It’s a three peat! Yes folks, for the third year straight and the fifth time in the past eight years the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) awarded Estes Park’s Rooftop Rodeo the prestigious award of America’s Best Small Rodeo. The Rooftop received this honor in 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. To really put this in perspective, consider that in the small rodeo category there are over 400 other rodeos. To put it another way, the Rooftop has won the Super Bowl of small rodeos. So, if you are looking for some real western/cowboy excitement, plan on being in Estes Park July 12-17, 2011. You are absolutely guaranteed a great time!

You might ask just how a rodeo wins the award of Best Small Rodeo in America. Actually, it is a combination of a lot of great stuff. Understand that the folks who are the official voters are the professional cowboys, cowgirls, the contractors, announcers, bullfighters, and specialty acts - basically all members of the PRCA. Why would they vote the Rooftop as the best? First, Estes Park really appreciates the cowboys and cowgirls who come to our rodeo to compete. They could go to other shows with the chance of winning more money, but they come to the Rooftop. Because of this, we do the best we can to show them first rate Rooftop hospitality. Of course, competitors place high value on a rodeo that is produced professionally with animal athletes that will challenge their skills. Powder River Rodeo Productions and the owners, Hank and Lori Franzen, bring this package together like no other contractor in professional rodeo.

The professional cowboys and cowgirls see Estes Park as a great rodeo town. Set in the magnificent Rocky Mountains, our town and rodeo arena have to be in the most beautiful setting in America. Actually, the term “Rooftop” comes from the fact that at an altitude of just over 7500 feet, the Rooftop is the highest professional rodeo in America. In recent years, the tag of “A rodeo with altitude” has been attached to the Rooftop.

When you consider the year round work of the Rooftop Committee, the many individual community volunteers, the Town Trustees, the merchants, and the many sponsors - both local and national - it is easy to visualize how and why the Rooftop became the best small rodeo in America.

The 2011 Rooftop Rodeo (RTR) kicks off with a colorful parade at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, July 12, 2011 in downtown Estes Park. There will be six exciting PRCA Rodeo performances at 7:30 P.M. each evening, beginning Tuesday, July 12th and continuing through Sunday, July 17, 2011, at The Fairgrounds at Stanley Park in Estes Park, Colorado.

Saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie down roping, bareback bronc riding, dally team roping, barrel racing and bull riding are the PRCA sanctioned events that will entertain and astonish each evening’s audience. In addition, people will not want to miss the antics of this year’s rodeo clown.

Young competitors will show their stuff in the “Mutton Busting” contest where the winners gets trophies that are generally taller than they are. What great fun! If you are interested in really getting a feel for rodeo from the competitor’s perspective, you can sign up for the “Behind the Chutes” tour. On this tour, you will meet the Rooftop Rodeo Queen, hear from the rodeo announcer, the rodeo contractors, and possibly several cowboy athletes. You will also get up close and personal with the animal athletes - keep your hands in your pockets on this one folks, because those 2,500 pound bulls may look sleepy, but they can explode into action in an instant!

From a historical perspective, most of what is known about rodeo in Estes Park was gleaned from articles in the first newspaper, The Mountaineer and later, the Estes Park Trail. The earliest reference to a rodeo-type celebration in Estes Park was recorded in The Mountaineer (June 25, 1908), “Estes Park is now assured of a lively time on the fourth of July. The affair will be a genuine old fashioned “Wild West” exhibition, featuring some noted riders and horses in a Bronco Busting contest. The very best local riders have registered for the contest, and some bad ‘outlaw’ horses are being rounded up. A few of the most famous riders from the near parts of Colorado and Wyoming have also agreed to ride and are bringing good bucking horses. Besides the Bronco Busting contest, there will be a great many thrilling and amusing western ranch features such as roping and branding and steer riding.

The use of the term Frontier Days is interesting and connects to a relationship between the ‘Daddy of ’em All’ rodeo, the famous Cheyenne Frontier Days. The first Cheyenne Frontier Days’ rodeo was staged in 1897; thus, to those planning the early Estes Park shows, the term ‘Frontier Days’ would have been well known. Actually, there still is a strong connection between Estes Park and Cheyenne that began in 1921 when the Cheyenne Boosters came to Estes. There were 100 Cheyenne residents plus 15 Sioux. The Sioux put on a dancing demonstration that was the hit of the day. Today, Estes Park and the Rooftop Rodeo Committee are pleased and privileged to have the senior members of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Committee continue the tradition started in 1921 by attending the opening day of the Rooftop Rodeo.

The first time the term “rodeo” can be documented as being used in relationship to Estes Park is in a 1923 (August 24, page 12) Estes Park Trail article titled, ‘Wild West Show to be Staged at Stanley Field’. “Colorado Springs and other cities have been putting on rodeos for several years and Estes Park, not to be outdone, will break into the limelight this season with the most spectacular rodeo ever held in this part of the state.”(P. 12) In this article, a comparison with Cheyenne was made by the statement “Practically all features of the Cheyenne show will be staged.”

For more information on the Rooftop Rodeo contact the Estes Park Fairgrounds (970-586-6104) and check out the Rooftop Rodeo official web site at www.rooftoprodeo.com.

Remember, if it’s July and if it’s rodeo, then you just have to be at the Rooftop in Estes Park, Colorado. See you there, partner.

- Howell F. Wright, President, Rooftop Rodeo