WINDSOR, Colo. – One of Colorado’s newest ski areas is stepping away from winter sports, announcing that it will not offer skiing, snowboarding or snow tubing during the 2026-27 season.
In a November 5 announcement, Hoedown Hill in Windsor, Colorado, confirmed that the facility is shifting its focus exclusively to live music, festivals and outdoor entertainment. The decision comes less than three years after the ski area opened to provide affordable, convenient skiing and snowboarding for residents of Northern Colorado.
“Going forward, Hoedown Hill will be dedicated to festivals, concerts and outdoor
entertainment. Planning for the 2027 season is well underway, with lineup and
event announcements to come in the months ahead. Hoedown Hill will not offer skiing, snowboarding or tubing this winter as the team focuses on its entertainment calendar. Any future winter programming will be announced as plans develop” –Hoedown Hill
The operator, TWVC Hospitality, says the change follows three successful seasons of music festivals and a free summer concert series. Planning is already underway for the venue’s 2027 entertainment calendar.
From Ski Slopes to Concert Venue
Hoedown Hill was developed in 2023 as a small, beginner-friendly ski area designed to bring downhill skiing back to the Fort Collins region.
The roughly 12-acre facility featured 130 feet of vertical drop, surface conveyor lifts, several ski trails, terrain parks and snow tubing. Its proximity to Fort Collins and Loveland made it an attractive alternative for residents who wanted to ski or snowboard without driving into Colorado’s high country.
The ski area was also designed to operate during evening hours, giving local riders opportunities to get on the slopes after work or school. However, the facility struggled with unusually warm winter weather during its first few seasons.
In February 2026, CBS Colorado reported that warm temperatures and limited snowfall had significantly affected operations. The ski area scaled back its tubing facilities, and CEO Tyler Lind acknowledged that weather-related challenges had made operating the winter attraction financially difficult.
While those challenges provide context for the decision, the November 5 announcement does not specifically attribute the shift away from skiing to weather conditions or financial losses.
Music Becomes the Main Attraction
Hoedown Hill began hosting music festivals in 2024, attracting thousands of visitors for performances by nationally recognized artists. Previous performers have included Third Eye Blind, Cold War Kids, Randy Houser, The Band Perry and Plain White T’s.
The venue also introduced a free summer concert series, helping establish Hoedown Hill as an entertainment destination outside the winter months. According to the company, the decision to concentrate on concerts and festivals reflects the popularity of those events and the opportunity to expand entertainment offerings in Northern Colorado.
Will Skiing Ever Return to Hoedown Hill?
Although the company has confirmed that skiing, snowboarding and tubing will not operate this winter, it has not explicitly ruled out their return in future seasons.
The announcement states that any future winter programming will be shared as plans develop. For now, however, no reopening timeline for winter sports has been provided.
The decision marks a significant change for a facility that opened with the goal of making skiing and snowboarding more accessible to communities along Colorado’s northern Front Range.
Less than three years after welcoming its first winter visitors, Hoedown Hill is trading its ski slopes and tubing runs for concerts and festivals, leaving local skiers and snowboarders without one of their newest places to ride.
