Located around 12,000 feet above sea level in Colorado, near Guanella Pass, is a small ghost town only accessible by a rugged road called Geneva City. We spent awhile lingering inside, quietly listening to the wind filtering through the cracks in the boards and wondering at all the memories created within the four walls. However I did not get enough investors plus the snow fall there is limited. I am not ready to test it with the skis before then, as I am not that good on crosscountry skis. Will had done this previously and said that it would be a lot of climbing for a single day trip. Open: 10, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 50" It first opened in 1963 with two chairlifts: a double known as the Duck Creek lift and . It was early on a Saturday and the two of us were on the side of Georgetowns Guanella Pass somewhere between Highway 285 and the 11,670-foot summit. But their ownership didnt last much longer. 1.4 km Sure beats hiking! Unfortunately, the owners were unable to accomplish this. According to hisproposal, the ski area would require about 2-3 million dollars in improvements and create20-30 jobs in Park County. At Northwest Colorado Health we believe everyone deserves the chance to achieve their best health. A local contractor from Aurora, MichaelMarsh made a proposal to the Forest Service to operate the ski area. And Im not sure I could have kept going if Id had to hike in my ski boots. if (/android/i.test(userAgent)){ -2,624 ft Descent Daliah Singer September 26, 2018. GIS Administrator The GIS (Geographic Information System) Administrator   Summer Season 2023 Full-Time & Part-Time NOW HIRING -- Positions Available in: Food & Beverage Culinary Golf Maintenance Golf Operations, Retail Sales Associate - Pay starts at $22.00/hour and goes up as knowledge, skills demonstrate ability to sell significantly high, Vail Destination Manager A passion for luxury hospitality, service, and is well connected to the Vail Valley community. It was originally opened in 1963 by a family from Illinois who had also developed another ski area in Michigan called Indianhead Ski Area. -552.43 m Descent, 1.1 mi . Geneva Basin had huge powder and lots of it - about 300 inches a year. Once owned by former state governor Roy. 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Laden down with packs full of backcountry skiing gear and calorie-dense snacks, we focused on our singular objective: find Geneva Basin. It was eventually owned by former Governor Roy Romer and operated for some years until permanently closing in 1984. I lived at the bottom of the South (285) pass where the gate is now. Print/PDF map. Open: 23, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 38" [4]), Indianhead went into foreclosure and the property was sold at auction to then-state Senator (later Governor) Roy Romer and the Walter J. Burke family, who renamed the ski area to Geneva Basin. 2h 59m, Up the road to base, cat track to patrol cabin, down Jolly Time to Knicker Knocker, back on shortcut RELATED:Beautiful (and easy) backcountry skiing trails near Denver. While the area received 300 inches (760cm) of annual snowfall, the unpaved road adjacent to the ski area frustrated the ski area ownership. As you might guess, the runs here are still super popular with backcountry skiers today - though it's an 8-mile trek through deep snow to get there. else { We knew this would be sportingwhen we got a text from our friends on Saturday: Heads up guys: there is a locked gate at the base of the pass. According to newspaper articles, the Forest Service was not opposed to the proposal,however, nothing ever went forward. The ski area swapped hands often, from an Illinois family, to former Gov. Two days after thefailed Park County ballot to save Geneva, F. S. officials decided to burn down the skiarea's lodge to avoid any associated liability. Open: 3, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 30" Open: 1, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 32" By 1974, thisgroup installed a Heron-Poma double chair that replaced the Sundance T-bar. Grew up in Conifer so it was close and was always excited when I heard rumors it was purchased and may reopen but nope Still ski at the big resorts now but those were great memories If I was younger Id just hike and ski. Devin Booker sulked. Geneva Basin *Amazon Affiliate Links This old ski area has not been operated since the mid 1980's, although several groups have tried and failed to resurrect it since then. The latest Grand Geneva snow report shown below was updated on 17 Apr 2023. It appears to be a gentlemans agreement between government officials and outdoor enthusiasts: Theyll leave the hut standing as long as we dont abuse the privilege. It was the old ski patrol hut! I was all by myself, but there were still one or two ski patrol on the run. Was there the last day it was open and was heart broken when it closed. I was wearing my Rossi 195 GSs, and the cruising was nice and smooth. 