Purgatory Resort announced this week that construction of its new Gelande chairlift will not be finished in time for the 2025-26 ski season as planned.
In a blog post on Purgatory’s website, General Manager Dave Rathbun said regulatory delays and the timeline required for tree removal, excavation and foundation work have made it unfeasible to complete the project before winter conditions set in.
The triple chairlift, first announced in April, will run from the Gelande parking lot to the top of the mountain on the front side. Resort officials also planned to build up to five new trails and connector trails to expand advanced and expert terrain on the mountain’s front side.
The unexpectedly drawn-out timeline for the project stems from unforeseen permitting delays. A Purgatory spokesperson said the resort believed approvals obtained in 2018 from the U.S. Forest Service and a development agreement approved by La Plata County in 2002 would mean minimal bureaucratic hurdles in 2025, but that has not been the case.
A preliminary plan for the chairlift has not yet been filed with the La Plata County Planning Department. However, Lynn Hyde, community development director for the county, said the department is working with Purgatory to develop a clearing and grading permit that would allow site preparation in advance of a full plan approval.
The requested materials have been submitted, and county staff are reviewing them, Hyde said.
Despite the setback, Rathbun said the resort remains committed to the project, which has already cost more than $1.25 million and thousands of hours of pre-construction work.
Crews have built tower forms, modified chairs to handle the steep terrain and assembled lift components, much of which will be moved into climate-controlled storage this winter to protect equipment and preserve parking space.
“Our team is determined to keep momentum by putting resources into projects that are permitted and underway, projects that will make a real difference for this season,” Rathbun wrote in a blog post.
For now, crews will continue site preparation this fall, including trail clearing and glading for limited terrain sampling if conditions allow. While no updated completion date has been announced, Purgatory hopes to resume construction next spring.
In anticipation of the project, the resort closed its bike park this summer, but officials say it will likely reopen next summer despite the delay.
Purgatory issued a written statement echoing its blog post but declined to make a spokesperson available for a phone interview to address questions about permitting delays, progress or next steps.
Even with the setback, Purgatory has said visitors will notice new improvements this season.
At the Columbine beginner area, a heated bathroom trailer with 10 fixtures will be added. On the backside of the mountain, new snowmaking infrastructure is expected to expand coverage around the Blackburn’s Bash and Ray’s Ridge headwalls and the Legends Bypass to the bottom of Lift 8.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
