The rumble of motorcycles fell into perfect harmony with the cha-ching of cash registers this weekend as leather-clad bikers patronized Cortez businesses on their way to the Iron Horse Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio.

Motorcycle enthusiasts helped to revive what has been a disappointing tourist season in Montezuma County following the Bircher and Pony fires that temporarily closed Mesa Verde National Park, the area’s leading tourist attraction.

Eugene Zubrzycki, manager of the Comfort Inn and Days Inn in Cortez, said that he saw a large increase in room reservations over the Iron Horse Rally weekend.

"We had quite a few bikers in both hotels. Saturday night we had 100-percent-full capacity in both hotels and (Sunday) we were full at the Days Inn," Zubrzycki said.

Billie Sanders, owner of the KOA Kampground of Cortez, said that if it wasn’t for the bikers they would have almost no business at all.

Since the Bircher and Pony fires, campground occupancy within Montezuma County has dropped anywhere from 30 percent to 100 percent, the Umbrella Tourism Council said.

"(Because of the fires) this has been the worst Labor Day weekend that we have ever had. If we hadn’t had bikers we would have had practically no one," Sanders said.

"The bikers — because they couldn’t get lodging in Durango — we just got the overflow. We are still a long way from full," said Sanders.

On Monday, the flash of polished chrome could also be spotted out in front of several Cortez restaurants as bikers made their way home following the weekend’s festivities.

"I wish you could see our parking lot right now," said a Golden Corral Restaurant spokesperson Monday morning.

Danny Rooswinkel, general manager of Wendy’s in Cortez, said that Wendy’s experienced about a 6-percent increase in sales over the weekend.

"We made about $500 more over the weekend," Rooswinkel said. "That’s a pretty good chunk of change."

Other travel- and tourism-related businesses in Cortez, such as gas stations and convenience stores, also benefited from the biker dollars.

Barbara Boan, owner of Conoco Corners in Cortez, estimated that her sales were up roughly 20 percent. "Usually if they come in they not only buy gasoline, they also buy (convenience-) store items — which helps," Boan said.