Originally dubbed Indianhead Ski Area, Geneva Basin is easily Colorado's most famous abandoned ski resort. Originally dubbed Indianhead Ski Area, Geneva Basin is easily Colorado's most famous abandoned ski resort. I used to drive over from Georgetown to ski at Geneva Basin when it was open in the early 80s. Finally, in 1993, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) opted to burn down the ski lodge at the base to avoid any future liability concerns. Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage. 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. However, ambitious planning couldnt supersede the ski resorts financial woes. The owners went into bankruptcy and a salvage sale stripped the ski area of its physical assets. 8.3mi } 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. Location: Colorado, Rocky Mountains, United States, North America. Two more proposals were entertained by the ForestService in 1992, but nothing amounted from them either.By November of 1993, voters were asked to approve a recreation tax designed to financethe ski area's reopening. } We immediately saw our friends tent in the valley at the base of run, so we strapped our skis back on and headed that way. It first opened in 1963 with two chairlifts: a double known as the Duck Creek. Open: 13, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 18" Space planning is key, and less really is often more. Any day outside with my husband is a good day, yanno? Kiszla: Avs embarrass themselves with silence about Valeri Nichushkin's mysterious absence following reported 9-1-1 call. After all, we still had the four miles of road. 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. During the 1983-1984 season, an empty chair on the Duck Creek lift fell from the cable, prompting the Colorado Tramway Board to shut the ski area down until the maintenance issues were resolved. We ended up skinning/skiing 11 miles with a couple thousand feet of gain, which was definitely a big day. Colorado born and bred, she loves backpacking, trail running, backcountry skiing, and packrafting, especially with her husband, one-year-old daughter, and lovable rescue mutt Tally. -273.73 m Descent, 3.0 mi Few obstacles. Not for beginners. -147 ft Descent The main chair lift at Geneva was diesel powered and if someone fell getting on the lift, a stop button killed the engine so the lift operator had to climb up a ladder, go inside a top enclosure and restart the engine. Gallery Credit: Nate Wilde Google Maps Location As you can see, the resort was situated just south of Georgetown, Colorado. Looking up and down the Sundance lift line, "As a kid, I grew up skiing at Geneva Basin. It's official: Jamal Murray, Nuggets are in Phoenix's heads now. 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. Office opening for Administrative Assistant. It was a welcome sight when we hiked around the corner to see a mountainside filled with snow-covered ski runs. Experience preferred, but will train. Hands down, this hut is my favorite part of Geneva Basin! Descubra trilhas como Geneva Basin Ski Resort Colorado, encontre informaes como extenso da trilha, altitude, dificuldade, atividades e empresas prximas. It is situated south of Guanella Pass at an elevation of 11,750 ft (3,580 m). The base lodge was at 6,800 feet and the summit was about 7,400 feet. NOT OKAY! Open: 4, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 54" [15], The ski patrol building at the top of the former Duck Creek lift remains standing. In addition, legend has it that a construction worker at the resort by the name of Ed Guanella was the victim of a tragic accident involving a chairlift cable that took his life. 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. Creek lift. Instead, we all hooked up and skinned up the mountaintogether. 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 Colorados most famous abandoned ski resort. My dad is now 86 and really enjoys all of the articles posted about GB. It But then things got.tricky. Tricky terrain. Competitive pay, benefits. He was instrumental in the construction of the skiarea. Geneva Basin (originally Indianhead Ski Area) was a ski area in the western United States, located in Clear Creek and Park County, Colorado, 10 mi (16 km) north of the community of Grant and 13 mi (21 km) south of the town of Georgetown. -2,624 ft Descent Sure beats hiking! A few weeks back, Will and I decided to tackle a new-to-us adventure: venturing to an abandoned ski resort known asGeneva Basin. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 16 min to complete. During that summer, they removed the old Duck Creek liftand began installing a new Borvig triple chair, which was to be called the Phoenix lift. It is located in Clear Creek County about 9 miles south of Silver Plume, Colorado (1). At its height, Geneva Basin ran two double chairs and two Poma lifts. Two more Poma lifts were added in the 1960s to provide additional access to bowl and beginner-friendly terrain. const applink = document.getElementById('mobile-app-link'); Open: 4, New (24 hr): 1" | Base: 28" Hazardous terrain. 1. applink.title = 'iOS'; From Grant, look for signs on the right-hand side that indicate Guanella Pass. Mileage: Its roughly 4 miles from the gate to the base of Geneva Basin. All Rights Reserved. Geneva Basin Ski Area (1963-84): Just as many Coloradans remember falling in love with the sport on Berthoud Pass, many others remember doing so here above Georgetown. My wife and I had skied most of the other slopes in Colorado over the years, but executive unemployment forced us back east where we live nowVirginia, in the Piedmont region where our daughter goes out to ski in Massanutten and Wintergreen. Laden down with packs full of backcountry skiing gear and calorie-dense snacks, we focused on our singular objective: find Geneva Basin. A local contractor from Aurora, MichaelMarsh made a proposal to the Forest Service to operate the ski area. 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. AP Images Crested Butte, Colorado -2,447 ft Descent I joined the Ski Team when I was a freshman at Platte Canyon High school. Once we passed the snowplow in my old 44 truck but eventually got stuck just over the pass and had to wait for the plow. At the height of the areas operation, Geneva Basin . applink.href = 'https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whiz.craigdaily&hl=en_US'; Thankfully, it didnt take us *too* long to get to the summit and I let out a gleeful whoop when I saw the little cabin. 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. [14], Forest Service employees burned down the ski lodge on November 5, 1993 to avoid further vandalism and any associated liability. Ski area employees reported, around the top of the Duck Creek Lift (the site of the, For more information on this story, click, Geneva Basin's mascot was a St. Bernard named Heidi, which appeared on their, Off Guanella Pass south of the summit. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites. Minor steeper, uneven terrain. It was a bluebird day so the heat was blasting down on us but the wind was wicked. Beartown. Not only will you avoid ski traffic but you also arent forced to ski up and over the summit of Guanella Pass. However, foreclosure was the least of the unfortunate events that took place at Geneva Basin, ultimately leading to its abandonment. A ghost story of "Eddie the Head" thanks to Lee: "Ed Guanella was the son of, Guanella (the pass fame). They later sold the ski area to an investment group based in Kansas in 1972. The death is . From the gate to the Geneva Basin, it is roughly four miles so we still had a trek ahead of us. 5.5mi They promised to take care of the hut and somehow everyone agreed on keeping it intact. Geneva Basin is an abandoned ski resort outside of Georgetown, Colorado, and has an unfortunate history of fatal accidents and a devastating fire. There wasa bronze plaque near the base lodge dedicated to him. A ghost story of \"Eddie the Head\" thanks to Lee: \"Ed Guanella was the son ofPaul Guanella (the pass fame). 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. 1.7 km Geneva Basin Ski Area could have been a solution to that problem. Ideal candidate will have a calm presence, experience working in a private home and, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator $25 per hour Full time, year round Full benefits and ski pass Based at our Camp on, Vail, Beaver Creek and Eagle Valley, Colorado News, Spring skiing, meet the authors, dogs and whiskey and more: Tricias Weekend Picks: 4/28/23, ShowDown Town free concerts return to Eagle on Thursday nights this summer, Big Head Todd and the Monsters & Blues Traveler coming to Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in July, Australian singer-songwriter Tash Sultana plays Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail on Sept. 3. I discovered that wedging my ski poles underneath my pack transferred the weight from my back to the poles. Originally dubbed Indianhead Ski Area, Geneva Basin is easily Colorado's most famous abandoned ski resort. But the fun thing about an abandoned ski resort? its looked after by a lot of people. At Northwest Colorado Health we believe everyone deserves the chance to achieve their best health. }, exploring both Geneva Basin{an abandoned resort} and SevenUtes{a resort that fizzled