Nederland, Colorado — One of the most interesting ski industry storylines this year is the planned takeover of Eldora Mountain Resort by the Town of Nederland.
Last July, the Town of Nederland announced its plan to acquire Eldora. Over the past month, several steps have been taken toward the purchase of Eldora Mountain Resort from POWDR. To finalize the deal, they’ll need to negotiate a new lease with the Forest Service, reach a new agreement with the Ikon Pass, and secure financing. However, details about the process remain minimal because parts of the negotiations must remain confidential. The town plans to finalize the deal on April 30, 2026, but there are many moving parts.
Here’s a recap of the latest developments regarding the sale of Eldora to the Town of Nederland.
Financing The Deal
Last month, Nederland town officials approved a plan to issue up to $225 million in revenue bonds. The Mountain Recreation Enterprise bonds, with an interest rate of 9%, will help the town purchase the ski resort and fund improvements.
The bonds will be repaid from revenue from the ski resort, such as lift tickets, season passes, and rentals.
New General Manager
To lead Eldora, getting a tenured hand was key. So getting one of the guys from one of the country’s leading non-profit ski areas was a big win for Nederland.
Last month, Ski Area Management reported that Eldora has hired Andrew Gast as their new General Manager. He served as the General Manager of Mt. Ashland Ski Area up until early this year.
While at Mt. Ashland, he helped make major changes, such as adding a new beginner trail and lift, and began planning for two chairlift replacements.
Leadership Group Withdraws
A recent headline shows that this sales process has struggled with its execution at times.
Jason Belvins of the Colorado Sun reported last Friday that the Town of Nederland has abandoned its plan to work with 303 Ski. This group of ski-resort leadership experts is based in Colorado. When the deal was originally announced last July, it was stated that they would play a key role in guiding Eldora’s decisions with the town and resort’s management team. However, the group was reportedly underused during the process, and the Town decided to pursue a different strategy.
“I’m really proud of the work we did and for the town’s ability to take it from here. For us, it’s mission accomplished. If the town needs future support, we’re here to help,” said Dwight DeBroux, who previously was an executive at Vail Resorts, to the Colorado Sun.
For now, Eldora remains in POWDR’s hands as the town figures out how to finalize the deal.
Image/Video Credits: Eldora Mountain Resort, SRG Skiing
