By Pete Gawda
The Falcon Food Store and the Falcon Meadow RV Park has been a legendary, family owned business in Falcon since 1959. The third generation of the Ozburn family is currently at the helm, with the fourth generation waiting in the wings.
The first generation, Gerald Ozburn and his wife, Leona, started the business in 1959. David Ozburn is Gerald Ozburn ‘s grandson and the current operator of the store and campground.
When his grandfather started the business, Ozburn said, “There were maybe three or four tent sites and no RV sites.” In 1983, David Ozburn’s father, Jim, and mother, Dee, took over the reins from the elder Ozburn.
Young David already had experience since he began working at age 11 under his father’s ownership. “We had 10 RV sites and 10 tent sites,” David Ozburn said. He continued to work there until he graduated from high school in 1991. After graduation, Ozburn said he became a ski bum and then he became an elephant trainer and traveled with zoos across the country.In 2014, he came back to the RV park to work with his father. Ozburn said that coming back was not something he had previously planned. “It just became a good move for me and my family,” he said.
Over the years, the younger Ozburn gradually took over management duties from his father. Currently, his son, Parker Ozburn, age 28, works full time for David, and the latter’s daughter Emmarie,age 16, works in the summer at the store and park.
Falcon has exponentially grown since 1983 when David Ozburn came back to the RV park. “There was nothing out here, he said. “Everybody knew everybody.” None of the huge subdivisions in Falcon existed. “Back then, the main business was the convenience store,” he said.
Ozburn said the opening of Safeway did not hurt his overall business. “Right about that time, the camping business really took off,” he said. The main business now is the campground, not the store. Today the store caters mostly to the needs of campers, selling camp necessities and items such as propane, ice and wood. They still maintain local customers who buy propane for heating barns and other non-camping uses.
Over the years, camping trends have changed with the emphasis shifting from tents to RVs,” Ozburn said. Today, the campground houses 50 RV sites and 10 tent sites. Ozburn said the RV sites are flourishing, but the tent sites are not always full.
Although his business has rolled with the times, Ozburn has mixed feelings about growth. “It’s sad,” he said. “I never see any pronghorn. It’s change and nothing you can do about it. “
Ozburn said he plans to make the best of the Banning Lewis Ranch subdivision proposed expansion that meets head one with his property line. ”I prefer not to have houses up to the fence line,” he said. “We’ll see if we can buy land or share green space with the subdivision.”
In connection with work on Highway 24 scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, the current entrance to the RV park on Highway 24 will be closed and there will be a new entrance off Falcon Highway. The store will be moved close to the new entrance. When the new store opens, there will be no gas pumps. Ozburn said operating gas pumps will be too expensive and require more employees. He had talked with postal officials about having a contract post office in the new store but conversations went nowhere.
Parker Ozburn has big plans for when he eventually takes the reins. “I want to expand the business,” he said. “Once we survive the Highway 24 project, I want to open a second location.” His plans are fluid at this point. There is only one thing he is certain about, “My idea is to remain in Colorado,” Parker Ozburn said. “I have a pretty good idea of camping in Colorado.” Expansion could be in a remote area with tent sites. People who go tent camping want to be away from urban development, Parker Ozburn said. There is no timetable for the third and fourth generation to change hands.
The campground has laundry facilities, WIFI internet, a handicap-accessible restroom and shower and a recreation room with cable TV.
“We’ve done pretty well,” David Ozburn said of the campground. However, he added,” Camping is down a little with gas prices so high.”
Editor’s note: Jim and Dee Ozburn were not available at the time of the interview.