3h 06m. Due to financial problems, this lift was never completed. At this point, we were left with a decision: suck it up and tackle the day without any insoles or cut our losses, pack it up and head back to Denver. It was early on a Saturday and the two of us were on the side of Georgetowns Guanella Pass somewhere between Highway 285 and the 11,670-foot summit. That hurts just thinking about it! We are planning on having a re-union in the next couple months at Geneva basin. $24-$30/hourly depending on experience. Just a few years after opening, what was then known as Indianhead Ski Area would see its first of multiple tragedies in the death of a skier due to an avalanche in 1965. The ski area first started under the name Indianhead but was later . Geneva Basin initially opened as Indianhead in 1963 but went into foreclosure only two years later. I just wanted to let you know you made me smile with the amazing memories I have about the best ski area that existed! Opened in 1961 as Indianhead Ski Area, the ski area operated under various owners before closing in 1984. Kevin Durant moped. The new lift ran parallel to the former Duck Creek lift but was positioned farther right, making the high-speed Poma lift serving the bowl unnecessary. My ski tips pointed downhill, I launched into the untouched run, hooting and hollering with abandon as pristine powder flew through the air and soaked the perma-smile stretched across my face. I used to drive over from Georgetown to ski at Geneva Basin when it was open in the early 80s. The death is . Will and I ripped our skins from the bottom of our skis, flipped our bindings and boots into downhill mode, and double-checked that the beacons were in send mode. This place has been closed for the last 35+ years but is free to. The ski area initially had financial difficulty as the pass was unimproved. Ski area employees reportedseeing Ed walking at night around the top of the Duck Creek Lift (the site of theaccident).History info from http://www.coloradoskihistory.com/lost/genevabasin.htmlNinja merch check out - https://teespring.com/stores/the-ninja-on-the-mountainsFilmed with: Insta360 ONE X and a 10ft selfie stick. This is where you will begin touring. is situated south of Guanella Pass at an elevation of 11,750ft (3,580m). Thanks so much for writing about this wonderful ski area. Full time with excellent benefits. The runs were engineered by Sel Hannah. 0.2 km It was originally, 1. Grand Geneva resort conditions: Our Snow Report for Grand Geneva brings daily updates on the snow conditions, snow depths, piste and offpiste conditions and the number of open ski lifts. Between 1972 and 1984, Geneva Basin changed hands numerous times, and the resort fell into disrepair due to minimal funding. They later sold the ski area to an investment group based in Kansas in 1972. Because the road was dry as a bone, we stayed in our hiking shoes and A-framed our skis on our daypacks. Colorados Ghost Towns: What Caused Their Demise? Users can sleep in it if they want, but it is kinda dirty. You brought back some great memories! else if(/iPad|iPhone|iPod/i.test(userAgent)){ Also, pack layers, food and water. Eventually, the road had a light covering of the white stuff, so we decided it was time to skin up. At its opening, it had a double chair and a T-bar with two Poma lifts installed soon after.. Snowboarding Geneva Basin abandoned Ski resort near Grant, CO with my dog. As a result, the Colorado Tramway Board closed the resort until adequate maintenance could resolve the issues. Hands down, this hut is my favorite part of Geneva Basin! In 1965, Geneva Basin succumbed to bankruptcy, and former Gov. -147 ft Descent It first opened in 1963 with two chairlifts: a double known as the Duck Creek. We were the only skiers on the hill; we had the entirety of Geneva Basin to ourselves. Borvig never installed the lift's drive unit orchairs. Unmasking the Myth of Colorados Sun-Drenched Reputation, Escape the Heat: Explore Colorados Hidden Gem Hippie Dips for a Cool Dip, The Interesting History Behind Colorados Idarado Houses, Colorado DMV Takes Stand Against Offensive License Plates, 15 Movies People Think are Based in Colorado (Yet Some Arent), Colorado Had a Hailstorm in 1994 that Looked Like the Apocalypse. Kiszla: Avs embarrass themselves with silence about Valeri Nichushkin's mysterious absence following reported 9-1-1 call. -1,725 ft Descent So glad I asked , Hi- never heard of this cabin, but it sounds like something fun to visit. He would also rename the ski area to Alpine Valley. \"The voters figured out that the tax wasn'tthe proper action for the county and it wasn't properly planned,\" said County CommissionerJim Coggin, an opponent.The Forest Service did not wait long to take action at Geneva Basin. In many places, the onset of spring means the end of ski season. The ski area was sold again and vast improvements were done to the lodge. Park County officials were sent a letter of apology a few weeks later by the Forest Service for not properly informing citizens of the method for demolition. My Brother was two years older and was on the ski team. It was a bluebird day so the heat was blasting down on us but the wind was wicked. When the resort was in operation, it was used as a ski patrol hut but these days, it is the only remaining structure from the resorts glory days. Originally dubbed Indianhead Ski