Mountain Capital Partners announced in a Wednesday news release that it will be committing over $37.5 million to mountain infrastructure at four resorts across and outside of the U.S. – including Purgatory Resort in Durango.
Mountain Capital Partners is a Durango-based company that owns and manages 17 ski resorts in the U.S. and Chile – including Purgatory – and a range of bike parks and golf courses.
A portion of the MCP funds will go toward construction on Purgatory’s Gelande Lift, the release described – a fixed-grip triple chair that will provide lift access from the Gelande parking lot and open five new expert trails.
Work on the Gelande Lift was originally scheduled to take place last summer, but the project was held up because of unanticipated permitting delays, Matt Ericksen, Purgatory’s marketing director, told The Durango Herald in August.
He did not provide a direct answer in August to the question of whether the lift would be open by the start of the 2025-26 season, saying only that the lift remained a “top priority for us this year.”
The lift remained incomplete and unusable throughout the 2025-26 ski season.
Ericksen told the Herald in August that Purgatory had invested $1.25 million in contract services, equipment rentals and lift fabrication and 2,500 hours in direct wages for pre-construction activities on the lift.
Purgatory spokesman James Graven said Thursday that the project is “progressing as planned” and that investment will continue in line with construction, but did not provide specific numbers.
“Final costs will be clearer as the lift installation is completed,” he said.
Graven said the resort is expecting to open the Gelande Lift for the 2026-27 winter season.
The resort’s downhill mountain bike park was closed throughout last summer to accommodate construction – a side effect of the new lift project that frustrated some local riders.
Purgatory announced on its website that the bike park would be reopening this summer.
“After a temporary hiatus to prioritize our mountain infrastructure, we are thrilled to announce that Purgatory Bike Park will officially reopen for the Summer 2026 season,” the website read Thursday. “We know you’ve been patient while we worked on the new ski lift, and while that project continues toward completion this summer, we’ve made sure our bike trails are primed and ready for your return.”
Graven said that the resort’s plans for the Gelande Lift build will allow the bike park to remain open, and are “designed to keep terrain accessible while ensuring safe and efficient construction.”
“We’re excited to welcome guests back to the bike park this summer,” he said. “Our teams are coordinating construction and operations to maintain a strong guest experience while work continues on the Gelande lift and other resort improvements, including snowmaking infrastructure.”
Lift 1 system control upgrades and continued snowmaking expansion across key areas of the mountain will also be made possible through the Mountain Capital Partners effort, the release said.
Graven did not share specific numbers when asked how much snow Purgatory has blown throughout the 2025-26 season, but said it has been one of the resort’s “most extended snowmaking seasons,” and that crew has been producing snow between October and March whenever conditions have allowed.
“We’re focused on continuing to strengthen our snowmaking infrastructure,” Graven said. “The additional support through MCP helps us build on those improvements so we can make the most of available weather windows and deliver a consistent experience, even in variable winters.”
Ericksen said the resort’s investment in the mountain through improvements like expanded snowmaking and new lift access are being done in the name of reliability and access.
“Keeping skiing and riding affordable and accessible for everyone is a big priority, and we continue to see strong demand for Purgatory,” he said.
Power Pass sales went live Wednesday for the 2026-27 season. Ericksen said the resort isn’t concerned about pass sales declining, despite the less than ideal 2025-26 snow conditions across Southwest Colorado.
“Each season really stands on its own, and what we’ve shown, including this year, is that we can deliver a strong experience regardless of how a winter shapes up,” he said. “The guest feedback this season has been really positive, which gives us confidence heading into next year.”
epond@durangoherald.com
