Steamboat Pilot & Today

Hayden — Pamm McFadden has new direction in life.
Ever since having a tumor removed from her brain, she has a new drive to spend more time with her family. She said buying a business close to her family in Hayden seemed logical, in that she can spend more time with them, and they can help out with the business when she is away.
McFadden, who works in Boulder as an architect, is now the new owner of Mt. Harris Laundry, conveniently located new door to her sister-in-law Lana McFadden's design studio, Porcupine Designs.
She bought the business from Hayden residents Don and Virginia Johnson Dec. 23, 2002, as a Christmas present to herself.
But McFadden also said she bought the place as a future means of supporting her nieces, Bryanna and Kalina McFadden, through college.
"I have always liked Hayden," she said. "It's a great town and I think with this remodeled facility, this business will pick up."
Remodeling is an understatement. Her work there is more like a transformation -- from old to new. McFadden said she plans to plant trees and flowers out front with the consent of the Town Board, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.
She is trying to bring some of her architectural work into the coin-operated laundry.
At her architectural firm, McFadden designs energy-efficient, solar-powered structures.
Her energy-efficient philosophy coincided perfectly with Hayden's increased water rates; McFadden has revamped Mt. Harris Laundry with new triple-efficient washing machines.
Where the old washing machines used 18 gallons for one load of clothes, the new machines use only 6.2 gallons and clean two to three times as many clothes.
The "small" washers can take 20 pounds of clothing for $2.75, while the large washers can clean 35 pounds for $4 -- the same prices as Laundromats located in Steamboat Springs or Craig, McFadden said.
On top of that, one could dry all his or her clothes in one dryer. At 25 cents for every 10 minutes, 70 pounds of clothes can fit into one of these new industrial-sized dryers.
"Who the heck has 70 pounds of clothing, anyway?" McFadden asked playfully.
"A lot of people were going to Steamboat or Craig to do their laundry, because it seems most people preferred the newer, larger machines," McFadden said.
Mt. Harris Laundry is located at 128 South Walnut St.

-- To reach Nick Foster call 871-4204
or e-mail nfoster@steamboatpilot.com