A wood-fired pizza food truck is set to become a lasting addition at Fenceline in Mancos.

Sweetwater Gypsies is replacing Fencepost.

Fenceline Cider in Mancos is set to reopen on Friday, January 10 at 11:30 a.m. after a 10-day closure. The reopening will feature a new addition outside: a wood-fired pizza food truck named Sweetwater Gypsies.

"We're going to miss the Fencepost, but our excitement for Sweetwater Gypsies is through the roof," expressed Jordan Lang, who has been managing Fenceline since 2021.

The cidery shared the news on Facebook, stating that it would be closing the Fencepost on December 30, expressing their feelings as "mixed emotions."

“We are incredibly grateful for your support throughout the years,” the message read in the online post dated December 23.

Nonetheless, Lang stated, "the objective was never to operate a restaurant."

"We ultimately went through with it and found it enjoyable," Lang remarked. "However, we decided to step back from managing a restaurant, as our primary focus is on cider production."

Thus, they made the choice to go ahead with their plan, allowing another party to handle the food aspect. That "another party" has traditionally been food trucks.

A few years back, the local food truck scene was thriving. There were so many options available that Fenceline could feature a different food truck for its customers to savor every night of the week, according to Lang.

However, that supply began to decrease.

Certain food trucks established their own physical restaurants, while others opted for a catering approach. A few even decided to sell their trucks completely.

This need for food is what led Fenceline to acquire the Fencepost in November 2022, as Lang explained.

However, operating a restaurant was never part of the plan, so it was the perfect moment to extend an opportunity to Sweetwater Gypsies at Fenceline, according to Lang.

Additionally, Lang mentioned that the wood-fired food truck had previously operated at the cidery, establishing a "wonderful, enduring partnership" between them.

On January 3, the cidery took to Facebook to share the exciting news, announcing that Sweetwater Gypsies will be joining them as a permanent addition to Fenceline Cider.

Monica Marty, the owner of Sweetwater Gypsies, stated that the new food truck will focus on its specialty of wood-fired pies for now, with plans to eventually broaden the menu and introduce salads once they have established themselves more firmly.

She mentioned that they intend to incorporate many local products into their offerings, and the menu will adapt based on the seasonal availability of ingredients.

Marty expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity to "acquire a new skill set in managing a regular business, in contrast to the concession-style operations."

Just a year ago, Sweetwater Gypsies acquired its very first enclosed trailer featuring a wood-fired oven. For the previous 14 years, the business had been functioning with a mobile oven set up beneath a pop-up canopy, according to Marty.

Marty expressed his enthusiasm by stating, "I'm thrilled to operate a business that contributes positively to the community."

Fenceline and Sweetwater Gypsies will be “combining their operating hours,” resulting in some adjustments to the cidery's schedule, according to Lang.

Importantly, both establishments will now serve lunch on select weekdays: Monday, Thursday, and Friday. They will remain closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and will open at 2 p.m. during the weekends.