Photo courtesy of Grand County Sheriff’s Office
It’s 20 years since the infamous Killdozer rampage in Granby on June 4th 2004. Many people have asked me how I feel about the incident now.
The main question people are asking is, “Don’t you think Granby is a better place now? With all the renovations, repairs and new buildings in place and time having passed, have any hurt feelings been eased?”
Let’s try to answer those questions.
First, I agree that Granby is a better place in a material sense. It certainly looks better, newer, and more prosperous than it did on June 3, 2004. I write this reluctantly because it relates to one of many similar stories I’ve received from admirers of Marv Heemeyer. One person claimed that Granby was literally the “armpit of Grand County.” He also said that Heemeyer had only done a little urban renewal when he drove through the town with a bulldozer tank and destroyed it.
They said it with a smirk that suggested Heemeyer was right.
Many of these property owners have “capitalized” on this devastation and built back in much better shape: Granby City Hall and Library are now relatively large and beautiful buildings, Mountain Parks Electric has expanded with more offices and a nicer looking building (they even added bollards to their garage).
The Sky High News was completely rebuilt and had three new apartments built above it, but the insurance didn’t cover it, the Thompson family got a new or renovated building, the Excel got bigger and better space, the Gamble Building got new and better too.
But I can say without hesitation that I wish we had never experienced the Killdozer rampage. I loved the old building, and, despite all the improvements it brought, I am certain that all of its victims wish they had never experienced it.
What was the cost of materials? Some figures put it at $7 million. With the added costs of interest and bonds for the massive projects the town and Grand County Library District underwent because of the riots, I think it was more like $10 million. Because of the destruction, the newspaper lost $500,000 in unrealized sales alone. What about other hidden business losses?
But the real cost to Granby, and to all the victims of the riots, is what I call “reputational damage.” Granby and all the victims have been tarnished by the false conspiracy theories that Heemeyer invented to justify his actions. In his audiotapes and written comments, Heemeyer portrayed the town and its residents as a bunch of good old guys scheming to “get” the well-meaning newcomers.
Taking his tapes and words at face value, Granby is a bad guy, a really bad guy.
I also think he knew that his extreme actions simply appealed to instinct, and that anti-government rhetoric would simply lead people to assume that he must be right. Why would anyone undertake such a bizarre mission as the Killdozer rampage? Sure, this is a great storyline.
But that’s not true. Granby and its residents weren’t out to get Mr. Heemeyer. He was treated like anyone else who started a new business and filed a complaint against the town.
I wish more people would understand that Heemeyer’s biggest frustration wasn’t with the town or anyone in particular, but with himself. He failed to negotiate the sale of his land because he kept changing the terms and got too greedy.
The power of a good storyline — a sanctimonious vigilante hunting down a corrupt small town to right a wrong — is real, and Heemeyer knew it. Social media, the internet, YouTube, and all of the so-called digital media have kept this false narrative alive. This story hasn’t gone away in 20 years.
Unfortunately, Granby will be subject to this false narrative for at least another 20 years. The only antidote is the truth, but as we all know, truth is a scarce commodity these days.
Patrick Brower is the former editor and publisher of the Grand County Newspaper and Sky High News. He is the author of “KILLDOZER: The Truth Behind the Colorado Bulldozer Rampage.” He is also a business facilitator for the Grand Enterprise Initiative. Free, confidential business management coaching is available to anyone looking to start or expand a business in Grand County. Call 970-531-0632 or contact pbrower@consultbrower.com..
