GILPIN COUNTY – On October 18 and 19, 2025, a silent auction and bake sale were held at Very Nice Brewing in Gilpin County to support the businesses lost in the Nederland Lakeview Fire. Very Nice’s original taproom and brewery were one of the businesses destroyed in the conflagration on October 9.

The auction items filled the brewing room to the brim, and attendees sipped Very Nice beer as they perused the goods up for grabs. 

Local resident and real estate agent Melissa Kluck organized the event, with the help of several volunteers. When asked what inspired her to take on such a task, she said, “A lot of my dear friends had businesses in the community, and I wanted to help my community.”

One business owner/volunteer thanked Kluck, saying, "Thank you for pioneering this when so many of us were just struggling to wake up and figure out how to keep going, it means the world."

The event was an overwhelming success, raising $11,800 from online bids alone. Almost $25,000 in total was secured to benefit the businesses and employees affected by the Lakeview Fire. Casinos like Ameristar donated over $5,000 in hotel stays and perks.

Eldora Ski Resort donated several ski lessons and gear rental certificates. Art, plants, instruments, crystals, and all manner of doodads were sold at auction to benefit those who lost their livelihoods in the recent fire.

Nordic knife sharpeners were on site to hone dull blades, with all the proceeds going to the general fundraiser.  Some auction items could only be won in person, but several were listed online, giving people a convenient option to bid.

The bake sale was a self-service donation station, where customers would mark what they bought on an inventory sheet, and then use a QR code to donate to the GoFundMe of their choice. This generous contribution by local bakers raised $1,060.

The fundraiser was a testament to the community spirit of the Peak to Peak region, in the hopes of rebuilding what was lost.