Top elevation 11,904 feet (3,628 m) Skiable area 1,600 acres (6.5 km) | Base elevation 10,300 feet (3,100 m) | |
Location Mineral County, Colorado, USA Nearest city Pagosa Springs, Colorado Runs 77
20% Beginner
35% Intermediate
25% Advanced
20% Expert | ||
Wolf Creek Ski Area (WCSA) is a ski area in southwest Colorado, located on the Wolf Creek Pass between Pagosa Springs and South Fork. It is best known for receiving more average annual snowfall than any other resort in Colorado, at about 480 inches per year.
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WCSA's future as a local's resort is less certain in light of Texas-billionaire Red McCombs' proposed development of the "Village at Wolf Creek," a year-round resort of 8,000 people adjacent to the ski area. For decades McCombs has pursued his vision for the development, and has been working with the Forest Service to acquire highway access to the property, which is an inholding.
Over several decades the Forest Service has been the target of multiple lawsuits from community groups for incompletely assessing the environmental impacts of approving a highway access point to the property and withholding information requested through the Freedom of Information Act. In light of the most recent lawsuit the developers reached agreement not to break ground at the site until the case is resolved in court.
Opponents of the "Village" state that the development would likely harm a vital wildlife corridor between the Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness areas, alter backcountry experiences on Wolf Creek Pass, compete with local businesses in nearby Pagosa Springs and South Fork, adversely affect rare fen wetlands, and stress water supplies in the Rio Grande watershed. Proponents claim the "Village" would improve the economics of the region.