Buena Vista's Mt. Olivet Cemetery Comes Alive for Lantern Tour
The Mt. Olivet Cemetery tour features stories from the lives of prospectors, madams, and sheriffs who lived in Chaffee County.
Historical reenactors guide visitors through the cemetery, sharing tales from Buena Vista's history. The tours are a fundraiser for the Buena Vista Heritage Foundation.
The first tour took place in 2004, conceived by former executive director Kathi Perry. Founding member Sue Kelly helped develop the tours, inspired by Perry's research on the cemetery's residents.
Every small town — every town — but small towns in particular have people who knew people when they lived here.
This year's guide, played by Pam Gonzalez, will engage visitors in character, saying
Oh my goodness, look who's here. I didn't know we were going to get to see you tonight.
The Buena Vista Heritage Foundation benefits from the tours, which have been running since 2004.
Author's summary: Historical reenactors bring Buena Vista's Mt. Olivet Cemetery to life.