Sculptures Inspired by Bookcliff Wild Horses Installed at New Roundabouts

Local wild horse enthusiasts will be thrilled to see the connection between their cherished animals and the new sculptures adorning the roundabouts on Horizon Drive. These sculptures, inspired by the majestic Bookcliff wild horses, are set to become a distinctive landmark in Colorado.

Inspiration from the Little Bookcliffs Wild Horse Range

Vermont-based sculptor Joseph Fichter was deeply inspired by his 2014 visit to the Little Bookcliffs Wild Horse Range above Cameo. During this visit, he encountered wild horses that left a lasting impression, leading him to name three of his sculptures after horses from the range: Inca, Kiowa, and Renegade. “It was so exhilarating to see the horses,” Fichter remarked about his experience.

The Sculptures and Their Installation

Fichter crafted six larger-than-life-sized steel horse sculptures, which have been installed in the newly constructed roundabouts. Horizon Drive officials dedicated these sculptures to the city in a ceremony, marking a significant addition to the area's aesthetics.

Although commissioned to create five horses, Fichter added a colt named Viva to the collection, inspired by a mare and colt he observed at a watering hole in the mountain range. “It’s great to see them in place,” Fichter commented on the completed work. “It worked out according to plan.”

Enhancing the Cityscape

The sculptures are part of the final touches on a $6.6 million road reconstruction project aimed at improving traffic flow at one of the city's main entrances. Over the coming weeks, lighting will be installed to highlight the sculptures at night, according to Vara Kusal, manager of the Horizon Drive Business Improvement District (BID).

“People are going to be looking over saying, ‘What exciting thing is happening over there?’” Kusal said about the sculptures. “It’s really going to be a distinctive exit in Colorado. It’s going to really put us on the map.”

The BID funded the sculptures, additional landscaping, and pedestrian lighting in the roundabouts. Businesses within the district's boundaries tax themselves to fund these improvements. The sculptures, valued at $250,000, were donated to the city to be covered under the city's insurance plan.

Project Funding and Future Plans

The Horizon Drive BID and the city of Grand Junction each contributed approximately $1 million to the total project cost. The Ute Water Conservancy District provided $200,000 to relocate a water line, and a CDOT grant supplied $4.6 million.

A second phase of the project will introduce a roundabout to the south at G Road. Although funding for this phase is not yet secured, the city is exploring grant opportunities, with construction anticipated to begin in 2019.

Originally posted by The Daily Sentinel