A recent article in ColoradoBiz Magazine explored the current state of the Ski Economy. It is an interesting article suggesting the future is not so clear and not so rosy for the ski industry with the Rocky Mountain Region. The article points out “As the old saying goes for real estate: location, location, location. For the ski industry, there are also three ingredients to success, and they are just as simple: snow, snow, snow.” And that ingredient is in fact the issue. This season Wolf Creek Ski Area benefited from some very good early snow that enabled us to open early and to gain some good publicity in the process. However, two years ago our state suffered a bad snow year with the lowest total visitor count in 20 years, according the David Beline, director of consulting services for Boulder-based RRC Associates, a research consulting firm specializing in travel, tourism and skiing. Ski resorts have a limited number of tools to counter low snow years such as snow making equipment, but it too is weather dependent and in warmer winter seasons, snow making can be severely limited.
It matters not what you choose to believe regarding global warming; ski areas and the communities connected to them are looking at different ways to insulate themselves from unfriendly winters and means of diversifying their revenue generation away from total dependence on good ski conditions. One of the main focuses among the larger resort owners is a push to build more summer business. In late 2011 the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act, was passed to allow summer activities on U.S. Forest Service Lands (which would include most of the acreage at Wolf Creek Ski Area) to include Zip Lines, Mountain Bike Terrain Parks and Trails, Frisbee Golf Courses and Rope Courses. It specifically prohibits however, tennis courts, water slides, golf courses and amusement parks, in case anyone would be tempted to transfer the failed Reservoir Hill plans to the other side of the Continental Divide. Vail is spending some $20 million to enhance summer activity offerings at their Colorado resorts and similar developments are expected at many of the state’s ski resorts. Competition for tourism dollars has become brutally competitive. What are we doing in Pagosa Springs and what is Wolf Creek Ski Area doing to proactively address these realities? You can read the full article in ColoradoBiz Magazine and related articles in Ski Area Management “SAM” Magazine.
Speaking of skiing. If you are looking for a wonderful ski home within walking distance of all the fun and recreation in the downtown area of Pagosa Springs, be sure to check our website: http://www.pagosasource.com/property-details.php?property_ID=85 or call me at 970 264-7000. We have the ideal setup in an historical home right all Lewis Street, two blocks from the Hot Springs, less than a block to Riff Raff Brewery, the Alley House Grill, Kips and more. Very Cool, and Very Reasonable!
