouse lawn for one more season

Lisa Popovich, executive director of Main Street Steamboat, asked the Routt County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 14 to allow the organization to place the longtime “Santa House” on the Steamboat Springs courthouse lawn for one more season while Main Street seeks a permanent home.

"I would simply ask that we could continue to have the house on this courthouse lawn for one more year while we find a more permanent location and create a new community tradition," Popovich told the board during the meeting's public-comment period.

Popovich described the Santa House as a donated old lift shack renovated by local artists and volunteers and said downtown volunteers covered a last-minute $700 shortfall in repairs. "Main Street was able to put some money together and get some donations to make sure that the county courthouse lawn was lit," she said, thanking the county for past cooperation.

Other speakers echoed the appeal. Chris Dillinbeck, who identified himself as a Main Street board member and co‑owner of FM Light and Sons, said the Santa House "makes our town feel special during the holiday season" and argued it is secular, not religious. Resident Sandy Mead noted county ordinances restrict encroachment without a revocable permit and urged the commission to authorize the placement each year to avoid downtown business impacts. Joanne Lockhart Hopius, describing herself as born and raised in Steamboat Springs, asked the board to “grandfather” the tradition and keep the display in a visible downtown location.

Commissioners responded with clarifications rather than a policy change. One commissioner said the county attorney's memo shows the Santa House was not on the county lawn continuously for 20 years but returned to the courthouse lawn in 2021; "there were several years that it was not on our lawn," the commissioner said. The same commissioner added that Main Street Steamboat may place the Santa House on the lawn during an "active event" and encouraged Main Street to coordinate with county staff about scheduling and permitting.

County staff did not present a motion to change policy during the meeting. Instead, the board chair said staff would follow up with Main Street in writing after the meeting to explain the county position and next steps.

Context: public comments about the Santa House occurred during the board’s regular public‑comment period; commissioners explicitly noted they do not engage in dialogue during public comment but will follow up afterward. The county’s written memo and the board’s statement limiting placement to times when an "active event" is occurring were the most specific clarifications given during the meeting.

Looking ahead: Main Street Steamboat representatives said they are pursuing alternative permanent locations and asked the county to allow the seasonal placement for one more year while that work continues. The board committed to follow up with the Main Street board in writing after the meeting.