Carving dreams: The artistic journey of Sopris Mine

Nestled along Avalanche Creek between Carbondale and Redstone, the Sopris Mine is up and running — finally.

After years of legal and regulatory hurdles, the mine isn’t just a site for extracting marble and alabaster. Owner Robert Congdon dreams of transforming the mining operation into a burgeoning hub for artists and sculptors from around the world.

“I want these walls to be filled with carvings someday,” he said. “To see that would be a dream come true for me.”

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Starting in the coal mines of Colorado in the 1980s, his career took a turn when he stumbled upon the potential of the Sopris Mine in 1982. In doing so, he found what he speculates to be more than 32 million tons of brown marble and 21 million tons of black marble. But after more than four decades in the mine, it’s the more than 50 million tons of alabaster that was buried behind freeze thaw, water, and rock that was his hidden treasure.

The journey to this point hasn’t been without its challenges. Congdon faced numerous setbacks along the way, including his permits getting revoked multiple times (They were finally approved earlier this year), and local opposition that saw the mine as an environmental threat.  In 2019, he was forced to remove himself and his equipment from the mine in a legal battle with the U.S. Forest Service and forced to cease operations. Following what he called “a few years of endless battles,” he has secured his permit and will begin work once again. 

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“We’re bonded with the state of Colorado, so we’re legally able to go to work. And we’ve been working up there,” he said. “It took a lot longer than we wanted it to, but that’s the way things work.”

Since his finding, he has moved close to 800 tons of alabaster, selling to artists throughout the world to make table tops, sculptures, decorations, and more.

Unlike many in the mining industry, Congdon said he has a profound desire to integrate art with industry. 

“I’m not mining to get rich; I’m mining because I want to create art,” he explained. “I know many people who are rich, but money doesn’t buy my happiness — art does.”

Not just content with extracting resources, he has ambitious plans for the mine, including an amphitheater and artist studios carved directly into its subterranean walls.

“I want it to be historic,” he noted, describing his dream of tourists walking through the mine, admiring sculptures from global artists carved into the walls. “I want to turn this place into somewhere people come from all over the world to visit.”

While he says he has a ways to go before allowing artists to make their way into the mine to carve, the process has already begun. Jeremy Russell, a close friend of his, spent nearly eight years carving a 55-foot eagle into the walls of the mine before operations ceased in 2019. The eagle showcases the potential, and the vision, of what the Sopris Mine can become.

Looking ahead, Congdon is actively working on the permitting aspects to expand the mine’s artistic and communal functions. His vision includes not only the physical expansion of the mine, but also fostering a community where art can thrive. Longtime friend Mark Luttrell said while the process has been a lengthy one, Congdon’s is not one to give up.

“Any average person would have given up on this 20 years ago,” Luttrell said. “This is what he has dreamt about for as long as I can remember. If he can continue to get past all the legal hurdles, there is great potential.”

As Congdon continues to navigate the complex landscape of mining regulations and community relations, his resolve remains strong. The Sopris Mine, under his stewardship, aims to be more than a source of stone; it seeks to be a source of inspiration, showcasing the interplay of nature, art, and human aspiration.

“I’m not going to be on this earth forever — none of us are,” he said. “All you can do while you are standing and breathing is leave a legacy; that’s why we are all here. This mine is my home, and I want it to be my legacy.”