FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Diya TV) — One of the most famous ski destinations in the Western United States plans to shut down in the coming days as a labor dispute escalates between resort management and ski patrollers. Telluride Ski Resort said it will not open this weekend after its ski patrol union voted to strike over stalled contract talks.
The potential closure highlights growing tensions across the ski industry, where workers face rising living costs while resorts post strong winter demand. The dispute also raises concerns for local businesses that rely heavily on tourism during peak ski season. Telluride Ski Resort, located in southwestern Colorado, announced it will close Saturday if the strike proceeds as planned. The Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association voted Tuesday to strike after months of negotiations failed to produce a new contract.
Talks between the two sides began in June but ended without agreement on wages. Resort officials confirmed no further negotiations are scheduled before the weekend. Without ski patrol coverage, the resort says it cannot safely operate. Resort owner Chuck Horning criticized the union’s decision in a statement released Wednesday.
“We are concerned that any organization, particularly one that exists to help people, would do something that will have such a devastating effect on our community,” Horning said.
Union leaders argue the dispute centers on fair wages and the high cost of living in ski towns. The union seeks to raise starting pay for ski patrollers from $21 an hour to $28 an hour. It also wants higher wages for veteran patrollers with more than 30 years of experience.
Under the proposal, senior patrollers would earn between $39 and $48.60 an hour. Current wages for those workers range from $30 to $36 an hour. Andy Dennis, interim safety director and spokesperson for the patrollers’ association, said the resort owner holds responsibility for the closure.
“He’s being a bully,” Dennis said. “This is what bullies do: take their toys and run. All he has to do is give us a fair contract, and this would all be over.”
Ski patrollers say their work carries serious responsibility and risk. They respond to injured skiers, enforce safety rules, and manage avalanche control. In avalanche zones, patrollers use explosives to release unstable snow before skiers enter the area.
Many patrollers also say housing costs in resort towns like Telluride continue to climb. Rent and basic expenses often outpace wages, forcing workers to commute long distances or hold multiple jobs. The union argues that pay at Telluride lags behind similar resorts in the Rocky Mountain region. Patrollers say higher wages would help attract and retain experienced staff.
Telluride Ski Resort said it is working on a plan to reopen even if the strike continues. Officials did not share details about how they would operate without union patrollers. It remains unclear how long a closure could last.
The dispute comes during a challenging start to the ski season. Warm weather has limited snowfall across Colorado. Telluride has opened only 20 of its 149 trails so far this season, according to the resort. Local businesses worry that a closure, even for a few days, could hurt tourism during the busy holiday period. Hotels, restaurants, and retail shops rely on steady ski traffic to survive the winter months.
Telluride is not alone in facing labor unrest. Ski patrollers across the Rocky Mountains have pushed to unionize in recent years. Workers say rising costs and increased job demands drive the movement.
Last year, ski patrollers at Park City Mountain Resort in Utah went on strike for nearly two weeks. The walkout closed many runs and caused long lift lines. The strike ended after Vail Resorts agreed to a $2-an-hour base pay increase and raises for senior patrollers. The Telluride dispute now places another spotlight on labor relations in the ski industry. As negotiations stall, the future of operations at one of Colorado’s premier ski resorts remains uncertain.
