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| Durango Mountain Resort |
| Old Purgatory Trail Maps: |
| 1965 |
| Left: The front side of Durango Right: Purgatory Village |
| Resort History: |
Purgatory Ski Area opened back in 1965, providing the town of Durango
with a new ski area. The name Purgatory stems from the Spanish
Escalante Expedition during the 1700’s. During their trip, one of the
members fell into the swiftly flowing Animas River somewhere near site of
the ski area and perished into its waters. Group members declared “El
Rio de Las Animas Perdidas en Purgatorio.” Translated into English, this
means the river of lost souls in purgatory.
The ski area was the idea of Chet Anderson who worked for the Forest
Service and Ray Duncan whose family was in the oil business. The two
were avid skiers and wanted to make the sport more accessible to the
Durango area. Hermosa Park was selected as a potential ski area
location after snow depth studies were conducted.
By January of 1965, plans were made public on the intentions of
constructing a ski area at Hermosa Park. Appropriate permits and
designs were carried out the following summer. The first phase of
development included over half-million dollars in construction, including a
new double chairlift from Riblet.
During December of 1965, the two partners created the Durango Ski
Corporation. Ray Duncan assumed control of the new company, while
Chet Anderson became general manager and eventually operations
manager. Local residents of Durango were offered seventy thousand
dollars in stocks, which involved local residents in the financing of the ski
area.
The summer of 1965 was cold, rainy and at times snowy. This slowed
down construction greatly. The trails, lift and lodge were eventually
completed by late fall and the opening day was set for December 4th,
1965. For the first season, the area boasted a 1,500 foot vertical drop,
one double chairlift and a few trails. Tickets prices were $4.50 for adults.
Purgatory hosted its grand opening on January 8th, 1966. The ski area
planned a celebration by inviting Colorado governor John Love and his
wife Ann Love, officials from the Forest Service, and the Durango Ski
Club. The Riblet chairlift was christened by Ann Love, a possible first for
lifts!
By 1969, Durango continued to prosper and Riblet was brought back to
install the Engineer Double Chair. This lift spans to the skiers left of the
original chair and services additional beginner and intermediate terrain.
Over the next decade, growth at Purgatory was slow. In 1976, the
Twilight lift was installed from the base to the bottom of the Engineer lift.
This provided additional capacity from the base area. That same year
various on site condos and home were in use at the ski area
The 1980’s proved to be busy for Purgatory. In 1980, additional expert
terrain was cut and the Grizzly lift was installed back on the ridge to the
west of Engineer. Two years later, Poma of America installed the
Needles chair, which paralleled the original Riblet double. The Columbine
learning area was also being developed with the installation of the
Graduate chairlift. Also in 1982, Dick Peterson from Vail Associates
came to Purgatory to assume the general manager position.
Development of onsite hotels and condos continued during the 1980’s.
Along with these new facilities, snowboarders were welcome to shred the
slopes. Purgatory quickly became a stop on the Rocky Mountain
Snowboard Series competition. In 1985, the Legends terrain opened
with the installation of a new Poma triple chair. Legends provided
Purgatory with additional mogul and gladed terrain for experts.
Purgatory Ski Area fell into financial trouble during the 1990’s. Norwest
Bank of Denver refused to offer the ski area funding for the 1993-94
season and operations were in jeopardy. Duncan was able to strike a
deal with the lenders once he offered to personally guarantee the credit.
Vernon Greco was brought into Purgatory to manage the property as
most of the upper management were fired or resigned.
By 1995, Purgatory was back on its feet with skier numbers topping
80,000. Doppelmayr was hired the same year to install Purgatory’s first
express quad. The lift ran between the Engineer and Grizzly double
chairs. Runs servicing the “Hermosa Park Express” were wide
intermediate trails perfect for cruising. Snowmaking was also expanded to
insure more reliable snow.
Vernon Greco left Purgatory in 1998 to pursue an opportunity at Park
City in Utah. Chuck Cobb assumed his position as Chairmen of
Purgatory’s Board. By 2000, the ski area was sold to Cobb and Gary
Engle of Florida. Upon the purchase they formed a new company called
Durango Resort Limited Liability Corporation. Under the terms of the
sale, the Duncan family retained twenty percent ownership in the resort.
The newly formed company brought Doppelmayr back that summer to
replace the original Riblet double chair with a new six seat express lift.
Purgatory’s also changed that year to Durango Mountain Resort, to better
associate itself with the town.
with a new ski area. The name Purgatory stems from the Spanish
Escalante Expedition during the 1700’s. During their trip, one of the
members fell into the swiftly flowing Animas River somewhere near site of
the ski area and perished into its waters. Group members declared “El
Rio de Las Animas Perdidas en Purgatorio.” Translated into English, this
means the river of lost souls in purgatory.
