KRLN began broadcasting in Cañon City on August 15, 1947, at 1400 kHz. Raymond M. Becker and Melvin B. Williams founded the station as Royal Gorge Broadcasters. The early licensee and operating history are preserved in the station’s FCC history cards.
For many years KRLN operated on specified hours and signed off earlier than stations with full-time service on 1400 AM. FCC history records show it received authorization for 24-hour operation in 1972. The station later carried adult contemporary, talk, and oldies programming; by the late 1990s, talk had become a prominent part of its schedule.
Royal Gorge Broadcasting announced that KRLN and sister station KSTY would close. KRLN’s final broadcast was January 1, 2025, ending nearly eight decades of local service to Fremont County. The FCC cancelled the station’s license on July 15, 2026, after the broadcast operation had already ended.
Station information
- Service: AM 1400, Cañon City, Colorado.
- First broadcast: August 15, 1947.
- Founders: Raymond M. Becker and Melvin B. Williams, doing business as Royal Gorge Broadcasters.
- 24-hour authorization: 1972.
- Last broadcast: January 1, 2025.
- FCC license cancellation: July 15, 2026.
References
- FCC Licensing and Management System, Facility ID 35552 (KRLN) — facility and licensing record.
- FCC KRLN history cards — license-history record for the Cañon City station.
- RadioInsight, “Southern Colorado Duo To Shut Down” (December 23, 2024) — reports the announced closure of KRLN and KSTY.
- Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center, “Community Coffee & Conversation: KRLN Radio” — local-history notice recording the station’s January 1, 2025 sign-off.
STATION FILE
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KRLN-AM History
KRLN begins broadcasting in Cañon City
KRLN began broadcasting on 1400 kHz. Broadcasting Yearbook records identify Royal Gorge Broadcasters, Inc. as owner and list 1615 Central Avenue, Raymond M. Beckner as president/general manager, and Denver Wells as chief engineer.
Royal Gorge announces KSTY and KRLN shutdown
Royal Gorge Broadcasting announced on December 23, 2024 that KSTY 104.5 and KRLN 1400 would close at the beginning of 2025. Station manager Megan Stanley said the owners were retiring and that the operation had struggled with changing digital demands and local-radio economics.
KRLN 1400 ends regular broadcasting
KRLN 1400 ended regular broadcasting on January 1, 2025 after serving Cañon City and Fremont County for decades. Royal Gorge Broadcasting had announced the change in December 2024. KRLN did not resume when former sister station KSTY later returned under new local ownership.
KSTY and KRLN close under Royal Gorge Broadcasting
KSTY 104.5 and sister KRLN 1400 ended regular broadcasting at the start of 2025 after Royal Gorge Broadcasting announced the closure of the longtime Cañon City pair in December 2024.
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