Dave Gibson, Nederland. “All good things must come to an end.” - Geoffrey Chaucer

In the case of Eldora Mountain Resort, that end came on Sunday, April 18, to hundreds of avid skiers and snowboarders who showed up to get in on the season’s last runs and have a great time doing so. Albeit closed only temporarily until next season, it would be months from now that people will be able to enjoy their close to home extensive trail system and family-friendly brand of ambiance.

A complicated year due to the pandemic, the season started a little late with less snow than usual. Mother Nature rectified her oversight by blessing the resort with over 11 feet of fresh powder during February, March, and April. During the final week the Woodward Park Level 1 SuperUnknown crew filmed 15 of the world’s top freestyle amateur men and women performing maneuvers on the exciting course crafted by Eldora between the Sundance and Caribou lifts. On Saturday and Sunday it opened to the general public that seemed to spend more time sliding down its rails and in the air than on the ground. 

 Tailgaters dotted the parking lots in what was the perfect day for a cold beer and a hot bratwurst. Of course no closing day would be complete without the proper attire displaying one’s individuality and quite often a tropical theme. In a way reminiscent of the Beatles’ Let It Be rooftop concert, Colorado musicians The Hop Pickers rocked the afternoon away on the Timbers Taproom elevated deck with time-tested classics such as the Rolling Stones’ Honky Tonk Women and Grateful Dead’s Althea.

At the conclusion of it all, Eldora President and General Manager Brent Tregaskis toasted his assembled employees. Tregaskis related to them, “This was such a challenging season in so many ways. Every single one of you did a knock-out job, helping us keep our guests, coworkers and the local community safe. We especially need to thank the local community for working with us to make the season such a success. We couldn’t have done it without them, or without you.” 

(Originally published in the April 22, 2021. edition of The Mountain-Ear.)