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James Coleman, who purchased Purgatory Resort in 2015, has added another ski slope to his portfolio: Hesperus Ski Area, 11 miles west of Durango.<\/p>\n
The acquisition announced Thursday includes the Hesperus Ski Area\u2019s lodge, rental shop and tubing hill, in addition to its 160-acre lease.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very happy to bring Hesperus Ski Area<\/a> into our family of ski resorts in the Southwest,\u201d Coleman said in a news release. \u201cHesperus offers incredible fall line skiing at a great value and is a natural fit in our portfolio of ski resorts.\u201d<\/p>\n Coleman, of Durango, is a businessman and managing partner of an investment group that owns four other ski resorts, including Arizona Snowbowl<\/a>, Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort<\/a> in New Mexico and Pajarito Mountain<\/a> in New Mexico.<\/p>\n Purgatory season pass holders will also now have access to Hesperus Ski Area.<\/p>\n \u201cHesperus is a true gem in the Southwest and the Four Corners,\u201d Coleman said. \u201cPower Pass holders can now ski day and night in Durango with access to unlimited skiing at Hesperus Ski Area.\u201d<\/p>\n Coleman said he is committed to maintaining Hesperus as an affordable, family-friendly ski area.<\/p>\n \u201cHesperus is a favorite of locals wanting to ski after a workday, families living in the region seeking an affordable ski experience, and those wanting to learn to ski or snowboard,\u201d the release says.<\/p>\n He acquired Hesperus Ski Area from Jim Pitcher, who has held a lease agreement since 1988.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m thrilled to pass the baton to James Coleman, who is passionate about skiing, and have confidence that his team can make improvements to take the Hesperus Ski Area to the next level,\u201d Pitcher said in the release. \u201cI want to express my sincere gratitude to the people and businesses that have supported me and the Hesperus Ski Area for all these years.\u201d<\/p>\n Pitcher held a lease with private landowner, S. & I. Scott & Co. The corporation is now held by Jack Scott, Katy Scott Moss and John Scott.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Scott family has shared our property with winter sports enthusiasts for well over 50 years now and is excited to work with James as he continues to grow the sport of skiing in the Southwest,\u201d Jack Scott said in the release. \u201cWe believe Hesperus Ski Area is an important asset to the community and look forward to the future of Hesperus under James and his team\u2019s management.\u201d<\/p>\n Hesperus has a volunteer ski patrol and offers ski and ride school, including an after-school program that teaches skiing and snowboarding.<\/p>\n Coleman plans to operate Hesperus through the end of the winter season before evaluating what improvements should be made to the ski area, the release says.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of our top priorities is to make skiing more accessible and affordable to families,\u201d he said. \u201cBringing Hesperus into our family of resorts is a win for everyone, including the community, its employees, and the Four Corners region. We want to maintain the unassuming small ski area ambiance while enhancing the overall skier experience in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Hesperus Ski Area is scheduled to open mid-December through March, weather permitting. It offers 26 trails and a double chairlift<\/a>. It has no snowmaking capabilities.<\/p>\n In 2009, the Ski Area Citizens\u2019 Coalition, which used to grade ski resorts on their environmental stewardship, named Hesperus to its list of \u201cLittle Ski Areas that Rock.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnlike ski resorts, they aren\u2019t in the real-estate game, and they don\u2019t feel the impetus to constantly expand and \u2018improve,\u2019\u201d the report said. \u201cThey\u2019re fine the way they are, and people like them that way.\u201d<\/p>\n It offers nighttime skiing operation from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, with weekend operations, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n