Demand not slackening: St. Ignatius tours continue to draw

Since Sept. 21, tours at the former St. Ignatius Hospital have brought more than 1,000 people to Colfax with 80 percent of them coming from more than 50 miles. Only five resided in Colfax.

“It’s been interesting to see the people who come in,” said Valorie Gregory, Colfax unified executive director. Gregory and tour volunteers have booked 76 tours for a 53-day span and will close for the year at the end of November.

When things warm up in the spring, the tours at the hospital will resume while the outbuildings are renovated. According to Gregory, the owners are not sure what they will do with...