before it ever happened}. Historical Weather. The role The Customer Experience Specialist (CES) works in a high performing team environment, Join our team! Open: 15, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 20" 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 . A long, gradual climb to an old abandoned ski area, Geneva Basin. Open: 10, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 23" In 1965, Geneva Basin succumbed to bankruptcy, and former Gov. Winter closure for Guanella Pass Road: there is a Forest Service gate that is usually closed in the winter. Eventually, Will and I noticed the sun dipping lower on the horizon and knew we needed to get back. The skiing was always good, no crowds, OK food and left tickets not expensive. Moderate 4.2 (88) Pike National Forest. WE ARE HIRING! 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. Focusing mainly on three areas, Geneva Basin, Berthoud Pass, and Cuchara Mountain, the film dives into the rich history of each ski area, talking with past owners, ski patrollers, and locals, letting their . Length 14.0 miElevation gain 2,171 ftRoute type Out & back. Taking other people's content (text, photos, etc) without permission is a copyright violation and 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. There were a few moment when I had to hunker down to get out of the gales; I was afraid Id get blown right over. But their ownership didnt last much longer. That hurts just thinking about it! -745.92 m Descent, 0.1 mi Some Random Facts on Geneva Basin:1. To find interior design nirvana, experts always follow these eight underlying principles. The ski area initially had financial difficulty as the pass was unimproved. The road took a sharp switchback and turned left, entirely changing the aspect of the pavement. Instead, the old ski patrol building still stands, complete with an oversized trail map secured to the wall. With our sketchy snowpack {easily the most volatile in the country}, spring brings safer snow conditions in the high country. Open: 34, New (24 hr): 1" | Base: 27" Two more Poma lifts were added in the 1960s to provide additional access to bowl and beginner-friendly terrain. The lack of maintenance became grossly evident in 1984 when a chair fell from the cable on the Duck Creek lift. !https://www.insta360.com/sal/one_x?inInsta360 One X amazon link - https://amzn.to/2MLLzBp10 ft invisible selfie stick - https://amzn.to/2JosKiWSalomon Premier Splitboard - https://amzn.to/3cmWaxOBeacon - Back Country Access S - https://amzn.to/2RxPguuBlack diamond shovel - https://amzn.to/2yolphvBlack diamond probe - https://amzn.to/2WnshDIGarmin Inreach GPS - https://amzn.to/3fa5btb#genevabasin#abandonedskiresort#genevabasinskiarea Knowing []. 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. I started skiing at age 10. [1], Jack English, developer and owner of Indianhead Mountain Resort in Michigan,[2] invested two years of improvements to the site that opened as Indianhead Ski Area of Colorado in December 1961[3] with two rope tows from the defunct Magic Mountain ski area in Golden, a Heron double chair, and a Constam J-bar. applink.innerHTML = ' View in mobile app'; Abandoned. What a cool adventure. Open: 20, New (24 hr): 1" | Base: 39" It was originallydeveloped by the English family of Illinois who also developed the Indianhead Ski Area,Michigan. I ended up with a wicked burn!} Full time with excellent benefits. 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. MEEKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Classroom Teacher, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher. It first opened in 1963 with two chairlifts: a double known as the Duck Creek lift and a T-bar called Sundance. Must work weekends & holidays. Because the road was dry as a bone, we stayed in our hiking shoes and A-framed our skis on our daypacks. In 1965, Geneva Basin succumbed to bankruptcy, and former Gov. 2h 59m, Up the road to base, cat track to patrol cabin, down Jolly Time to Knicker Knocker, back on shortcut My chest heaved with exertion as I slid one ski in front of the other. Open: 5, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 33" The Geneva Basin Ski Area: Another fun point of interest is this former ski area, a few miles south of the Guanella Pass. is situated south of Guanella Pass at an elevation of 11,750ft (3,580m). Keeler: Chris Paul got dirty. You brought back some great memories! Between 1972 and 1984, Geneva Basin changed hands numerous times, and the resort fell into disrepair due to minimal funding. I lived at the bottom of the South (285) pass where the gate is now. Print/PDF map. 