Mountain Eyeworks Moves to Wildhorse Marketplace with Expanded Diagnostics

Steamboat Springs —3,600 square feet. That is the new footprint for Mountain Eyeworks in Steamboat Springs, a significant jump from its previous location. The move to Wildhorse Marketplace at 685 Marketplace Plaza replaces the former site of McKnight’s Irish Pub and, more recently, Stonewall.

The renovation began in February of last year. The space is now fully operational, with optometrists Erica Musgrove and Brian Williams welcoming patients since September. According to the Steamboat Pilot, the primary driver for the move was capacity. The new layout features four exam rooms that allow doctors to see patients simultaneously, a logistical upgrade over the old setup.

Why does this matter for your next eye exam? Scheduling and wait times are the immediate concerns. In a single-room or two-room office, you often sit in a waiting room for an hour because the doctor is stuck with one patient. With four rooms, throughput increases. Musgrove told the Pilot that the additional space provides "the ability to expand — not just now, but into the future."

The equipment upgrade is equally significant. The new space includes cutting-edge diagnostic tools for both the front and back of the eye. Musgrove noted, "We have a lot of imaging for the back of the eye, retinal imaging, and now we’re able to do more of the front of the eye imaging too." This matters for conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye care. Early detection relies on high-resolution imaging. More precise tools mean better data for your diagnosis.

The optical department has also expanded, featuring designs from more than 20 brands and prescription sunglasses from top makers. The waiting area includes leather chairs, a shift in ambiance that reflects the investment in the physical space.

For context, Mountain Eyeworks has been operating in Steamboat Springs since 1989. The company recently expanded its geographic reach by purchasing Victory Vision in Craig in 2022. That location at 2 W. Victory Way serves West Routt County residents, reducing the need to drive to Steamboat for routine care. Musgrove and Williams alternate their time between the two locations, so availability in Steamboat depends on which doctor is scheduled for a given day.

The financial and logistical impact of this move falls on the local commercial real estate market. The space was previously occupied by Stonewall, which closed earlier this year. Repurposing a former pub into a medical office requires specific renovations for plumbing, electrical load, and accessibility. The renovation timeline — starting in February and opening by September, suggests a heavy capital investment to ensure the space meets medical standards.

The company is hosting a grand opening open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 16. Clint Musgrove, Erica’s husband who handles the business side, said the event is an opportunity to tour the space and enjoy sub sandwiches from Cruiser’s.

The practical bottom line: if you have been putting off a comprehensive eye exam or a contact lens fitting, the new infrastructure supports faster service and more advanced diagnostics. The move signals that Mountain Eyeworks is betting on growth in the Steamboat market, leveraging a larger physical footprint to handle more patients with better technology. For locals, that means less waiting and more precise care, provided the scheduling logistics of alternating between Craig and Steamboat work in your favor.