A new gallery and hands-on art studio is taking root in downtown Winter Park, blending work from local artists with glass flameworking stations, craft tables and a small bar. Alpenglow Art Center is preparing to open at 78746 US-40, Unit C-113, with construction and installations already underway inside the space.
The business was founded by Kenzie Lipe, who studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and later worked at Chicago's WNDR Museum, according to WhatNow. During her studies, she specialized in neon bending and light art. Her background also includes flameworking, glassblowing and plasma art.
Lipe described the vision as something looser than a typical gallery. The outlet reports she wants the space to make art-making casual and social, welcoming walk-ins without plans and letting people try a project or simply enjoy the space without ever calling themselves artists.
A Front Gallery, a DIY Corner and a Bar
The build-out calls for a front gallery showcasing work from local artists, paired with a DIY section and flameworking space where visitors can grab art kits and work independently. Rounding out the layout, per the same account, will be high-top tables, bar seating, dedicated crafting tables and a lounge corner stocked with a couch and art books.
Programming is expected to range from traditional classes in stained glass, printmaking, watercolor and ornament making to looser social nights built around paint-and-sip sessions, vision-boarding and disco ball decorating parties. The business also plans to offer private events and group experiences, along with select classes and private bookings outside its regular hours.
The planned mix enters a visitor economy: a Grand County community profile found that tourism and outdoor recreation accounted for 40% of county jobs, including accommodation and food services and arts, entertainment and recreation. Winter Park’s transit plan reported a concentration in Arts, Culture & Entertainment. Those figures show how important visitor-facing activity is locally, though they do not measure demand for a new gallery or art classes. Winter Park’s transit plan and Grand County’s economic profile provide that broader context.
Once open, Alpenglow intends to run seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Staffing is expected to include a couple of part-time studio administrators alongside a rotating group of local artists and instructors, the report notes.
Permits Cleared, Liquor License Hearing Set
The application is for an entertainment-facility liquor license. Colorado’s rules list arts and crafts classes and artistic exhibitions as qualifying entertainment activities, while requiring alcohol sales to be incidental to the main business and light snacks to be available. The published notice identifies Alpenglow’s requested license, and Colorado’s licensing rules set the category’s criteria.
The lease on the Winter Park unit commenced September 1, and construction and installations have been underway since. Most permits have already been cleared, with a liquor license hearing scheduled for November 17, though the business's opening and operating hours remain plans rather than a confirmed launch.
The November 17 event is a public hearing on the license application. The hearing is set for 5:30 p.m. at Winter Park Town Hall, according to the hearing notice.
Lipe has said she plans to debut the space by the end of 2026, with a community soft opening beforehand. She has also invited prospective instructors and artists to reach out about teaching classes or exhibiting their own work, and the business has said it will continue sharing updates on social media.
