Purgatory's New Chairlift Plans Hit Bureaucratic Snag

Purgatory's Lift Expansion Plans Grind to a Halt

Purgatory Resort's much-touted new front-side chairlift is looking increasingly unlikely to materialise for the 2025-26 ski season. With less than 100 days until the slopes are set to open, the Colorado resort finds itself mired in bureaucratic red tape, raising questions about the project's viability and the resort's planning process.

Announced in April as a key infrastructure upgrade, the triple-seat lift was intended to provide advanced skiers with direct access from the Gelande parking area to the mountain's summit. However, as August draws to a close, the lift components remain conspicuously idle in a parking lot, with no apparent progress on installation.

Purgatory's Gelande lot sits empty despite April promises of a new triple chairlift. The resort announced the project would be finished before the 2025-26 season, but construction hasn't begun as of Thursday. © Purgatory Resort

The crux of the delay appears to stem from a misunderstanding of the permitting process. Purgatory's leadership seemingly assumed that previous approvals, including a 2018 agreement with the U.S. Forest Service and a 2002 development agreement with La Plata County, would fast-track the new project. This assumption has proven unfounded, with county officials confirming that Purgatory has yet to even submit a preliminary plan for the lift.

Purgatory spokesperson Matt Erickson's attempts to downplay the situation as mere 'unanticipated permitting issues' ring hollow given the scale of the oversight. The resort claims to have already sunk $1.25 million into the project, including fabrication costs, equipment rental, and contractor services. This significant outlay, coupled with 2,500 staff hours dedicated to pre-construction, suggests a concerning lack of due diligence in navigating the necessary regulatory channels.

The fallout from this planning misstep extends beyond the lift project itself. Purgatory was forced to close its downhill mountain bike park for the summer, a decision that has understandably frustrated local riders. While the resort maintains this closure was inevitable due to construction staging requirements, the lack of actual construction progress casts doubt on this justification.

Purgatory ski resort trail map. © Purgatory Resort

It's not all doom and gloom for Purgatory, however. The resort has secured Forest Service approval for new snowmaking infrastructure on the mountain's backside, covering areas like Blackburn's Bash, Ray's Ridge, and the Legends Bypass. This development, part of a broader suite of 46 planned improvements for the season, offers a glimmer of progress amidst the chairlift setback.

Nonetheless, the situation at Purgatory serves as a cautionary tale for ski resorts embarking on major infrastructure projects. It highlights the critical importance of thorough planning and stakeholder engagement, particularly when navigating the complex web of local, state, and federal regulations that govern mountain development.

As the clock ticks down to the start of the ski season, Purgatory finds itself in a race against time. Whether skiers will be riding the new lift this winter remains highly uncertain, and the resort may need to reassess its communication strategy to manage expectations more effectively. For now, powder hounds eyeing Purgatory for their winter escapades would do well to keep their plans flexible.