In a historic and unexpected twist in Colorado's ski industry, the tiny mountain town of Nederland, population 1,500, is officially buying Eldora Mountain Resort — and doing it without putting the burden on taxpayers.
Eldora, one of the most accessible ski resorts on the Front Range and a longtime favorite of locals, has been owned by POWDR Corporation since 2016. Now, it's changing hands in a deal that’s being described as a first-of-its-kind since the 1990s — a town acquiring a ski resort.
A Local Takeover in a Monopolized Industry
For decades, large ski conglomerates like Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company have been buying up smaller ski areas across the U.S., turning the landscape of American skiing into a battleground of corporate season pass empires — Epic vs. Ikon.
But Nederland’s purchase of Eldora flips the script. Instead of another acquisition by a global company, this time it's a local community reclaiming control, making it a symbolic and financial victory for town-run recreation.
No Taxes, No Problem
So how did a town of 1,500 manage to buy a ski resort?
The answer: municipal revenue bonds.
Rather than funding the purchase with taxpayer money, Nederland is using bonds backed solely by the future revenue Eldora generates — including lift tickets, Ikon Pass sales, food and drink, and gear rentals. The bonds are completely self-supported, meaning if Eldora continues to thrive, it pays for itself.
"Not even a single dollar is going to be paid by the taxpayers in respect to this purchase," the town said in a statement.
This model keeps the public shielded from financial risk while securing local ownership — a rare and brilliant maneuver in the era of mega mergers.
Keeping the Community Employed
One major concern in any ownership transition is the fate of employees. Fortunately, Nederland has promised that all 700 current Eldora employees will be retained. That provides much-needed job security and continuity while the town transitions into ownership with support from 303 Ski, a professional group in the Colorado ski industry.
POWDR will continue to assist in operations through the next two seasons, giving Nederland the time and expertise it needs to take over fully.
Staying on the Ikon Pass
For skiers, the biggest concern was whether Eldora would remain part of the Ikon Pass — a crucial decision, given the revenue it brings and the community it connects to.
The town confirmed that Eldora is staying in the Ikon Pass permanently. This ensures a stable flow of visitors and income, and preserves the resort’s status as one of Ikon's original mountains since its 2018 launch.
What’s Next: A Year-Round Vision
Nederland isn’t just thinking about winter. The town’s vision for Eldora includes turning it into a year-round, community-owned recreation hub — complete with summer activities like mountain biking. It’s about creating local jobs, boosting tourism, and making the resort a sustainable engine for economic and social growth.
“We aspire to grow recreation and generate outdoor employment,” said town officials.
On platforms like Reddit, users are already calling Eldora the “first ski resort the people have gotten in a long time,” reflecting widespread fatigue with the increasing corporatization of outdoor spaces.
Why This Matters
Nederland’s acquisition of Eldora Mountain is more than a quirky local story — it's a bold blueprint for how small towns can take back ownership of beloved resources, run them sustainably, and empower their own communities without relying on big corporations or new taxes.
As climate, economics, and public sentiment shift, this move might not be the last.