Colorado — It’s a common adage in the ski industry that it’s tough to bring back a ski area after it’s been closed for one winter, which is why such great effort was taken to keep Black Mountain alive. So what are the odds of a ski area reopening after being shut down for three winters in a row? That’s currently the situation at Hesperus Ski Area, which last operated during the 2022-23 season.
The Durango Herald reports that Hesperus Ski Area will not open this upcoming winter. When asked for a comment, the ski area’s operator, Mountain Capital Partners (MCP), shared a press release that was published for the season prior.
Why It’s Closed
Two problems ailed Hesperus in recent years. The first is its old chairlift. A mechanical breakdown led to the need for a $200,000 replacement of the gearbox.
Mountain Capital Partners decided that, in order to put the chairlift repair in, they also needed to install snowmaking. Hesperus relies on natural snow, meaning it could become more challenging to operate in the future due to declining snowpack. They claimed that if it had been operating last season, it would have only been open one day due to the lack of snow around Durango. However, installing a snowmaking system is another significant expense, especially for a small ski area.
Mountain Capital Partners’ Growing List Of Problems
The problem Mountain Capital Partners faces is that it is a growing company with ski resorts that have their own list of projects. Nearby Hesperus Ski Area is Purgatory Resort, which had to lay off seasonal employees earlier than expected due to an underwhelming season and the need to refinance a loan. After announcing that a new chairlift would open this upcoming winter, Purgatory announced that it will now not happen until 2026-27 due to delays in receiving necessary regulatory approvals. Over at Nordic Valley, that ski resort has been hampered by a fire that destroyed its base lodge in early 2024.
That’s not to say that Mountain Capital Partners isn’t doing good things for the ski industry, as growth is expected at places like Brian Head and Lee Canyon in the years ahead. They’ve revived ski areas like Sandia Peak, and put a significant amount of money into their ski resorts, including at Arizona Snowbowl, La Parva, Nordic Valley, Sipapu, and Valle Nevado. However, the situation at Hesperus is the cost of operating numerous ski resorts, as the guest experience can vary depending on the destination. Just ask Vail Resorts.
The situation highlights the complexities of shutting down a ski area and then attempting to reopen it.
Will It Reopen?
I’d label it as a 50-50 chance at this point. It’s now three seasons removed from operating, and MCP hasn’t reached a resolution on the snowmaking front.
Could MCP revive it? Sure, but Hesperus is a lot lower on the totem pole compared to the operating mountains’ needs. Part of me believes the only way it happens is if it’s sold, but it’s also a tough choice for MCP to make, as the creation of a co-op creates a direct competitor to Purgatory.
While MCP values itself on affordable lift tickets, Purgatory’s tickets can be pricey on weekends during the core season. Purgatory also doesn’t have night skiing, while Hesperus does have that available. People tend to ski on weekends, and Hesperus gave many the affordable opportunity to do just that.
Ultimately, the Durango Herald’s editorial team put it best yesterday:
“Though modest and sometimes beleaguered, Hesperus endures as a cornerstone of the local skiing community – a mountain where generations of families have learned to ski and snowboard uniquely at night, inner tubed, and experienced the simple joy of snow. Its enduring charm lies not in luxury, but in accessibility, history, and community spirit – a true little mountain that could. Here’s hoping for another day.”
Image/Video Credits: Hesperus Ski Area, Mountain Capital Partners
