The Daily Sun-Up Eldora ski area sale moving forward
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Feb 9, 2026 Jason Blevins, an outdoors reporter for The Colorado Sun who covers skiing and mountain issues, breaks down Nederland’s plan to buy Eldora. He explains the $120M letter of intent, the roles of Powder Corp and 303 Ski Group, financing and TABOR workarounds. Listens to community-ownership models, timeline for transition, and possible ripple effects for other ski towns.
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Town Steps In To Buy Eldora
- Nederland agreed to sign a letter of intent to buy Eldora for about $120 million and propose up to $225 million in municipal bonds.
- A 303 Ski group initially joined then withdrew, leaving the town to potentially proceed alone.
Community Ownership Gaining Traction
- Community-owned ski areas are growing in appeal as an alternative to corporate consolidation in the industry.
- Nederland's proposed purchase is unprecedented because resorts rarely sell for $120 million to small towns.
Large Debt And TABOR Workaround
- The town plans bonds capped at $225 million potentially carrying interest as high as 9%, creating heavy debt service.
- Nederland plans to structure Eldora as an enterprise to avoid TABOR voter approval for the debt.