Area, Geneva Basin is easily Colorado's most famous abandoned ski resort. After all, we still had the four miles of road. Truck Drivers - CDL A or B $28-$35/hour. When covered with snow, we could easily ski down in 30 minutes, but since so much of it was dry, we were going to have to hike a bit. I had hot spots and blisters all over the place, and Geneva Basin was nowhere in sight. Open: 34, New (24 hr): 1" | Base: 27" My chest heaved with exertion as I slid one ski in front of the other. A long, gradual climb to an old abandoned ski area, Geneva Basin. Our skins sticky, carpet-like swaths that prevent skis from sliding downhill gripped the loose snow as we created our own switchbacks through thigh-deep powder, crisscrossing a path uphill. applink.title = 'Andriod'; Now 73, Im a little disinclined to brave the bumps and turn my ski-tips straight down. 1.7 km Two more Poma lifts were added in the 1960s to provide additional access to bowl and beginner-friendly terrain. Open: 5, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 27" [16][17], - 5 Beginner - 3 Intermediate - 8 Advanced. Photos (112) Directions. const userAgent = navigator.userAgent; Originally dubbed Indianhead Ski Area, Geneva Basin is easily Colorado's most famous abandoned ski resort. I started skiing at age 10. Between 1984 and 1992, multiple groups attempted to unsuccessfully reopen Geneva Basin. Great Pay. From the gate to the Geneva Basin, it is roughly four miles so we still had a trek ahead of us. Necessary gear: Even though it is a former ski resort, you still need to treat Geneva Basin with all the caution you would use on traditional backcountry terrain. And for awhile that worked, but it became a choose your own adventure of sorts. Not for beginners. Originally coined Indianhead Ski Area, Geneva Basinopened in 1963 on the backside of Guanella Pass. Discover this 14.0-mile out-and-back trail near Grant, Colorado. End of Season, Sims Market is looking for Full Time/Part Time Help. Historical Weather. The property was sold again to another investment group in 1985 with ambitious plans to revitalize the ski area. We logged roughly 11 miles round-trip. The location, topography, and nearby roads & trails around Geneva Basin Ski Area (Locale) can be seen in the map layers above. Once we got stuck on the lift near the top in a storm while the thing was restarted. Two more Poma lifts were added in the 1960s to provide additional access to bowl and beginner-friendly terrain. It is used by backcountry skiers that travel by foot from an access gate to ski the former trails. The climb can be long but its usually relatively quiet for the Front Range. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism. Must work weekends & holidays. Very steep. Finally, after years of hardships, the ski lodge was eventually burned to the ground by United States Forest Service employees and Geneva Basin has sat empty ever since. The small ski area was the brainchild of Arapahoe Basin founder Larry Jump and featured snowmaking and night skiing. We originally planned to skin in on Saturday with some friends and camp out at the base of the ski area on Saturday night, leaving us with two solid days of skiing. Open: 23, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 85" But one of my favorite things about Colorado is that its the exact opposite! If youre not a ski bum or a local in a ski town, you may not know about the secret, manmade huts on Colorado ski mountains known as smoke shacks., a recent story about Cuchara Mountain Park, burned to the ground by United States Forest Service employees, Tour Beautiful Western Colorado Farm Described as a Hidden Gem. I discovered that wedging my ski poles underneath my pack transferred the weight from my back to the poles. 6.3mi Not wanting to take the time to remove our skins and skis, we found ourselves picking our way through rocks, desperate to make contact with any snow. Thislift ran parallel to the former Duck Creek lift but farther right, making the high-speed pomaserving the bowls unnecessary. Feel, $25 per hour Full time & part time available Flexible shift options Line Cook prepares easy kid friendly meals for, THIS SUMMER: Join the Town of Vail team! It first opened in 1963 with two chairlifts: a double known as the Duck Creek lift and a T-bar called Sundance. In 1965, Geneva Basin succumbed to bankruptcy, and former Gov. At its height, Geneva Basin ran two double chairs and two Poma lifts. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The trail passage, which still has snowmaking equipment on it. Tricky terrain. Open: 17, New (24 hr): 1" | Base: 42" And for awhile, our skin was no big deal. I was having fun again! Not only were we carrying our skis far more than we wearing them, but hiking in my insole-less ski boots was killing my feet. WE ARE HIRING! It does have a wood burning stove though, so if you had wood, you could totally head it up all cozy. This article about a ski area or resort is a stub. 1.7 km The lack of maintenance became grossly evident in 1984 when a chair fell from the cable on the Duck Creek lift. Here is a link to it with a free selfie stick ONLY through this link below!! Almost immediately, it was clear that the sun had melted all of the snow. I used to drive over from Georgetown to ski at Geneva Basin when it was open in the early 80's. The pass was plowed on a . I first explored the 1,250 vertical feet of this ski basin on a scorching late-spring day and almost bonked during the arduous eight-mile uphill slog. Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise. }, exploring both Geneva Basin{an abandoned resort} and SevenUtes{a resort that fizzled before it ever happened}. Snow Reports are provided regularly throughout the ski season courtesy of our own . Open: 13, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 18" Geneva Basin is an abandoned ski resort outside of Georgetown, Colorado, and has an unfortunate history of fatal accidents and a devastating fire. The Guanella Pass Rd (closed to traffic in winter, but there may be snowmobiles) is paved so it can melt out on low snow years and sunny days. MEEKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Classroom Teacher, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher. Following a precipitous drop in business during the 1976-1977 season caused by an unusually low amount of snowfall,[9] Geneva Basin installed US$400,000 (equivalent to $1,788,688 in 2021) in snowmaking equipment. Instead of scrapping the trip, however, we opted to wake up SUPER early on Sunday to skin into the base, run a lap, and ski back out. Road to the ghost town of Geneva City, Colorado. The interior is dark and dingy exactly what youd expect from a long-abandoned cabin but it practically oozes old-timey ski lore. "Forest Service Promoting More Ski Areas", "Aspen ski complex leads state in visits last winter", "Colorado's 'lost ski areas' offer skiers the best beginner backcountry", "This is Colorado's most famous abandoned ski area", Geneva Basin Ski Area - Colorado Ski History, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geneva_Basin_Ski_Area&oldid=1117202773, Buildings and structures in Clear Creek County, Colorado, Buildings and structures in Park County, Colorado, Defunct ski areas and resorts in Colorado, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 20 October 2022, at 13:02. Open: 9, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 38" This was my first outing in them and I was psyched to give them a tryuntil I went to pull them on and realized they had no insoles. Behind me, I heard Wills delighted laughter echo throughout the trees as the two of us carved S-turns down the untracked mountainside. There are two options when skinning into Geneva Basin: approaching from the north or the south. Equipment Operators $25-$37 per hour . Summer season May 8 October 13 All roles start at $21.50, Housekeeper For Private Family in Vail. Knowing []. Geneva City, CO Ghost Town - by Montezuma. My dad is now 86 and really enjoys all of the articles posted about GB. Open: 3, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 41" Geneva Basin failed to open that year due to money reasons. The climb tops out at the old ski patrol hut (maintained by volunteers). This is about an injury or accident Laden down with packs full of backcountry skiing gear and calorie-dense snacks, we focused on our singular objective: find Geneva Basin. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The road took a sharp switchback and turned left, entirely changing the aspect of the pavement. -898 ft Descent I remember the swishing sound as my skis drifted on the hard-packed powder. Skier numbers totalled 24,490 in Geneva Basin's last season.Geneva Basin was sold again to another investment group in 1985. Operating with a chair, a T-bar, and a rope tow,[5] Geneva Basin had 12,982 visitors in the 1964-1965 season. Open: 9, The entertainment site of The Denver Post, This is Colorados most famous abandoned ski, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), This is Colorados most famous abandoned ski area, Denver weather: Rain and snow diminishing, with clearing skies in the afternoon, Indy Pass to suspend sales just 10 days after opening, citing concerns of overselling, Skier killed in avalanche near Breckenridge, Watch: Rare sunbathing lynx captured on video near Silverton, PHOTOS: Mikaela Shiffrin honored in Vail for record 87th Alpine Ski World Cup victory, Theres plenty of snow, but some Colorado ski areas are closing anyway. But then things got.tricky. Originally dubbed Indianhead Ski Area, Geneva Basin is easily Colorados most famous abandoned ski resort. Then climb down and load skiers again. Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Experts only. Photo courtesy of Lio DelPiccolo/The Road West Traveled. Last spring, my husband and I were two of them as we stood at the site of the former ski lodge and marveled at the solitude. Eventually, Will and I noticed the sun dipping lower on the horizon and knew we needed to get back. Open: 5, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 33" 5.5mi The latitude and longitude coordinates (GPS waypoint) of Geneva Basin Ski Area are 39.5680427 (North), -105.7302839 (West) and the approximate elevation is 11,188 feet (3,410 meters) above sea level.

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