Wolf Creek ski area

src: wolfcreekski.com

Wolf Creek Ski Area (WCSA) is a ski area in southwest Colorado, located on the Wolf Creek Pass between Pagosa Springs and South Fork. It is best known for receiving more average annual snowfall than any other resort in Colorado, at about 480 inches per year.

Video Wolf Creek ski area

History

Kelly Boyce built the first lift, a rope tow, at Wolf Creek Pass in 1938. The Civilian Conservation Corps, built a warming shelter. In 1955, the ski area moved to its present location across the road. Wolf Creek's first chairlift was installed in 1974. By 1978, the group of Dallas Cowboys took complete ownership of Wolf Creek. By 1983, the area had 5 lifts and 580 acres (230 ha) of skiable terrain.

Maps Wolf Creek ski area

Future

WCSA's future as a local's resort is less certain in light of Texas-billionaire Red McCombs' proposed development of the "Village at Wolf Creek," a year-round resort of 8,000 people adjacent to the ski area. For decades McCombs has pursued his vision for the development, and has been working with the Forest Service to acquire highway access to the property, which is an inholding.

Over several decades the Forest Service has been the target of multiple lawsuits from community groups for incompletely assessing the environmental impacts of approving a highway access point to the property and withholding information requested through the Freedom of Information Act. In light of the most recent lawsuit the developers reached agreement not to break ground at the site until the case is resolved in court.

Opponents of the "Village" state that the development would likely harm a vital wildlife corridor between the Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness areas, alter backcountry experiences on Wolf Creek Pass, compete with local businesses in nearby Pagosa Springs and South Fork, adversely affect rare fen wetlands, and stress water supplies in the Rio Grande watershed. Proponents claim the "Village" would improve the economics of the region.