News

• Telluride Ski Resort Improvement Project Begins
• Construction Covers the Canyon
• Telluride Tourism Board Looks to Summer

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Telluride Ski Resort Improvement Project Begins

Telluride Ski and Golf is planning a series of upgrades and is seeking public feedback as the first step in a multi-year improvement project begins with the U.S. Forest Service.

The proposed work includes lift replacements, terrain enhancements, forest health projects, on-mountain facility upgrades and the construction of a summer mountain bike connector trail.

Among the most significant components is the replacement of Lifts 7 and 8 — both original lifts dating back to the 1970s. While they remain safe and functional, TSG Lift Maintenance Director Ken King said it’s time for an upgrade.

“For most lifts you can actually build one in that summer season,” King said. “Depending on how the lift companies are backed up or loaded up.”

The plan also calls for widening major thoroughfares on the mountain, including Galloping Goose and a new Lift 9 egress route. King said Galloping Goose, an existing skiway, can get congested — particularly in the narrow section below Bald Mountain — and sees a mix of skiers with varying ability levels.

“The issue that we see with it is the upper part under Bald Mountain is really kind of narrow and it’s a really high-traffic area,” he said. “It gets a lot of different people, different abilities using it at the same time. Making that wider would be a little more conducive to skier flow.”

Though the project is being developed by TSG and its contractors, it must go through a permitting and environmental analysis process administered by the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest. TSG operates under a special use permit and a master development plan for portions of the resort located on public lands.

King said the Lift 9 egress route will also improve emergency and utility access to the area.

“We’ll have to go in. We’ll have to cut the trees, and if everybody’s read the newspaper — the Forest Service deal — it’s a four-acre or two-acre disturbance,” he said. “We’ll clear that area, we’ll do a cut and fill through the area to build the cat track.”

The plan also proposes upgrading the High Camp warming hut to a full-service restaurant. A 2000s-era lawsuit by local environmentalists, including Sheep Mountain Alliance, resulted in a settlement agreement that prevented High Camp from operating at full capacity.

“Over time, the reasoning behind the warming hut stipulation came from the record of decision,” King said. “There was some action by entities in Telluride and things that they wanted to protect the basin. Over the time we’ve been open — since 2001, now we’re in 2025 — the use of the area and the concerns that were addressed back then, I think, have changed in the community over time.”

Sheep Mountain Alliance Program Director Ruthie Boyd said her organization remains concerned about potential impacts to critical wildlife habitat in Prospect Basin, particularly for the threatened Canada lynx.

“Based on the 2024 Canada Lynx Proposal Critical Habitat, the entire ski resort is now in a critical habitat zone,” Boyd said. “So some of the concerns we have — especially in Prospect Basin — are additional glading and disruption of that habitat, especially because right now it’s a really wonderful place for the lynx to thrive with tree cover and kind of feel secluded. We do have concerns about glading in Prospect Basin especially.”

To support forest health, TSG plans to use a cut-to-length tethered logging approach, which the Forest Service says reduces soil disturbance and eliminates the need to burn slash piles. King said the method is more cost-effective than the helicopter logging the resort has used in the past.

“It’s something that I think if we can work hand in hand with the community and the Forest Service, we can mitigate a lot of issues,” he said. “And I think once they see that project moving forward — when we do get started — I think a lot of people are going to take notice and actually get behind it and think that it’s a real valuable asset for this community and the area for future projects.”

Boyd said the moment feels especially challenging for public lands projects, but acknowledged the need for some of the proposed changes.

“I definitely hope that this project can come to fruition and that we continue to talk about it and kind of figuring out what is and isn’t super viable,” she said. “Some of these components that the ski area wants to do — I see them as necessary to maintain the resort and keep it up to date and everything. Beyond that, I think it’s just a really frustrating time for all of us.”

The scoping comment period for the Telluride Ski and Golf improvements project is open through the U.S. Forest Service. Those interested in learning more or submitting feedback can search “Telluride Ski Resort Improvements GMUG.”

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Construction Covers the Canyon

Drive or walk through Telluride, and it’s hard to miss the ongoing construction. Public Works is currently managing three major projects in town.

KOTO News spoke with Lindsey Mills, Telluride’s communications manager, about the work taking place.

Story beings at 5:32.

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Telluride Tourism Board Looks to Summer

If you ask Kiera Skinner, tourism numbers are a mixed bag.

“Travel trends are a hot topic right now. Experts in the travel industry are really hesitant to make any forecasts or predictions due to the uncertainty of the economy,” said Skinner, executive director of the Telluride Tourism Board.

Last week, she provided the towns of Telluride and Mountain Village updates on tourism in the region.

“Fifty-seven percent of American travelers expect a recession in the next six months, and that has jumped 15% in the last two months, which is pretty extreme,” she said.

She said 80% of U.S. consumers report their travel will change as a result of the economy. But what that looks like could vary.

“Those behaviors could be traveling domestically instead of internationally, or traveling closer to home where they would possibly drive instead of fly, or maybe they’re reducing their length of stay for their vacation,” she said.

At the same time, Skinner said air travel is staying steady, and destinations that draw a higher household income are more likely to be insulated from a potential tourism downturn.

“And that would be us,” she said.

For this summer, Skinner said she’s cautiously optimistic.

“The destination is pacing ahead 4% in total occupancy, and up 6% in paid occupancy,” she said.

Looking specifically at the weekend in August tied to the two-day concert from Planet Bluegrass, Skinner said they’ve seen a bump from year over year.

“We’re pacing 50% ahead now, in August during that weekend, I think because of that concert,” she said.

The summer season is officially upon the region. The gondola between Telluride and Mountain Village will open Thursday, May 22, to coincide with the Mountainfilm Festival.

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The Fig Presents All In The Timing

Missed connections, monkeys writing Hamlet, a gibberish universal language and variations on the death of Trotsky—All in the Timing really does have it all.

A collection of six short one-act plays by David Ives, All in the Timing explores themes of language and wordplay, existentialism, the meaning of life and the complications of romance.

This week, 14 local actors will present a staged reading of the play through the Fig Arts Collective.

The reading will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at the Ah Haa School on the top floor Launchpad. The event is free and open to the public.

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Patagonia Telluride Hosts Public Lands Open House

Federally owned public lands are under threat. With calls from some Republicans to sell off public lands, the dismantling of key environmental policies and the defunding of critical land management agencies, many are left wondering—what’s next?

Patagonia Telluride is inviting the public to an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 22, to explore that question.

Attendees can learn how to engage in community action, meet local nonprofits dedicated to protecting and preserving public lands, and enjoy food and drinks. The event will also feature live, made-to-order screenprinting of “Defend Public Lands” merchandise.

The open house is free and open to all.

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Colorado celebrates Public Lands

Colorado Public Lands Day was celebrated last weekend. Rocky Mountain Community Radio’s Caroline Llanes has more on some recent efforts to protect the state’s public lands.

Story beings at 14:24.