Industry News
With the 2025/26 ski season in the books and summer operations on the horizon, Purgatory Resort has made changes to the mountain’s leadership team. The Durango, Colorado, mountain announced that Dave Rathburn, the former general manager, will now serve as the CEO.
In addition to Dave, Josh Benson, the former guest services manager, will take over as the director of mountain operations, and Michael Rosenfeld will oversee community services, HOA management, and real estate sales.
Purgatory Resort sits 25 miles north of Durango in beautiful Southwest Colorado. The mountain opened in the winter of 1965 and is now owned by Mountain Capital Partners, whose first order of business upon acquiring the resort in 2015 was to restore the mountain’s original name, “Purgatory,” after a stint as “Durango Mountain Resort.”
Mountain Capital Partners has stepped in and made major changes to the resort, including the installation of a detachable high-speed quad, surface lifts for beginners, and reinvestment in trail maintenance and snowmaking. Now, internal changes are being made to continue improving the skiing and riding experience.
In a blog post, Rathburn touched on the future of the ski area: “ Customer expectations are shifting, and staying competitive as a premier regional destination requires a level of long-term analysis that day-to-day operations simply don’t allow for.” Leaving his role in operations means new, bigger picture tasks will fall on Rathburn’s plate.
Josh Benson, a former general manager at Mountain Capital Partners and recently Purgatory’s guest services manager, is slated to take over those responsibilities. Rathburn wrote that “His understanding of our guests and staff makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead the resort’s day-to-day operations.”
Purgatory is a resort that can fly under the radar for those living in Denver. But the mountain is a primary destination in the Four Corners region and has direct flights from many Texas airports, making it a popular destination for those in the south.
As the new leadership team steps in at Purgatory, eyes turn to the 2026/2027 ski season to come. OpenSnow reports that the mountain only received 34 percent of its yearly average, with an underwhelming 104 inches of snow falling this season. The resort is in need of a rebound season. While the new leadership staff can’t influence Mother Nature, Purgatory hopes to preserve the special reputation it has built.
