Lost Ski Areas - Colorado

After thinking back to the Lost California Ski Areas I had skied when I was younger, I started wondering how many lost ski areas there were in Colorado. I knew of a couple but I had no idea there were so many more.

What I found was that Colorado has a surprisingly rich history of "lost" ski areas. More than 175 ski areas have existed in the state since skiing began, but only around 30 still operate today, leaving well over 140 lost ski hills.

Some of the best-known lost ski areas include:

• Berthoud Ski Area – This was on the way to Winter Park. It operated from 1937 until 2001. Famous for extreme terrain and a devoted local following. Closed due to financial and infrastructure challenges, though it's still popular for backcountry skiing today.

• Hidden Valley Ski Area – The only downhill ski area ever inside Rocky Mountain National Park. It operated from 1955 to 1991 before the park restored the area to a more natural state.

• Ski Broadmoor – You can see the runs for this one from the I-25 freeway. Opened in 1959 near Colorado Springs and closed in 1991 after ownership changes and concerns over profitability and snowfall.

• Pikes Peak Ski Area – Skiing on Pikes Peak dates to the late 1930s. Despite snowmaking and expansion, the area closed after the 1983–84 season.

• Geneva Basin Ski Area – Closed in 1984 but remains one of the state's most photographed abandoned ski areas, with old lift towers still standing.

Many of these old ski areas can still be visited for hiking, photography, or backcountry skiing, though abandoned lifts and buildings can be hazardous and many sites are on private land or require permission to access. So if you are interested in visiting them, check first to be sure.

SKI BROADMORE

The Broadmoor Ski Area, also known as Ski Broadmoor, was a small but memorable ski resort on the eastern slopes of Cheyenne Mountain overlooking Colorado Springs. It operated from 1959 to 1991 and gave local residents the rare opportunity to ski without driving to the high mountains. You can actually still see the two main runs from the I-25 freeway, especially when they are covered in snow.

Origins

The ski area was developed by The Broadmoor and officially opened in November 1959. It was built as a recreational amenity for hotel guests and the growing Colorado Springs community. The resort's historical timeline commemorates the dedication of Ski Broadmoor in 1959.

One of its most innovative features was a $200,000 snowmaking system, nicknamed the "Phenomenal Snowman." As far as I can tell, it was the first snowmaking installation west of the Mississippi River, allowing skiing even during dry winters.

The Ski Area

Although small by Colorado standards, Ski Broadmoor was well equipped for local skiing. It featured:

• Two primary ski runs

• One double chairlift

• One rope tow

• A base lodge with ski school

• Night skiing

The longest run measured about 3,000 feet with a 600-foot vertical drop, while the chairlift carried approximately 600 skiers per hour.

Because it was located within Colorado Springs rather than the high Rockies, it became especially popular for:

• after-school skiing,

• evening skiing under lights,

• beginner lessons,

• local ski clubs and races.

  
  

Ownership changes

For nearly three decades, the Broadmoor Hotel operated the ski area. In 1986, the hotel sold its operation to the City of Colorado Springs after changes in Colorado ski liability laws increased insurance costs. The city invested in improvements but soon determined the operation was financially difficult to sustain.

Around 1988, operation was transferred to Vail Resorts, which I believe hoped Ski Broadmoor could serve as a local area introducing new skiers to larger destination resorts.

Broadmoor's Closing

Despite operational improvements, several factors worked against the ski area:

• relatively low elevation (about 7,000–7,600 feet),

• inconsistent natural snowfall,

• increasing competition from larger mountain resorts,

• rising operating costs.

Ski Broadmoor closed permanently after the 1990–1991 season.

Today

Most of the former ski area has been incorporated into the gated Broadmoor Resort Community residential development. On snowy winter days, the old ski runs can still be seen as broad, treeless swaths on the side of Cheyenne Mountain, making them a recognizable landmark for longtime Colorado Springs residents.

Although it never rivaled Colorado's major resorts, Ski Broadmoor holds a unique place in the state's skiing history as:

• the only ski area ever operated directly by The Broadmoor,

• home to the first snowmaking system west of the Mississippi,

• the ski hill where thousands of Colorado Springs residents learned to ski between 1959 and 1991.

BERTHOUD PASS SKI AREA

The Berthoud Pass Ski Area, commonly called Berthoud Ski Area, was one of Colorado's most historically significant ski resorts. Although it was never a large destination resort, it introduced several innovations that helped shape skiing and snowboarding in North America.

Early beginnings

The ski area opened on February 7, 1937, when a rope tow was installed near the summit of Berthoud Pass, about 60 miles west of Denver. It is widely recognized as Colorado's first public ski area, though historians note that a private rope tow at Glen Cove near Pikes Peak may have preceded it by a few months.

At the time, skiing in Colorado was still in its infancy. The location's high elevation (over 11,000 feet) and abundant snowfall made it an ideal training ground.

A pioneer in lift technology

Berthoud Pass became famous for innovation:

• It installed Colorado's first public rope tow.