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. Undaunted, I turned to Will to gauge his reaction. This route takes the road the whole way for . And for awhile that worked, but it became a choose your own adventure of sorts. To complicate our situation further, I realized I was an idiot. 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. Originally dubbed Indianhead Ski Area, Geneva Basin is easily Colorados most famous abandoned ski resort. Geneva Basin Ski School Instructors (1979). This is about an injury or accident I was thinking about visiting in this fall before the snow comes. So glad I asked , Hi- never heard of this cabin, but it sounds like something fun to visit. However, ambitious planning couldnt supersede the ski resorts financial woes. Equipment Operators $25-$37 per hour . You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Roy Romer purchased it, along with the Burke family. The ski area is said to be haunted by Headless Ed's ghost. Its a pretty known area Have fun! The Town of Avon has several full-time and part-time job openings. The skin up to the top wasnt easy. 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. We are planning on having a re-union in the next couple months at Geneva basin. const whizDeepLink = 'craigpressmobile://content?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.craigdailypress.com%2Fnews%2Fthis-is-colorados-most-famous-abandoned-ski-area%2F§ionId=&fallback=1'; } Road to the ghost town of Geneva City, Colorado. 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. 9.7mi Great article Heather. 5.1 km Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise. End of Season, Sims Market is looking for Full Time/Part Time Help. Originally dubbed Indianhead Ski Area, Geneva Basin is easily Colorados most famous abandoned ski resort. The small ski area was the brainchild of Arapahoe Basin founder Larry Jump and featured snowmaking and night skiing. It first opened in 1963 with two chairlifts: a double known as the Duck Creek lift and a T-bar called Sundance. I would never think to go exploring like that! Between 1972 and 1984, Geneva Basin changed hands numerous times, and the resort fell into disrepair due to minimal funding. This was my neighborhood range: I lived on Conifer Mountain and had arrived via 285, from the south. Almost immediately, it was clear that the sun had melted all of the snow. thanks. But one of my favorite things about Colorado is that its the exact opposite! Two more Poma lifts were added in the 1960s to provide additional access to bowl and beginner-friendly terrain. Finally, as a surprise, Will bought me a new pair of Salomon ski boots {yay!} Keeler: Avs fans, could we please skip Valeri Nichushkin, Nazem Kadri revisionist history? Geneva City, CO Ghost Town - by Montezuma. In addition to backcountry skiing gear, you will need an avalanche beacon, shovel and probe. I took a long trail that wound along the top of a ridge and then descended into some other trails. It was the old ski patrol hut! The lack of maintenance became grossly evident in 1984 when a chair fell from the cable on the Duck Creek lift. One day a construction crew was stringing the cable onto the bull wheel at thetop of the lift and an accident happened leaving Ed Guanella decapitated. Plus, there is an old trail map on the wall so you can look at your options for ski runs! 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. This role provides comprehensive technical, Flood warning issued for Elkhead Creek in Moffat, Routt counties, Elk River peak flow expected to be one of the highest in 53 years. Open: 1, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 20" I lived there since I was three years old and my mother worked there in the cafeteria. I would like to offer you a correction though. Minor route-finding, cool destination! [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. Smoke free workplace. Id be really interested in trying it someday, but I wouldnt even know where to start. Just saw your post about back country skiing!! From there, drive roughly 7 miles to the winter-access gate. If from the north, you have to skin up and over Guanella Pass before dropping into the basin where the ski area is. Open: 9, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 38" The ski area swapped hands often, from an Illinois family, to former Gov. (Even today, Geneva Basin is on a 10mi (16km) section of Guanella Pass Road that is closed to traffic during the winter. WHAT. I was wearing my Rossi 195 GSs, and the cruising was nice and smooth. Spam? However, ambitious planning couldnt supersede the ski resorts financial woes. Colorados Ghost Towns: What Caused Their Demise? 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. