Recent communications lead to improved relations between the county and Panadero Ski Corp
by Bob Kennemer
CUCHARA — Born from the remnants of the former Cuchara Mountain Ski Resort, Cuchara Mountain Park has had numerous challenges over the past decade. According to Huerfano County Administrator Carl Young, one of those problems is, “The park suffers from being a dream the community has, but no consensus. There are lots of factions and wants, all going in different directions.”
Young went on to explain that some of the projects are large. “Large projects take time. Several terms,” stated Young. He added, “As a county, we have been too laid back on the park perhaps.”
Early beginnings: A park is born
Keep in mind the Cuchara Foundation was the nonprofit entity, which had purchased the 50+ acre park. The foundation went on to hold several public input sessions asking what the citizens wanted out of this park. The Foundation received a significant amount of feedback and ideas. Some wanted a downhill ski area, others saw an amphitheater with concerts. Other ideas included mountain biking, archery shoots, disk golf, sledding, XC skiing, snowshoeing, nature study, a playground, and more.
Along with this process, and significant feedback in hand, the Foundation gifted the park to Huerfano County. Here was a beautiful park, with National Forest on three sides. The former base area buildings were being renovated. The future, in many ways, looked bright. What could go wrong?
Yet behind the scenes, some groups saw and were even planning for the rebirth of Cuchara Mountain Resort. Others wanted open space. Lines were being drawn. Factions were quietly emerging.
Now, who’s going to pay for it?
Adding to this is the fact that Huerfano County had and has no funding mechanism to develop and manage a county park such as CMP. Throughout most of the country and in Colorado, regional and county parks, such as CMP, are funded by some type of taxing mechanism, such as a Parks and Recreation District or an open space fund.
Huerfano is consistently one of the poorest counties in Colorado. The citizens want parks but there seems little to no will to tax themselves to purchase, develop, and maintain said parks.
With this in mind, the county has chosen to seek out firms, who could pay for park infrastructure, services, and development. In turn, these firms could charge user fees for things such as a chair lift. Those funds can then pay for the service, while also allowing some profits for the company hired to run the park.
Hey. Those guys look like they have money
Just a few years ago, the county had released a Request for Proposals and heard from a firm called Moss Adventures. Those readers who are into lightweight backcountry camping, might recognize the Moss name, as the firm and family who pioneered lightweight nylon tents. The firm went on to be an industry leader developing even larger tents. Tents that could be used for huge events for outdoor concerts, or mid-sized tents for luxury camping, known as “Glamping”. Moss also had huge ideas. Lots of ideas. Many of which would provide much of what the locals wanted, and even more. All on 50 acres.
Unfortunately, at least some of what Moss proposed for CMP was at odds with at least some of those factions mentioned above. “Moss got pulled into the politics,” said Young. Things went from bad to worse, when one of Moss’ top spokesmen engaged in a very public battle of words on social media with individuals, who attacked many of Moss’ plans. The marriage was annulled.
Back to the drawing board
A new RFP was released and the recently formed nonprofit, the Panadero Ski Corporation was awarded the contract. Being local, this group is composed of local citizens and business owners, many of whom have been in the area for decades.
PSC board members had heard a few things loud and clear. People wanted to see Lift 4 operational for alpine skiing in the winter, plus mountain biking and sightseeing in the summer. (Lift 4, is the only remaining chair lift, from the previous ski area, that is entirely within the park boundaries.)
Aside from having a better knowledge of what the county government wants, PSC boasts a strong staff and volunteers with ski industry backgrounds. “We have 125 years of ski industry experience on the mountain,” stated Ken Clayton, who serves as the treasurer for PSC. He added, this experience ranges from lift operators to lift maintenance staff, snowcat operators, ski patrol, and more. Clayton himself spent 17 years working with the Aspen Ski Company. Clayton stated, “I worked two years in the lift department, seven years as a ski instructor, and eight years (part time) in mountain operations.
This article is part one in a series about Cuchara Mountain Park.
