NEDERLAND - Two weeks ago, The Mountain-Ear broke the story that the Town of Nederland is considering the acquisition of Eldora Mountain Ski Resort. The concept has struck the community, sparking spirited discussion about whether the idea is worth pursuing or if it’s all just a pipe dream. 

Everyone in town, and those just outside its boundaries, has an opinion on this grandiose idea; and why shouldn’t they? Not only can Nedheads be opinionated to a point of pride, but the prospect of this acquisition impacts us all – just in different ways. 

For instance, the Town officials responsible for this idea have indicated that acquiring Eldora would create more recreational opportunities for Nederland’s youth, and could offer special programs to local educators at a cheaper rate than currently available from POWDR. 

Responses

Educators and representatives for local recreational programs responded.  

“POWDR and the current leadership at Eldora have been incredible partners with numerous youth serving organizations,” TEENS, Inc. Executive Director Stephen LeFaiver told The Mountain-Ear. 

“I hope that whoever takes the helm recognizes the critical role that Eldora plays in the health and well-being of our community as the current leadership has. 

“Eldora not only provides recreational opportunities for youth who otherwise would not be able to access this, their generosity encourages healthy choices and the development of positive behaviors.  I hope that this is not lost as the community and Eldora moves forward.”

Gavan Goodrich, Nederland Middle-Senior High School Principal, shared some of LeFaiver’s sentiment:

“Eldora works with the schools and supports us for our ski day, they support some of our kids being on their ski patrol, and we use the mountain for our ski teams, the Nordic and alpine teams.

“We do benefit from the relationship and the Boulder Valley School District students benefit from it, and I’m hoping that wouldn’t change with new ownership,” Goodrich said, before emphasizing another worry about the prospect that many members of the community share.  

“I think it would be great if Eldora was owned by the Town and that they benefitted from it and ran it well, but I’d hate for it to be something that puts the Town in debt.” 

As educators want to ensure that a prospective acquisition would still allow for the continuation of recreational programs for their youth, those in the recreational sector believe the acquisition would allow for an expansion of these programs, yielding positive outcomes throughout the community in many ways.

“We in Nederland are fortunate in that the community has excellent access to forest service and open space trails right from town and from our schools,” said Heather Williams, Singletrack Mountain Bike Adventures (SMBA) Director.

“Participants in our programs learn about Nederland’s trails, open spaces, local ecology and history, which leads to a greater appreciation of our trails and to land stewardship. If the Town were to purchase Eldora, it would potentially open more doors to expand these opportunities and engage more youth and young families in outdoor activities.”

Gavin Coombs, Executive Director of Peak to Peak Endurance, also spoke of how the acquisition could benefit young families in the community. 

“Nederland is a recreation town. In the past I don't think the town has done enough to capitalize on this but the acquisition of Eldora would go a long way in doing so.

“Tourists provide the bulk of our sales tax revenue but it is the families that are the lifeblood of Nederland. Having a profitable recreation facility, like Eldora, would drastically change the affordability and sustainability of living up here, especially for young families,” Coombs continued. 

“Adequate facilities for recreation is probably the biggest hurdle we face in being able to provide affordable recreation programs. If the revenue from Eldora was able to support updated facilities then we would be all for it!

“Overall I think it is a great idea and great opportunity for the town,” Coombs added. “The current management staff at Eldora does a great job and as long as they stuck around to continue to run things then I think the transition would be pretty smooth.” 

Among the many members of the community who wrote letters or attended the Nederland Board of Trustees’ (BOT) meeting on Tuesday, November 19, either online or in person, there were families with young children present who spoke about how the acquisition would affect them.

“We’ve been living in this area for six years and have plans to continue living in Nederland for an extended period,” one resident said. “We have a six-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son; the existence of Eldora and its success and connection to town all weigh as a factor on why we spend our lives, our time, and our money living in this area.

“Me and my family support what you all are pursuing.” 

Owners and partners of recreation-based businesses also shared their thoughts on the potential acquisition.

“My background is in cross-country skiing, and Eldora has played a pivotal role in my personal and professional journey,” Nathan Schultz wrote in his letter to the BOT. 

Schultz is the founder of Boulder Nordic Sport, serves on the Boulder Nordic Club Board, and is a partner in Tin Shed Sports in Nederland. He has raced in the Lake Eldora Racing Team Nordic program during high school, as an NCAA All-American with the University of Colorado Ski Team, and professionally in both cross-country skiing and mountain biking from 1994 to 2006.

“Over the years, Eldora has been an invaluable resource for the cross-country skiing community as the only option within reasonable proximity to the Front Range, as well as providing a critical training ground for developing Olympic-level skiers from local communities and at the University of Colorado,” Schultz explained.

“Eldora’s Nordic skiing operation holds immense untapped potential to become one of the premier cross-country ski destinations in the United States.

“With thoughtful management and investment, Eldora could draw more recreational skiers, enthusiasts and elite competitors, strengthening the sport locally and regionally while delivering substantial financial benefits to the resort, the Town of Nederland, and the surrounding communities.

“This treasured asset could be managed in alignment with community values, avoiding the risks of corporate priorities that may not serve our residents’ best interests,” Schultz wrote, as a resident of the area since 1979.

“I can say confidently, based on my deep involvement in the Nordic community, that the Town will have strong support and partnership from cross-country skiers in this acquisition and the future management of Eldora Mountain Resort.”

John Thompson, owner of Mountain Man Outdoor Store in Nederland, sees the same potential growth that Schultz is envisioning, but hopes that the Town acquiring Eldora could build economic equality.

“We already run the place. Everybody that works up there lives here; how much of a stretch is it for us to take it over?” Thompson asked rhetorically. Thompson himself has worked at Eldora on and off over the decades.

“I just don’t know if Nederland can swing such a big bill, but if they could, and they did, think of the boom to the economy!” 

As Thompson contemplated the realities of the Town’s idea, he began to assess how Nederland could truly shape the ski area into a more locals-friendly, as well as financially-friendly, destination.

“We just don't have the infrastructure to be Eldora’s ‘ski town,’ and unfortunately they have all the ski shops and all that down the hill; up here it would be more expensive. 

“Right now we have a ton of people who come up from Boulder who have the Ikon pass and they’re just going to go right back home when they’re done for the day,” Thompson explained. “But the town could capitalize on other aspects of owning the ski mountain, like people coming in from other places, trying to go somewhere that’s less expensive to avoid going back to Boulder because it’s so pricey.” 

“As it is now, Mom, Dad, and two kids come in from out of state, they've never skied before and they just want to try it, they get day passes, lessons, and equipment, and it’s $1200 for the day! F*** that!

“Take Eldora off the Ikon pass and drop the daily pass to less than a $100 so it’ll attract a lot of starter skiers, otherwise you’re pricing out all these people who might want to try it,” Thompson concluded with one emphasized statement to Town officials: “Make it accessible!”