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Purgatory reports best season in 17 years

Wolf Creek also sees skier spike
Purgatory Resort’s owner James Coleman, left, high-fives some of the first riders to go up on the new Legends express quad chair lift at the ski area in December. An El Niño season that brought early snow, Coleman’s leadership and the lift are some of the factors that contributed to the best season in 17 years for the resort.

More people hit the slopes at Purgatory and Wolf Creek ski areas this season compared with last, helping to draw more tourism dollars to Southwest Colorado.

Purgatory Resort reached a 17-year peak for skier visits, with an increase of 17 percent compared with last season, the resort announced Wednesday.

The strong snow season, a new owner, the opening of a high-speed quad lift and the 50th anniversary celebrations all contributed, said Kim Oyler, a spokeswoman for the resort.

“I think there was a lot of energy created before the season even started,” she said.

Purgatory had a 30 percent increase in occupancy of rooms compared with last season. The total number of visitors and nights booked are not released to the public, Oyler said.

Wolf Creek Ski Area has seen an 8 percent increase in visits up to about 210,000 so far, said Rosanne Pitcher, vice president of marketing and sales.

“I think good snow always makes your numbers go up,” she said. The resort is not quite finished with the winter season, and it will be open Saturday and Sunday, she said.

Wolf Creek saw total snowfall increase from 270 inches last season to 400 inches this season, and more is forecast this week. Wolf Creek has a more than 50 percent chance of snow starting Thursday and continuing through Sunday.

The strong ski season reports correspond with strong sales and lodgers tax recorded in Durango, said Bob Kunkel, executive director of the Durango Tourism Office.

Hype surrounding the El Niño winter likely helped to bolster the season and draw people to the region, he said.

“When you hear it’s a good season, everybody sort of rides along with that high tide,” he said.

For December, January and February, the city collected about $3.6 million in sales tax, about 4.2 percent more than the same period last year.

Purgatory season passes are already on sale, and for the first time, they can be paid for in eight monthly installments with no interest.

Season passes include free or discounted skiing at several new resorts this season including Bogus Basin in Idaho, Diamond Peak in Nevada and Panorama Mountain Resort, Canada, Oyler said.

“We continue to add resort partners every year in order to give our pass holders a variety of resorts to experience,” she said.

mshinn@durangoherald.com

Mar 29, 2016
Purgatory Resort to install ‘surface lift’ on mountain’s backside
Dec 5, 2015
Purgatory in Durango celebrates its golden anniversary


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