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Aspen
Leaf Village 35
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What's Going on with the |
 Ski Resort in Days Past |
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News! Four Season Resort Coming To Cuchara! 600 New Jobs... Local Ownership... Cool Attractions! August 18, 2010 With the stroke of a pen, events have been set in motion that will transform the aging and dilapidated Cuchara Mountain Resort into a Four-season recreational venue that will include a new hotel and conference center, a new restaurant, a large lake at the base area, along with a mountain coaster, a zip line course, a tubing hill and other year round recreational programs and outdoor educational opportunities for kids and adults. And for the first time since the beginning of the resort in the late 1970's, ownership of the property will be completely in the hands of local citizens and a local governing board. It has been over ten years since the resort was operational, closing abruptly on July 5, 2000. Since then, the property has sat vacant and buildings have deteriorated from the effects of weather and vandalism. Last Saturday, a contract was signed to initiate the transfer of the property to the newly formed Cuchara Valley Recreational Metropolitan District from interim owner, Michael Balloun of Arlington, Texas. It was Mr. Balloun's acquisition of the property that paved the way for this project to move forward. Financial terms were not disclosed. Balloun took back the property from the previous owner, John Bryant, through a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure late last month. The process that lead to the final agreement began in January of this year, when a group of Cuchara and La Veta business leaders came together to form the Cuchara Valley Recreation Foundation (CVRF) and dedicated themselves to developing a plan for an all season recreational facility, with net profits to be reinvested back into the community. By working with local business leaders, Colorado Economic Development representatives, area utilities and other agencies, CVRF has come forth with a comprehensive business plan designed to build economic stability for the region and create as many as 600 new jobs when the project is fully complete. The Foundation will be responsible for the operation and management of the recreational facility as it is built out. The Cuchara Valley Recreational Metropolitan District (CVRMD) has been created to facilitate the purchase of the property, and is responsible for controlling, monitoring and reporting the administration of the bond funds to finance the construction and oversee the development of the recreational facilities and the convention center. A major hotel operator will be sought as the project gets going to complete the package. Total cost for the recreational side of the development is expected to be $14,000,000 at completion. Only the proceeds from activities and recreational sales will be used to pay down the bond debt. Huerfano County Commissioners will be presented with the details of the business plan during their regular meeting on Wednesday and will have to approve the formation of the Metropolitan District. All residents within a three mile radius will be notified within 20 days of the proposed formation of the District. The initial Board of Directors will consist of five local property owners, and one consultant from The Case Group, a Colorado Springs based development company and a major funding source for the District. CVRMD will also mount a major fund raising effort to secure private donations and will seek county and state grants to create strong, long term, financial stability. 47 of the 225 acres will be dedicated to building out the recreational component of the plan. The Mountain Coaster, to be used year round, (think of a Roller Coaster stretched out, twisting down a ski slope ) will be the first of the attractions to be built, with the restaurant to follow. An all season Tubing Hill will be next, giving the valley two major year round attractions. Over time, a Zip Line Course, another all season activity, will be added and mountain bike trails will be built. Downhill skiing, along with a half-pipe for snowboarders, will be back on the lower part of the mountain. Facilities for tennis, cross country skiing, horse drawn sleigh rides, a team building Ropes Course and other activities will be implemented. One acre of the recreational land has been set aside for a music and entertainment venue. Ultimately, the goal is to receive National Forest Service approval to expand downhill skiing to the top of the ski mountain. The recreational facility will also be the first in the nation to use “Green Energy” and be totally self sufficient and environmentally sensitive in the use of energy. Plans are to build and implement a state of the art, electro-mechanical infrastructure to provide electrical service for the entire facility and will include geothermal heating, wind and solar resulting in a totally off the grid operation. Any excess capacity will be sold back to the grid. San Isabel Electric Association has given preliminary approval to fund a $1,000,000 zero percent grant or loan for the proposed energy conservation plan. Building efforts will focus on the redesign and remodeling of the existing base structures to create an architectural statement to blend with the look and feel of the Cuchara Village. An additional 30 acres is being set aside for the development of a lake next to the base area to be used for recreation and water storage needs for snowmaking in the winter. The balance of the land will then be sold to The Case Group for development of up to 300 homes or condominium units. Real estate development costs are expected to be in excess of $7,000,000 to be paid by the developer. With an opportunity to create several hundred jobs and the potential to bring many more visitors to the valley, this project will bring badly needed economic stability and year round prosperity to the area. Proponents of the project are enthusiastic about the opportunities that lie ahead. For the first time in many years, the Cuchara Valley and Huerfano County will have a mountain destination resort they can be proud to call their own. (go to Top) Courtesy of www.cucharavalley.org |
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