Purgatory Ski Area



Its early history reads much like that of other Rocky Mountain resort towns. Native populations were attracted to its abundance and climate, and, we can speculate, its physical beauty. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, miners flocked here seeking its underground riches of silver, gold and coal. Now, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, it has become a haven for those seeking the riches of natural beauty, a sense of community, and of course powder days.

Durango allegedly takes its name from a Basque word meaning "water town". And we all know what happens when water freezes and falls from the sky. Durango, though, offers something different than some of the better-known ski towns in the Rockies.

Situated between the San Juan mountains and some of the most beautiful and least wandered desert on the continent, Durango is a ski town -- with an escape hatch. Durango Mountain Resort, Wolf Creek Ski Area and Telluride Ski Resort all offer world-class skiing within a two-hour drive. But for travelers and locals alike, Durango's location presents a rare chance to mix a ski vacation with other truly unique activities, and we're not just talking about snowshoeing or dog sledding, though of course they're great options.

Few destinations can offer visitors skiing one day, and the next a tour of ancient Anasazi ruins in the Southwest's high desert. You can mix in flyfishing on the famous year-round tailwaters of the San Juan River, or the Gold Medal waters of the Animas right in town. If you feel like resting the legs completely, choose between scenic drives to take in the high alpine, or spectacular desert sandstone.

Of course Durango has the fine dining and entertainment opportunities that you would expect from a Colorado resort town. It's home to more than 75 restaurants and bars. Many talented chefs have chosen to locate in this small valley, including Chef Michel Poumay, one of the 33 living Masters of Belgium's culinary society, and Chef Rustin Newton, whose 21 years in the hospitality and restaurant industry includes time as a sous-chef at the five-star/five-diamond Arizona Biltmore Hotel, and a Silver Medal at the 1996 Culinary Olympics in Berlin. The Fort Lewis College Community Concert Hall and The Abbey Theatre round out the entertainment offerings with outstanding venues for live performances by world-class musicians of all types.