Loveland’s Huge Molasses Spill of 1990

Loveland, Colorado has been known as 'The Sweetheart City' since beginning its Valentine Remailing Program in 1947. About 50 years after that program began, things got really sweet in town.

How Long Was Loveland, Colorado's Sugar Plant in Operation?

Loveland's Great Western Sugar factory, one of the first in the state, operated along Madison near Eisenhower from1901 until the company went bankrupt in 1985. Five years after closing the factory down, "unfinished business" you might say, made a huge mess.

Though the sugar company had gone bankrupt, some of the factory's assets were still being used (as they still are today.) One of the things that was still happening at the facility in 1990, was the making and storage of molasses to be used at feedlots.

On on early winter morning (February 16) in 1990, that storage container sprung a leak after a valve froze.

When you hear that 582,000 gallons of molasses bursted out of that container, you have to assume that they knew that the container could hold 600,000 gallons and it was nearly empty after the spill. I can't see another way to determine the amount, but I could be wrong.

READ MORE: The New Plans for the Old Albertsons in Loveland

The Reporter-Herald reported, on the spill's 25th anniversary, that it cost $150,000 per day to clean up that mess. It's unclear how many days it took, but the roads in the area were closed for two "solid" weeks, pardon the pun.

Over 30 years later, it's still fun to look back at the huge spill that put Loveland in the national spotlight for a reason other than valentines and sculptures.