Ski Cooper gets a thumbs-up from Lake County
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- Created on Wednesday, 16 February 2011 15:52
- Written by Dena Rosenberry
Ski Cooper has been approved for another 15 years of operation by Lake County. It's a nonprofit, county-owned ski area popular with families. Mark Reis, The Gazette
By R. Scott Rappold, The Gazette
Lake County officials have issued a new lease to the operators of county-owned Ski Cooper, after months of debate over the future of the small ski area.
The ski hill north of Leadville is popular with families for its size, beginner-friendly terrain and inexpensive lift tickets.
But some have called for expansion, saying the lack of challenging terrain has led to a stagnant level of visitors, which hurts other local businesses.
With the lease on nonprofit Cooper Hill Ski Area Inc. up for renewal, some encouraged county commissioners to open bids, possibly finding a new operator who would make changes or require in a new lease that the area’s board of directors expand the area and be subject to more public scrutiny.
One popular idea was building a chair lift to Chicago Ridge, an above-treeline area currently accessed through $275-a-person snowcat tours from Ski Cooper.
This week, commissioners declined to open up the operation of the ski hill to bids, issuing a 15-year lease to the nonprofit.
Ski area manager Clint Yant said the decision is a vindication for Ski Cooper managers, and a sign people like the way it is run.
“We’ve had tons of support that way, to keep doing business pretty much as we have been,” Yant said.
The county made some concessions to the critics, narrowing the term of the lease from 20 years and requiring the board to meet twice a year in public and issue annual reports on the ski area’s finances.
But for some critics, it is not enough.
“Having two open board meetings and presenting to the same cast of characters when they know they don’t have to see you again for another six months isn’t going to do much,” said Tim Hill, owner of Alpine Ski & Sport in Leadville.
“No, I have to say all and all I was disappointed. Virtually no changes were made, not anything that had any teeth.”
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