Nederland, Colorado — After an offseason of intriguing news regarding its future, Eldora Mountain Resort’s season has begun.
Today, Eldora Mountain Resort opened up for the 2025-26 season. The opening trail lineup includes the Hornblower and International trails, as well as the Woodward Timbers Terrain Park. The only chairlift operating is the Alpenglow chairlift. Considering the recent weather in Colorado, it’s impressive that the ski resort was able to open.
The plan from here on out is to run the lifts from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exception to this operating schedule is Alpenglow, which begins operations at 8:30 a.m. on weekends.
The Future Owner Of Eldora
Recent developments indicate that POWDR is poised to sell the ski resort to the Town of Nederland.
The Mountain Ear reported last week that while establishing the Town Budget for 2026, the Town of Nederland revealed the additional steps that have been taken since the formal announcement in July.
A non-disclosure agreement limited the amount of information that was shared with the public following the initial July announcement. During this timeframe, Nederland conducted due process research to determine if the ski resort is in good shape, which it is. Over that time, the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on Nederland’s website has occasionally been updated with new information. In addition, the town led the employee orientation.
“Staff will continue to provide updates through Town Talks, community newsletters, and Board meetings, and will create additional opportunities for questions and discussion as needed,” states the Agenda Information Memorandum prepared by Nederland’s Town Manager. “When the Board ultimately approves the acquisition, engagement will continue through implementation and transition planning.”
Overall, the town is aiming to acquire the ski resort for a price point between $115 to $120 million. Additional steps required to close the deal include obtaining a new Special Use Permit from the U.S. Forest Service and a new agreement with Alterra Mountain Company, ensuring they remain on the Ikon Pass.
The town plans a two-year transition process with POWDR. In terms of operations, Nederland is partnering with 303 Ski, an organization comprised of ski industry leaders in the Front Range, for guidance.
Taxpayers won’t be on the hook for this acquisition, as Nederland will obtain the funds by issuing revenue bonds. To repay the bonds, Nederland will utilize funds from the ski resort’s operating revenues. This means that sales or property tax revenues won’t be used. Additionally, a debt service reserve is being established as a rainy-day fund.
The Board will vote on the wording of the Asset Purchase Agreement and other financial documents next Tuesday (November 18th). The Board of Trustees will vote on the financial structure of the deal on December 2nd. Finally, the ultimate approval vote is scheduled on December 16th.
About Eldora Mountain Resort
Situated around 20 miles away from the City of Boulder, Eldora is also one of the most convenient options for those in the Denver Metropolitan area. The ski resort features 61 trails, 9 lifts, and a vertical drop of 1,400 feet. With a peak elevation of 10,600 feet and a base area at 9,200 feet, altitude sickness is a possibility for those who aren’t accustomed to being at high altitudes (not the herbal kind). Eldora is also home to Nordic ski and snowshoe trails.
While Eldora does host some events in the offseason, it’s generally pretty quiet. This appears to be an area where Nederland could generate additional revenue.
Image/Video Credits: Eldora Mountain Resort
