Purgatory - The Durango Herald

Winter storm blesses Durango with modest 4 inches of snow

Purgatory receives a foot of powder, skiers ‘stoked’

DATE: Jan 24, 2026 | CATEGORY: Local News

Photos: Purgatory Resort opens for skiing

DATE: Nov 28, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

After 30 years, Olde Schoolhouse remains hidden gem in La Plata County

Community support key to success, owner says

DATE: Nov 28, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

Sipapu kicks off New Mexico’s ski season

Purgatory ready to open on Friday

DATE: Nov 26, 2025 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Purgatory Resort aims to open Friday

Snow, cooler temperatures expected later this week

DATE: Nov 26, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

Purgatory Resort delays opening day

Warm weather, lack of snow push back start of 2025-26 ski season

DATE: Nov 20, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

Appellate court dismisses Purgatory Resort’s water lawsuit against Forest Service

Ski area’s bid to access groundwater in Hermosa Creek ends in setback

DATE: Oct 23, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango named as host city for 2030 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships

800 athletes from 55 nations expected to compete at Purgatory Resort

DATE: Sep 25, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

Hesperus Ski Area to remain closed for 2025-26 season

Hope remains that one day lifts will resume spinning at local hill

DATE: Sep 18, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

Brian Buerger steps down as Durango Winter Sports Club freeride ski director

Coach says greatest joy is introducing kids to skiing and watching them grow

DATE: Sep 14, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

Purgatory Resort’s new chairlift won’t open this winter as planned

Regulatory delays push construction to 2026; bike park expected to reopen next summer

DATE: Sep 9, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

Purgatory Resort promised a new chairlift. Will it happen in time for ski season?

End of summer is approaching, construction has yet to begin

DATE: Aug 22, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Next ›

Colorado history gets weird, wild, wacky at Fashion Do’s and Don’tsAnnual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Cowboys. Fancy ladies. Gold miners. Even-toed ungulates that some in Durango might consider more like rats.Where can you find a runway show that takes you on a whirlwind tour through the weird, wacky and wildly exaggerated 150 years of Colorado history? Only at Durango’s annual Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, held Wednesday, where models and audience members wore costumes celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial – the theme of this year’s two-week Snowdown celebration.Standout acts included the Ghosts of Durango, which featured four of Durango’s most famous ghosts: a Rochester hotel ghost in a Victorian get-up of a more “modern” variation; the Strater Hotel’s head of housekeeping, also head of more discreet services; a young girl haunting El Rancho’s bathroom; and Sheriff Bob Thompson, killed in a 1906 gunfight. according to emcee Suzan Lane. A Another act was the Secret Circus Society, featuring Rubi Starr, Jeni Gross, Tabatha Joy Bettin, Adrienne Young and Ethan Deffenbaugh dressed as a car and the roadside pests better known as deer. Group members said the inspiration for the costume came from lived experiences driving Durango roads. The two-person Cantine Couture act starred Leslie Ponce and Tyler Frakes in an homage to the plentiful variety of Mexican restaurants found in any Colorado town. Ponce, dressed in comically large Mexican pointy cowboy boots, ambled down the runway as if taking a stroll under the hot, dusty, high-altitude sun, while Frakes flitted about the stage in a bright yellow salsa dress. Ponce said this year’s costume had been tough to decide, but the final decision was inspired by TikTok videos of Mexican cowboys in pointy boots. This was the duo’s third year strutting down the runway. Why they keep coming back for more, Frakes said laughing, was, “for the fame, the glory and the attention.”

Fashion Do’s and Don’ts has been one of the most highly anticipated Snowdown events since its inception in the 1990s. It has more than doubled in size over the past several decades. Last year, there were a record number of models, and in order to keep the event at a manageable size, this year’s fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unfazed by the change. “It was actually easy,” said Jodi Zuber, one part of the two-person duo that made up the 1950s Texas Invader Ski Couple. Her partner-in-costume, Danny Jaques, said they had been doing this for several years, and it’s good with everything going on in the world to “get some levity and let your hair down.” The performers were not the only ones in costume. Audience members also dressed in a wide variety of unique takes on what makes Colorado, Colorado. JonBenet Ramsey made a miraculous appearance, being played by an 82-year-old woman, as did Casa Bonita, an ensemble that included a taco, sopaipilla and gorilla in chains – to name some of the characters. By the end of the show, people were in high spirits, as usual. “It was just delightful,” said a first-time audience member. If blessed with the chance to get the much coveted tickets – he said he would jump on it. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Annual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Photos: Snowdown 2026 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Photos: Durango High School basketball teams lose to Montrose High School

Photos: Local girls high school wrestling at La Plata TriDurango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Durango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Photos: Fort Lewis College women’s and men’s basketball take on Westminster UniversityBoth Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Both Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Photos: An afternoon in 2004 with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell as he works on Capitol HillDurango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Durango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Photos and video: ICE protests return to DurangoAbout a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

About a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

The Durango Herald’s year in photos 2025

Photos: Chapman Hill fires up the snow guns

Winter storm blesses Durango with modest 4 inches of snow

Photos: Purgatory Resort opens for skiing

After 30 years, Olde Schoolhouse remains hidden gem in La Plata County

Sipapu kicks off New Mexico’s ski season

Purgatory Resort aims to open Friday

Purgatory Resort delays opening day

Appellate court dismisses Purgatory Resort’s water lawsuit against Forest Service

Durango named as host city for 2030 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships

Hesperus Ski Area to remain closed for 2025-26 season

Brian Buerger steps down as Durango Winter Sports Club freeride ski director

Purgatory Resort’s new chairlift won’t open this winter as planned

Purgatory Resort promised a new chairlift. Will it happen in time for ski season?

Videos & Photos

Search Directory Plus

Most Popular

Most Recent

Ballantine Communications, Inc.

Contact Us

Find Us