Purgatory Resort is committed to staying open through April 12 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ski resort north of Durango released a statement Thursday afternoon stating it would remain open through the planned closing day, weather permitting. It is bracing for a busy spring break season with snow in the forecast in a time in which health officials are urging people to avoid areas with big groups to help limit the spread of the new coronavirus.
“Purgatory Resort has been actively supporting La Plata County’s planning, community monitoring and response efforts of COVID-19,” Purgatory Resort stated in a news release. “The health and safety of our guests and employees remain our central focus, and we appreciate the resource we have in the Incident Management Team. This group, spearheaded by San Juan Basin Health and their activation provides the best opportunity for minimizing the impacts of COVID-19 exposure in our community. The resort staff is working side-by-side with public health experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and will continue to do so until there is no longer a public health concern.”
Wednesday afternoon, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis indicated mountain communities would likely be “disproportionately” affected by the spread of the virus.
Statewide, there are no plans to close ski areas, said Scott Bookman on Thursday. Bookman is in charge of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment response to coronavirus.
Polis has warned individuals over the age of 60 to avoid mountain communities. There are currently 44 presumptive cases of coronavirus in Colorado. Of those cases, 10 are in Pitkin County which includes Aspen.
Purgatory Resort, owned by Mountain Capital Partners, said all lift tickets, even those purchased in advance, are non-refundable. It’s lodging cancellation policy also remains in place, and it will honor all refunds for guests who had already purchased travel insurance.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