The ski area was the idea of Chet Anderson who worked for the Forest
Service and Ray Duncan whose family was in the oil business. The two
were avid skiers and wanted to make the sport more accessible to the
Durango area. Hermosa Park was selected as a potential ski area
location after snow depth studies were conducted.
By January of 1965, plans were made public on the intentions of
constructing a ski area at Hermosa Park. Appropriate permits and
designs were carried out the following summer. The first phase of
development included over half-million dollars in construction, including a
new double chairlift from Riblet.
During December of 1965, the two partners created the Durango Ski
Corporation. Ray Duncan assumed control of the new company, while
Chet Anderson became general manager and eventually operations
manager. Local residents of Durango were offered seventy thousand
dollars in stocks, which involved local residents in the financing of the ski
area.
The summer of 1965 was cold, rainy and at times snowy. This slowed
down construction greatly. The trails, lift and lodge were eventually
completed by late fall and the opening day was set for December 4th,
1965. For the first season, the area boasted a 1,500 foot vertical drop,
one double chairlift and a few trails. Tickets prices were $4.50 for adults.
Purgatory hosted its grand opening on January 8th, 1966. The ski area
planned a celebration by inviting Colorado governor John Love and his
wife Ann Love, officials from the Forest Service, and the Durango Ski
Club. The Riblet chairlift was christened by Ann Love, a possible first for
lifts!
By 1969, Durango continued to prosper and Riblet was brought back to
install the Engineer Double Chair. This lift spans to the skiers left of the
original chair and services additional beginner and intermediate terrain.
Over the next decade, growth at Purgatory was slow. In 1976, the
Twilight lift was installed from the base to the bottom of the Engineer lift.
This provided additional capacity from the base area. That same year
various on site condos and home were in use at the ski area
The 1980’s proved to be busy for Purgatory. In 1980, additional expert
terrain was cut and the Grizzly lift was installed back on the ridge to the
west of Engineer. Two years later, Poma of America installed the
Needles chair, which paralleled the original Riblet double. The Columbine
learning area was also being developed with the installation of the
Graduate chairlift. Also in 1982, Dick Peterson from Vail Associates
came to Purgatory to assume the general manager position.
Development of onsite hotels and condos continued during the 1980’s.
Along with these new facilities, snowboarders were welcome to shred the
slopes. Purgatory quickly became a stop on the Rocky Mountain
Snowboard Series competition. In 1985, the Legends terrain opened
with the installation of a new Poma triple chair. Legends provided
Purgatory with additional mogul and gladed terrain for experts.
Purgatory Ski Area fell into financial trouble during the 1990’s. Norwest
Bank of Denver refused to offer the ski area funding for the 1993-94
season and operations were in jeopardy. Duncan was able to strike a
deal with the lenders once he offered to personally guarantee the credit.
Vernon Greco was brought into Purgatory to manage the property as
most of the upper management were fired or resigned.
By 1995, Purgatory was back on its feet with skier numbers topping
80,000. Doppelmayr was hired the same year to install Purgatory’s first
express quad. The lift ran between the Engineer and Grizzly double
chairs. Runs servicing the “Hermosa Park Express” were wide
intermediate trails perfect for cruising. Snowmaking was also expanded to
insure more reliable snow.
Vernon Greco left Purgatory in 1998 to pursue an opportunity at Park
City in Utah. Chuck Cobb assumed his position as Chairmen of
Purgatory’s Board. By 2000, the ski area was sold to Cobb and Gary
Engle of Florida. Upon the purchase they formed a new company called
Durango Resort Limited Liability Corporation. Under the terms of the
sale, the Duncan family retained twenty percent ownership in the resort.
The newly formed company brought Doppelmayr back that summer to
replace the original Riblet double chair with a new six seat express lift.
Purgatory’s also changed that year to Durango Mountain Resort, to better
associate itself with the town.
| Durango's Terrain Park |
| Looking down Limbo |
| Moguls and Aspens on the front side |
| The Jagged San Juan Mountains |
| Crusin' Terrain |
| Paul's Park |
| Blackburn Bash |
| Current Resort Stats: * |
| The Engineer Area |
| Looking down Paradise |
| Pros and Cons to Skiing Here: |
|
| Copyright © coloradoskihistory.com All Rights Reserved. *Resort Stats Current for 2009-10 Sources: The Colorado Ski Museum Durango Mountain Resort Picture Credits: Brad C. |
| Insider Tips to Skiing Here: |
1979
| A quick ride on Hermosa Park |
| Expert trails off of Grizzly |
