College, ski club and county update Dutch Henry plan; donated lift and Army Corps wetlands review shape next steps

County staff, Colorado Mountain College representatives and members of the Cloud City ski club briefed the Lake County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 23 about a multi‑phase redevelopment concept for the Dutch Henry ski area that would expand access for youth and beginner skiers and replace the existing tubing operation.

College and club representatives said Steamboat has donated a platter lift to the project and that installing the lift will require roughly half a million dollars in cash or in‑kind work. County staff and the club said the donated lift is viewed as a near‑term first phase that improves access for the club’s training programs; additional grading, a culvert of the creek and “magic carpets” or beginner conveyors would be needed to support a larger, family‑friendly facility.

The discussion matters because the site is used for multiple community recreation programs, is currently divided among four different landowners and sits on wetlands that the Army Corps of Engineers must review before major work proceeds. County staff said the four‑owner configuration complicates long‑term planning and indicated the county, the college and the club are exploring legal and operating arrangements that would consolidate management and clarify liability.

Carrie, representing the ski club, told the board the club is not in a position to operate or develop the hill on its own and said it would consider transferring its property interests to the county in order to secure access for youth programs. "We are not a club that is capable of managing this property," Carrie said, adding the club’s priorities are preserving clubhouse access and long‑term training space for local youth.

County staff described the phases sketched by the project designer, including a base lift (phase 1), removal or reconfiguration of the current tubing facility and new beginner slopes and conveyor lifts (phase 2). Staff emphasized the long‑term vision would require significant grading to create consistent, low‑grade runs suitable for learning and for a terrain park and said the county’s operations and insurance exposure must be clarified before the county takes on land or operations.

Staff also reported the Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing a consultant study (presented as submitted to the Corps) to determine the scope of required wetland mitigation or permits; county counsel advised it would be prudent to resolve that federal permitting question before the county acquires additional parcels. County staff said the Corps now believes parts of the site qualify as jurisdictional wetlands and that the permitting process is likely to require mitigation measures.

Other practical issues identified in the meeting included power and water access for snowmaking, the existing sanitation district parcel that sits inside the project footprint, and liability/insurance questions tied to operating lifts and public recreation. Staff said Colorado Mountain College runs power and snowmaking infrastructure across the corner now and could support operations, but the separate ownership and utility arrangements need formal agreements.

There was no vote. County staff said they will continue to pursue the Army Corps review, begin drafting options for a land‑ownership and operating framework, and requested input from the club and the college on specific access and use terms. A donor‑raised campaign to fund lift installation was described as under way with a target for fundraising by late winter so installation planning can begin.