Stagecoach Ski Area near Steamboat Springs, CO was a sweet, little, 2,200-vertical-foot, 900-acre, badass ski area that briefly operated from 1972-74.
“Stagecoach was the real deal, and it had good skiing for everybody. They invested in some pretty good lifts, and there was good terrain.” – Olympic downhill skier Jim “Moose” Barrows told Steamboat Today in 2015
Since that time, it’s remained a myth with many locales hoping it will one day rise again.
Enter Don McLean, CEO of Stagecoach Communities, LLC. On September 1st, 2016 Don informed the Routt County Planning Commission of his plans to purchase Stagecoach Ski Area this October from the Wittemyer family and open the ski area with two new chairlifts by December 2017.
“We’re looking to create a family-based, active, four-season community. Our intent is to create a blueprint for responsible mountain development to show how this can be done. ” – Don McLean told Steamboat Today
“It will be a ski area built by skiers for skiers and riders with intermediate terrain, beginner terrain and some pleasant surprises, with some (steep) pitches that exceed anything in the area. … We’re not coming in with $100 million to build a six-story building. We intend to develop something that’s more organic that follows what the land tells us to do and not try to rush it.” -Don McLean told Steamboat Today
Don plans on putting in two new Dopplemayr ski lifts. A high speed quad that would go two thirds the way up the north face of Stagecoach and another fixed triple chair that would go beyond that quad to the top of the north face.
If the ski area is able to open in 2017, it’ll open with temporary building at the base area.
STAGECOACH PURCHASE DETAILS:
- Located 18 miles south of Steamboat Springs ski resort, CO and north of Beaver Creek ski resort, CO
- 2,200-vertical on north side, 900-vertical-feet on the south side
- 900-acres currently, plans to grow that to 1,200 acres with installation of future chairlift
- The pending purchase includes 3,500 acres of private land
- Very few amenities at the ski area currently
- Residential development will be in future plans
- Stagecoach ski area first opened in December 1972 and closed in February 1974 when Texas based developer Woodmoor Corp. tanked
ABOUT STAGECOACH COMMUNITIES LLC:
- Don McLean will be CEO and was involved in developing the Mountain Village at Telluride, CO, was once a ski patroller at Vail, worked in sales at Beaver Creek, was once a roommate of Pete Seibert’s (Vail Founder & 10th Mountain Division Soldier) son.
- Steve Elkins is a founder and was Steamboats Ski Resort’s director of planning and development from 1970 – 1994.
- Scott Sober, CPA, is a founder and will be president and director of finance.
- Rick MacCutcheon, former vice president of real estate development at Vail Resorts will be CFO.
STAGECOACH SKI AREA:
Years of Operation: 1972 – 1974
Vertical Drop: 2,200 ft
Average Snowfall: 300″
Lifts: 3 Double Chairs (Heron-Poma Lifts)
Facilities: 1 base lodge that was never finished, 1 temporary lodge
(now gone), ski patrol huts, condos, general store, leasing office, and
some various other buildings.
https://www.cobizmag.com/ski-seance/
Looks like it’s somewhere between on hold and dead. Mostly killed by the extreme regulatory burden and gargantuan upfront costs of such a development. Seeing how deep-pocket special interest groups like the Sierra Club have fought to stop ski area improvements and skiing in general I’m sure they’re hell-bent on stopping this as well.
I worked there during development in ‘72. Took care of the kids of developers. Learned to ski, it was great. Regretted moving back to Texas. So glad to hear of its revival!
2020 – still no Stagecoach by any name. Is this still going to happen?
I worked there as a housekeeper and nanny for the developers and their kids. It was a dream job and I think back fondly on seeing it grow in those early days. As everything in my life I moved on and back to Texas. I had no idea it didn’t make it and sad to hear of this. A waste as it truly was a fine upcoming resort. I learned to ski there.
We have heard this again and again over the years. Here we are headed toward the end of 2017 and have no new news except we know that a bunch of lots were sold and are selling after the press release. Im guessing this was simply a strategic move to raise the price of lots and get them sold so certain owners/realtors could make some money.
Learned how to ski at Stagecoach in the early 70s. My dad was a realitor Joe Abel . I heard the ski area has a new owner plans to reopen. Would like to be part of that I have a lot of construction skills and like operating equipment. It would be a dream to work and return to the area. If anyone can help please leave name and numbers.
Still would like to help bring ski are back to life have skills backhoe,loader,trencher,dozer skidster etc. labor skilled labor pipfitting used to build and maintain a golf coarse,worked for parks and rec also helped build rides at hylandhills water world need info for a job at stagecoach.
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I have lived in Stagecoach since 1999, and every few years the rumors surface. This time it appears to be real! Being in real estate, I have seen good times and bad in Stagecoach. I hope any development plans are well thought out and benefit the area and my neighbors and keep the small town, friendly atmosphere that brought so many of us here.
yep, looks like things may start to blow up around here. (I live a block away).