Bedbug infestation cancels school trip

GRAND COUNTY - Students from Thunder Ridge Middle School in Centennial got an unexpected surprise during their visit to the YMCA of the Rockies near Winter Park.

YMCA spokesperson Laurie Van Horn says the 150 students and 23 adults stayed at the Silver Stage Lodge at the Snow Mountain Ranch. This was the first of three trips scheduled by Thunder Ridge.

Van Horn says prior to the students' arrival, two adult guests complained of bed bugs in their room. She says students then arrived with some occupying the adjacent rooms. Van Horn says those students also filed complaints of bed bugs in their rooms.

Van Horn says four rooms total at the Silver Stage Lodge have been confirmed with bed bug infestation. She says the rest of the lodge is currently closed as dogs trained in sniffing bed bugs are going through looking for any further infestation.

Tustin Amole with the Cherry Creek School District says the other two Thunder Ridge trips have cancelled. Amole says the district is looking at what monies can be recovered including funds put forth by parents.

All the of the students belongings have been bagged and parents were given specific instructions to check for any signs of bedbugs before opening the bags. Amole says that was just precautionary.

Van Horn says YMCA workers will treat and disinfect any rooms detected with bed bugs. She believes the infestation is confined to just four rooms out of 47 at the Silver Stage Lodge.