• In 1947, it debuted one of North America's first double chairlifts. Although another resort in Oregon completed a similar lift slightly earlier, Berthoud's chairlift remains one of the earliest and most influential in ski history.

  
  

The Sam Huntington years

After its purchase in 1945, Berthoud expanded with:

• a new base lodge (completed in 1949),

• improved lifts,

• expanded terrain.

During the 1940s, Berthoud reportedly accounted for roughly one-third of Colorado's skier visits, reflecting how small the state's ski industry was at the time.

A Haven for Experts

Unlike modern destination resorts, Berthoud Pass was known for:

• steep, natural terrain,

• deep powder,

• no snowmaking,

• a long season that sometimes stretched from October into July.

Its elevation and snowfall made it especially popular with experienced skiers.

Snowboarding

Berthoud was among the first Colorado ski areas to welcome snowboarders, at a time when many resorts prohibited them. It also hosted some of Colorado's earliest major snowboard competitions, helping legitimize the sport in its early years.

The Ski Areas Decline

Ownership changed several times during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Challenges included:

• aging lift infrastructure,

• expensive safety upgrades,

• financial instability,

• lawsuits,

• environmental and utility costs.

After several bankruptcies and attempted re-openings, the ski area permanently closed following the 2001–2002 season. The lifts were removed in 2003, and the historic lodge was demolished in 2005 by the United States Forest Service.

Today

Berthoud Pass remains one of Colorado's premier backcountry skiing and snowboarding destinations. The old ski runs are still visible, and the area is heavily used by backcountry skiers and snowgoaders and avalanche educators. A warming hut now stands near the former base area, replacing the old lodge.

The Berthoud Pass Warming Hut is a free, eco-friendly day-use shelter located at the summit of Berthoud Pass along U.S. Highway 40. It features restrooms, picnic areas, and interpretive displays. The pass is a massive hub for backcountry skiers and hikers. 

Despite its modest size, Berthoud Pass left a legacy by:

• helping establish Colorado's public ski industry,

• pioneering early chairlift technology,

• embracing snowboarding before most resorts,

• serving generations of skiers as one of the state's most beloved "lost" ski areas.

Pikes Peak Ski Area

This is one I had never heard of. The Pikes Peak Ski Area was one of Colorado's earliest ski resorts and served the Colorado Springs region for more than four decades. Located on the north side of Pikes Peak near Glen Cove and later Elk Park, it operated from 1939 until 1984, although it was closed during the 1966–67 and 1980–81 seasons.

Origins in the 1930s

The area's roots go back to 1936, when members of the Pikes Peak Ski Club, led by Don Lawrie, began clearing slopes near Glen Cove. At the time, downhill skiing was still a novelty in Colorado Springs. Lawrie built a homemade rope tow using parts from a Whippet automobile, a device recognized by many historians as Colorado's first rope tow and possibly the first west of the Mississippi River.

The club officially opened the ski area in 1939, and it quickly became one of Colorado's busiest local ski hills. That winter, newspapers reported that nearly 18,700 skiers visited Glen Cove, making it second only to Berthoud Pass in popularity.

World War II

During World War II, civilian skiing declined because of gasoline rationing, but the area found a new role. It was turned over to the military, where soldiers from Camp Carson, Peterson Field, and the 10th Mountain Division trained and competed. In 1944, Glen Cove hosted what was billed as the nation's first all-military ski meet.

The Move to Elk Park

After the war, the ski operation shifted from Glen Cove to Elk Park, where more modern facilities could be developed. Don Lawrie, who later became the first superintendent of the Pikes Peak Highway, helped plan the new ski area. A Poma surface lift replaced the original rope tows, giving the resort a more modern feel while retaining its local character.

Expansion in the early 1980s

In the late 1970s, the resort received approval to expand. The most ambitious project came for the 1982–83 season, when operators installed a $700,000 Poma triple chairlift reaching above timberline.

The expansion:

• increased the vertical drop from about 270 feet to 900 feet,

• added new ski trails,

• introduced snowmaking,

• included plans for a permanent base lodge.

Unfortunately, the new terrain presented unexpected problems. Above timberline, strong winds frequently stripped snow from the slopes, leaving thin and rocky conditions despite the investment.

Closure

The costly expansion left the ski area heavily in debt. After the 1983–84 season, operators were unable to meet tax obligations or repay the lift manufacturer. Poma eventually repossessed the triple chairlift, and the resort permanently closed in 1984. The newly cleared terrain had been open for only two winters.

Legacy

Although it never matched the size of resorts such as Vail or Breckenridge, Pikes Peak Ski Area was important to southern Colorado. It:

• introduced thousands of Colorado Springs residents to downhill skiing,

• pioneered some of Colorado's earliest lift-served skiing,

• hosted military ski training during World War II,

• represented nearly 50 years of skiing on America's Mountain.

Today, the ski runs can still be seen from the Pikes Peak Highway, near Glen Cove and Elk Park. The lifts are gone, but the broad ski trails remain visible on the mountainside, serving as a reminder of one of Colorado's "lost" ski areas.