Even though no final decisions were made, consideration of a new Visit Estes Park initiative using drone light shows and a revised contract for sponsoring Frozen Dead Guy Days topped the list of topics discussed by the VEP Board of Directors when they met on Thursday, Sept. 25.
Finances were a high priority when discussing both events.
According to Board member Pat Murphy, who suggested VEP invest in drone light shows, the potential for recouping an investment could be significant.
“If we were offering a drone show, there’s probably a lot of people that would stay the night instead of heading back home,” Murphy said. “If we could pair some drone shows with some of the events we have, it could make them even more effective and really help us during the shoulder season,” Murphy said.
“The numbers work really well,” Murphy said about drone shows. Using the nighttime lights for events such as Ski Jor and the Duck Race would augment the appeal of Estes Park during slower seasons, Murphy said.
The State of Colorado, through the America 250 – Colorado 150 Commission, is bringing a drone light show to Estes on May 1 in conjunction with the 2026 Great Estes Park Duck Race. The drone show is part of an initiative marking the state’s sesquicentennial anniversary of statehood and the national celebration of its 250th anniversary.
The Commission has partnered with the Colorado Tourism Office and Visit Denver to develop “Stories in the Sky,” 14-minute shows that include 10 minutes of fixed content, two minutes of locally adapted content, and two minutes of sponsored content. Chevron, Tallgrass, and UCHealth have sponsored development of the shows.
Some of the advantages of drone shows include that they are more environmentally friendly than firework shows, pose less fire risk, do not create loud explosions that frighten animals or trigger stress reactions in people, and are thematically adaptable to seasonal or event themes.
Using the calculation that overnight guests spend $174 per day here, Murphy’s data showed that if 500 more people stayed one night in Estes Park because of the drone show, they would spend an estimated $87,000 more than if they were just day-trip visitors. According to one provider, one drone show would cost $20,250.
If VEP contracts in advance for six drone shows, the total cost would be $75,900, a 40% savings over booking shows individually, according to Murphy’s calculations. Meanwhile, 500 overnight visitors would spend an additional $522,000.
The calculation of how much overnight visitors spend per day was based on a study completed by Dean Runyan Associates, a national firm that determined the economic impact of tourism in Estes Park.
“The numbers work. They [would] create a lot of income for us,” Murphy said.
By consensus, Board members indicated they were interested in pursuing the concept, but wanted more details, including a sample provider contract and staff feedback about moving forward with a plan.
Frozen Dead Guy Days event sponsorship
Altering the event sponsorship agreement with Freeman created more concern for the VEP Board.
Von Freeman, owner of Bosco Consulting and Productions LLC, the company that owns and produces the March FDGD event, has requested that the VEP Board consider a five-year contract in place of the current three-year agreement, which expires in 2028.
Under the current three-year contract with Freeman, VEP is obligated to pay Bosco Productions $275,000 in addition to providing all advertising and marketing for the event in 2026. In 2027 and 2028, VEP would sponsor the festival for $250,000 in 2027 and $200,000 in addition to covering all advertising costs.
The FDGD event has helped to drive visits to Estes during the winter shoulder season when tourism is traditionally lower.
With the five-year sponsorship proposal, Freeman’s company would be responsible for all event promotion and marketing. Proposed for the five-year plan is a $340,000 fee in 2026, with reduced annual investments each year, culminating in $225,000 by 2030.
Expenses borne by the producer include the costs of the venue, fees for bands, security, and promotion.
Town Trustee Marie Cenac, who serves as both a liaison to VEP and a voting member on the Board, requested additional time to review the calculations for visitor impact before deciding on the proposed contract.
“I just have an issue with this Board spending basically that much more on one event on one weekend,” Cenac said.
“Frozen Dead Guy Days is a big project,” said Board member Deb Gibson. “It’s not just that weekend. It’s what it does to promote winter in Estes Park,” she said.
Calculations presented by Freeman showed that in March 2025, the total business sales impact of FDGD in Estes was $3.1 million, supporting 1,194 jobs, generating $1.9 million in visitor spending on lodging, dining, and shopping, and resulting in total federal, state, and local tax revenues of $576 million. This included sales tax collections received by VEP of $177,146, a 3.6% increase over 2024, and town sales tax receipts of $1,239,414, representing a 2.6% increase over 2024.
Data analytics from Destination International, the world’s largest trade organization for marketing districts, convention and visitors’ bureaus, and tourism boards, shows that more than half of FDGD visitors spend the night in Estes. According to Freeman’s presentation, for every dollar spent by VEP to promote FDGD, there is an ROI of $9 for area businesses. “Frozen Dead Guy Days isn’t just a quirky festival. It’s quickly become an economic engine,” said Freeman.
According to Freeman’s presentation to the Board, other markers for Frozen Dead Guys Day’s economic impact included increased average daily rates received by lodging facilities, increased lodging occupancy, and an increase in revenue per available room.
Plans for the upcoming FDGD event include involving more businesses through a drive-to-retail initiative with QR codes at local retail, restaurants, and lodging facilities, which will allow people to purchase discounted FDGD tickets at these locations. Additionally, the event will feature an art show in the Event Center, more interactive games for children and families, and increased involvement with local charities.
“I know that we work with the high school band, and it’s their most successful fundraiser of the year,” said Freeman. “We are willing to work with any charities in town.”
Using Visit Estes Park’s data generated by Placer.ai, Freeman said 75% of those who attended the 2025 event had not visited Estes Park in the past. The event has experienced a 20% annual growth in attendance, with 57% of attendees staying overnight.
The marketing plan involves rescheduling the FDGD for March 28 to promote it at events occurring earlier in the month, including the Denver St. Patrick’s Day parade, where a float will be featured.
The Board agreed to review Freeman’s proposal at its Oct. 23 meeting after receiving more detailed financial and economic impact reports, a report on staff time dedicated to promoting the event, and a staff recommendation.