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. Moderately steep terrain. Miraculously, Danny had just finished skiing a lap and was beginning to skin back up to the top to meet his wife. I was all by myself, but there were still one or two ski patrol on the run. ATTENTION STEAMBOAT SPRINGS: Are you looking for something new? Geneva Basin (originally Indianhead Ski Area) was a ski area in the western United States, located in Clear Creek and Park County, Colorado, 10mi (16km) north of the community of Grant and 13mi (21km) south of the town of Georgetown. I will definitely share your article with him. Daliah Singer September 26, 2018. Some obstacles. I remember watching in awe as the ski school director, Dan. Even worse, the cable had allegedly decapitated him, earning the deceased man the nickname "Eddie the Head," whose spirit is said to still haunt the chairlift that killed him. Open: 20, New (24 hr): 1" | Base: 51" 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. Standby! 10 Most Haunted Hotels in Ski Country, Mapped, The Real-Life Shining Hotel is Getting a Real-Life Hedge Maze, Crested Butte: The Most Haunted Ski Town in America. ). Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference. 1.7 km -1,725 ft Descent Would you have some directions or a contact for someone who takes care of it. According to newspaper articles, the Forest Service was not opposed to the proposal,however, nothing ever went forward. [16][17], - 5 Beginner - 3 Intermediate - 8 Advanced. The national group's long-term tracking of skier fatalities shows less than one death for every million skier visits. . Unfortunately, the group wasunable to accomplish this. Elevation gain: Roughly 1,200 feet from the gate to the base. The location, topography, and nearby roads & trails around Geneva Basin Ski Area (Locale) can be seen in the map layers above. But their ownership didnt last much longer. Thearea sat idle again.Another revival was brought about in 1991. O Bing Mapas tem uma coleo de timas trilhas com o trajeto at o incio das trilhas, bem como fotos. That ski area was my whole life growing up there. Very steep. Originally coined Indianhead Ski Area, Geneva Basin opened in 1963 on the backside of Guanella Pass. Open: 3, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 30" . } Even better. Opened in 1961 as Indianhead Ski Area, the ski area operated under various owners before closing in 1984. ARAPAHOE BASIN - Wednesday's skier death at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area has been ruled an accident by Summit County Coroner Joanne Richardson. Clinical and, Now Hiring! While the area received 300 inches (760cm) of annual snowfall, the unpaved road adjacent to the ski area frustrated the ski area ownership. Unfortunately, the owners were unable to accomplish this. All the backcountry skiing adventures! Once we got stuck on the lift near the top in a storm while the thing was restarted. It is used by backcountry skiers that travel by foot from an access gate to ski the former trails. It made for some heavy backpacks, but it was the only choice we had. 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. As such, we opted to approach from the south and highway 285. Snow Reports are provided regularly throughout the ski season courtesy of our own . RELATED:Beautiful (and easy) backcountry skiing trails near Denver. Actually, my father and uncle, Walter and Bob Burke, were more instrumental in the ownership and daily operations of Geneva Basin. Learn how your comment data is processed. But it doesnt like you could beat the weather or the company How did you get into back country skiing? Blank patches of black pavement appeared and Will and I continued skinning towards the side of there road where the snow still lived. What does that mean for Will and me? Open: 1, New (24 hr): N/A" | Base: 32" For traditional skiers, Geneva Basin was never coming back. Between 1972 and 1984, Geneva Basin changed hands numerous times, and the resort fell into disrepair due to minimal funding. Geneva Basin failed to open that year due to money reasons. The group ran in to financial trouble and was not able topay Borvig for the completion the of chairlift. * Elevations: Summit 11,750; Base 10,500; Vertical Drop 1,250ft, Initially, Geneva Basin operated a Heron double chair called Duck Creek and a T-, Two poma lifts were installed during the 1960's, The area later added a new Heron double chair replacing the Sundance T-bar, After the area closed during the mid 1980's, the area was purchased by new owners, and they were in the process of installing a new Borvig triple chair replacing the Duck.

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