TL;DR
Purgatory Resort's ambitious plan for a new front-side chairlift faces significant delays due to unexpected permitting hurdles, casting doubt on its availability for the upcoming ski season.
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.
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.
