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County, college and ski club discuss Dutch Henry lift donation, land arrangements and remediation hurdles
Summary
Lake County commissioners heard updates on a donated platter lift for Dutch Henry, a proposed multi-phase plan to reconfigure the Dutch Henry ski area for beginner skiing and tubing, and land-ownership, Army Corps wetland review and sanitation-site questions that must be resolved before formal agreements.
County staff, Cloud City Mountain Sports club representatives and Colorado Mountain College (CMC) briefed the Lake County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 23 about plans for Dutch Henry, a small ski and tubing area near Leadville, including a donated platter lift and a multi-phased concept to add beginner terrain and tubing infrastructure.
Presenters said the club has a donated platter lift (from Steamboat) in its possession and that installation costs are expected to be about $500,000 in cash or in-kind work. Carrie, representing the ski club, said the club “is not a club that is capable of managing this property” long-term and that the club is open to transferring its land to the county while retaining access. “The reason that we are willing to give this land to the county is so that someday this vision can happen,” Carrie said; she added that the club wants to preserve clubhouse access and youth-program training space.
County staff and CMC representatives outlined a possible three-phase approach: install the donated platter lift as a near-term access improvement; construct culverts and regrade portions of the site to create gentler beginner slopes and magic‑carpet terrain; and develop longer-term infrastructure (lodging, a lodge, improved circulation, and a terrain park) to support beginner skiing, tubing and programming. Presenters said significant earthwork would be necessary to create appropriate grades for beginner terrain and magic carpets.
Staff said four separate landowners complicate planning: Colorado Mountain College, the ski club, the county (which owns the tubing hill), and the sanitation district (which owns the corner parcel and operates a dump site). County counsel said drafting an operating agreement and resolving property ownership will be priorities before major investments proceed. Several presenters recommended resolving an Army Corps of Engineers wetland determination and NEPA-related requirements before the county acquires additional parcels or enters long-term commitments; staff said an Army Corps study and associated environmental work are already underway.
Other operational questions raised included power and water access for snowmaking and lift operation, liability and insurance for renewed ski-area operations, sanitation-district needs and possible property swaps, and CDOT considerations for traffic and turning lanes if the sanitation facility moves. Presenters said snowmaking currently relies on municipal water (Parkville) and that the college would prefer a dedicated commercial well for snowmaking if possible. The club and college requested that the county consider help with new insurer or skier-insurance costs in any long-term operating arrangement.
No formal county action was taken at the session; staff said they will continue Army Corps coordination, pursue documentation of land-ownership options, and work with the club and college on draft agreements and cost estimates before returning to the board.
