The Town of Dillon is excited to welcome Ariel Johnston as the newest member of the Dillon Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC). A Summit County native and local business owner, Ariel brings years of experience doing business throughout the county, a deep connection to Dillon, and plenty of ideas about its future.

Learn more about Ariel's connection to Dillon, why she joined EDAC, and what she sees ahead for the community.

Tell us a little about yourself and your connection to Dillon

I was born and raised in Summit County, growing up in Summit Cove. Nine years ago, I moved back to Summit County to start Everything Colorado in Dillon with my sister, Alison, and my father, Graeme.

Even though Summit Cove is technically outside Dillon town limits, Dillon has always felt like home to me. After opening our shop, I began spending my Fridays at the Dillon Farmers Market, connecting with local artists, makers, and other small business owners while discovering new vendors for our store. It was during that time that I truly settled into knowing Dillon as an adult and realized just how special this community is.

By choosing to spend so much of my time in Dillon, I’ve come to appreciate what makes it unique and why it’s so important to help our community grow with intention and authenticity.

When the Dillon Amphitheater reopened after its renovations, I was truly blown away by what this town could offer. You’ll often hear me say that the Dillon Amphitheater has the potential to become as iconic as Red Rocks. Then, last year, I took the three-day sailing course on Dillon Reservoir and discovered yet another side of the community I love. I love Dillon. Whether or not my business is here, this town will always have a place in my heart.

What inspired you to join the Dillon Economic Development Advisory Committee?

As many know, our Dillon location has seen a sharp decline in sales over the past few years. While that certainly had an impact, it isn’t the primary reason I wanted to join EDAC. My decision really comes down to two things: the people and intuition.

The people. The current members of EDAC are an incredibly impressive group of community leaders. As a business owner, I’ve been looking for a room exactly like this: a place where people with different experiences can collaborate around a shared goal of making Dillon stronger. The opportunity to learn from them, contribute alongside them, and be part of those conversations genuinely spoke to both my heart and my business.

Intuition. I’ve boiled my drive to be part of EDAC down to intuition. When it comes to a logical business decision, I should probably let my weak baby bird fall out of the nest and focus on my stronger businesses in other areas of the county. But there’s something inside me that keeps pulling me toward Dillon. It’s driving me to get involved and dig deeper to see if I can save my business while also exploring whether there’s a greater opportunity to uplift our entire community. It keeps telling me there’s more to this story—that there is an opportunity not only to strengthen my own business, but to help create a stronger, more vibrant future for the entire community.

What experience or perspective are you most excited to bring to the committee?

We’ve built all of our businesses on very lean budgets by making the most of the resources we already have and building from there. I believe that same mindset—being resourceful, creative, and intentional—is exactly what economic development in Dillon needs.

I also believe I bring a somewhat unique perspective to the committee. I was born and raised in Summit County, which gives me a long-term perspective that isn’t common for someone my age. At the same time, I’ve spent the past nine years building businesses not only in Dillon, but also in Copper, Frisco, and Silverthorne. This gives me firsthand insight into what makes each community successful, where they differ, and where Dillon has opportunities to grow while staying true to what makes it unique.

I’m excited to sit down, get into the nitty-gritty, and figure out how we can build on what Dillon already has rather than feeling like we have to start from scratch.

What do you see as some of the biggest opportunities for economic development in Dillon?

I think Dillon has a strong foundation and so many gems throughout the town. What I believe it’s currently lacking is connectivity. Unlike some of our neighboring towns, many of Dillon’s best businesses, parks, and experiences aren’t all centered around one Main Street or village. They’re spread throughout the area, which gives Dillon different pockets to explore, but it also means that if you don’t already know where you’re going, it’s easy to miss some of its best destinations.

I think one of our biggest opportunities is making those assets feel more connected and easier to discover. That could be through better signage, making sure our sidewalks and walking routes are accurately reflected on Google Maps, creating a sidewalk mural trail throughout town, exploring a shuttle that connects the Town of Dillon with Dillon Ridge and Anemone, as well as pursuing digital content opportunities.

I’d also love to see us think about how Dillon Valley fits into that conversation. While it’s technically outside town limits, its residents are undeniably part of the Dillon community.

The fact that Denver has a hidden gem just one hour into the mountains seems pretty wild to me, but in my opinion, it’s true. I don’t think Dillon needs to reinvent itself—I think we need to make it easier for people to experience everything it already has to offer.

What does a vibrant and successful Dillon look like to you five or ten years from now?

I think the best thing we can do for Dillon is build on what we already have and make it stronger. In the next five to ten years, I’d love to see CMC expand its presence, potentially adding college housing that could bring a new demographic and energy to town. I’d also like to see our existing businesses better supported through improved signage, visibility, and marketing.

I’d love to see the Town Core reinvigorated into more of a village or Main Street—somewhere people want to explore, spend time, and support local businesses. However, before deciding what that looks like, we need to understand what’s already here.

Dillon has businesses that serve both locals and visitors, along with important services our community relies on. As we redevelop, we need to make sure growth supports those businesses rather than replacing them with only tourist-facing concepts. I believe Dillon can be both a destination and a functional, vibrant community for the people who live here.

I also think we need to look beyond Dillon itself. How could Dillon and Keystone complement one another in the way the Town of Crested Butte and the mountain work together? Our community really functions as a county, and our long-term planning should consider how our towns, businesses, resorts, and communities work together.

Ultimately, I’d love for people to come to Dillon because Dillon is the destination, not simply somewhere they pass through or happen upon. To me, a successful Dillon has a strong identity, supports the people and businesses already here, and understands its role in the bigger picture of Summit County.

What is one thing you wish more people knew about Dillon or its local businesses?

Dillon already has so much magic to it—you just have to get on the ground and get to know it. It doesn’t have the glitz and glam of Breck or Vail, or the historic Main Street of Frisco, but that’s part of what makes Dillon unique. When you put your feet on the ground and explore, there’s so much more than meets the eye. I’ve spent many days walking around Dillon trying to understand it better, and you really do have to look a little closer to discover all of its unique pieces. To me, Dillon still has an authentic mountain-town feel that reflects the community many of us grew up with. If you like discovering places with character and charm, Dillon has it—you just have to get on the ground and explore.

When you’re not working or volunteering, what do you enjoy doing?

Friends, travel, and adventure—all together when possible! I enjoy the typical Colorado sports: skiing and skinning, mountain biking, hiking, etc. But my true heart yearns for the ocean. When I travel, I love playing mermaids and working on improving my surfing skills. Being landlocked makes it difficult, but I’m devoted! This past year, I also started taking Japanese language classes in Denver. My partner, Shiro, is Japanese, and I’m working to continue expanding my knowledge of the language and culture.

Recently, Shiro and I also started a podcast together called Up In Summit, which we’ve been producing in our spare time. It’s a Summit County podcast focused on mountain discussions, local events, and new business updates in the community.

Welcome to EDAC, Ariel! We’re excited to have your perspective, experience, and passion for Dillon at the table.