Winter Park in Grand County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Grand County Skiing
Gateway to Grand County Heritage
| — | Grand County History • Experience Our Heritage | — |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 30, 2025
1. Grand County Skiing Marker
Grand County Skiing
Grand County was one of the first areas in Colorado where people enjoyed the sport of skiing. While mail carriers, loggers and other workers used the "Norwegian Snowshoes" (or skis) as necessary winter transportation, it was a natural progression to begin racing and jumping down the slopes for fun.
In 1925, Denver railroads began sending special "snow trains" to Hot Sulphur Springs for new skiers and tourists. Ten years later, at the summit of Berthoud Pass, Colorado's first ski tow opened. Winter Park Resort opened in 1940 as a result of efforts by Denver Parks & Recreation Director George Cranmer. Further west, the ski area now known as Ski Granby Ranch opened in the 1980s.
World class cross-country ski areas in Grand County include, east to west, Devil's Thumb Ranch, Snow Mountain Ranch, Grand Lake Nordic Center and Latigo Ranch. In addition, many miles of trails are open to skiing on the nearly 800,000 acres of national forest, national park, BLM, and CO Parks and Wildlife lands — 66% of Grand County.
Bygone Days of Skiing
Many small ski areas throughout Colorado and Grand County have come and gone,
this page online
Skiing on Berthoud Pass dates well back to when intrepid skiing enthusiasts would drive the Victory Highway to the top of "The Pass." They skied down through the trees and at the bottom of the runs, skiers loaded into cars to ride back to the top. From these humble beginnings atop Berthoud Pass, a group of dedicated skiers built one of Colorado's first rope tows, 838 feet long and powered by a Ford V8 engine.
The ski area was one of the highest ski areas in all of North America. As a pioneer in the ski industry, Berthoud Pass featured the first ski tow in Colorado and the first double chair lift in the world! Later, Berthoud Pass was the first Colorado ski area to allow snowboarders full access to lifts and terrain. Like many small ski areas in Grand County, Berthoud Pass Ski Area eventually closed and the lifts were removed in
2. Marker detail: Hot Sulphur Springs Ski Jump
The ski jump in Hot Sulphur Springs was the site of the West’s first winter carnival in 1911.
Today, backcountry skiing is still accessible and the rugged spirit of Berthoud Pass lives on. With no lifts and no lodge, today's skiers and snowboarders flock to "The Pass," where they enjoy the same old ski runs and the same drive back to the top as did Colorado's ski pioneers.
Skiers from Denver could take "The Winter Park Ski Train" all the way to Winter Park Ski Area. This was a popular option to get to skiing without the hazards of driving Berthoud Pass.
[photo captions]
• Barney Mclean, of Hot Sulphur Springs, benefitted from ski coach Horace Button, who was waiting at the ski hill every afternoon, when school hours were over. Barney was a 9-time national champion, and a 3-time Olympian. In 1948 he was Captain of the men's alpine ski team that competed at St. Moritz, Switzerland.
• Berthoud Pass skiers circa 1940s.
See our website for related stories: www.GrandCountyHistory.org
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is February 7, 1937.
Location. 39° 55.951′ N, 105° 47.454′ W.
3. Marker detail: Horace Button
He was 10 years old when he saw the ski jump competition at the 1911 First Annual Hot Sulphur Springs Winter Sports Carnival. "I want to be a ski jumper like Carl Howelsen," Horace told a bystander. The seed had been sown, and Howelsen taught Horace the skills of skiing.
Horace Button became an All-American Skier, winning awards over nationally recognized competitive ski racers. The basic knowledge he learned from Howelsen was passed on to many other local athletes, from the earliest ski days to the present. From Hot Sulphur Springs to Winter Park, Grand County is home to numerous members of USA Men's and Women's Olympic Ski teams.
Regionally, this marker is in the Colorado High Rockies and on the Continental Divide. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cozens Ranch Museum (here, next to this marker); Grand County Tourism, Scenic Byways & Water (here, next to this marker); Cozens Ranch (a few steps from this marker); Gone Fishin' (approx. 1.2 miles away); Jim Bridger (approx. 1½ miles away); Sheriff Billy Cozens (approx. 1½ miles away); Doc Susie (approx. 1½ miles away); Jeremiah (John) Johnson (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map
4. Marker detail: Ladies Ski Too
Donning their long skirts, these adventurous ladies try out skiing during the Hot Sulphur Winter Carnival, winter 1911.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Berthoud Pass Ski Area (ColoradoSkiHIstory.com).
Excerpt: The first skiing done on “The Pass” is shrouded in the mists of time. However, starting in the early to mid-1930s, when the highway department began keeping the road over the pass open in the winter, skiers flocked to the improvised trails at Berthoud Pass.(Submitted on November 12, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
After World War II, the US Forest Service (USFS) issued a permit to operate the ski area, which was now under that department’s jurisdiction. A group of people from three prominent families in the Denver area became the owners of the ski area: the Grants, the Shafroths and the Tolls. Each family held 30% of the company, called Berthoud Pass Lodge, Inc., and the remaining 10% was owned by Sam Huntington. Huntington was a miner from Idaho Springs. The Grants, Shafroths, Tolls and Huntington owned the area from 1946 to 1972. The venture enjoyed success from the very beginning. In 1946, Berthoud hosted 30,000 of the 100,000 skier days recorded for the state of Colorado. Berthoudwas always popular, since it was one of the closest areas to Denver (57 miles), easy to reach and already very well-known.
5. Marker detail: Winter Park Ski Train(left) Skiers disembark from the Winter Park Ski Train, circa 1940. (right) No other Colorado ski area has had train transportation direct from Denver, circa 1965.
In 1949, The Grants, Shafroths, Tolls and Huntington built the lodge that stood at the crest of the summit for over 55 years. The lodge was built of native stone and knotty pine that was milled on site. Describe as “spacious” it boasted over 5,000 square feet, and included: a restaurant, bar, lodging rooms, bathrooms and offices. The lodge was only one third of what was initially planned, but it sufficed for many years and was a grand example of ski lodges of that era. The historic building was unceremoniously (and without notice) demolished by the US Forest Service in June 2005.
2. History of the Berthoud Pass Inn and Berthoud Pass Lodge (Coloradotopia.com).
Excerpt: The first building to be built on top of this pass was a cabin built by L.D.C. Gaskill in the 1800s after the toll road was finished. He built a 10-room cabin that he and his family lived in. He took tolls and allowed travelers to stay there, at least(Submitted on November 12, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)when the weather was bad.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 30, 20256. Grand County Skiing MarkerLooking north; the Cozens Ranch Museum is in the right background. This marker is on the left side of the south side of the Gateway to History kiosk.
The toll road was completed just before the winter of 1874, and that cabin was likely built in the spring of 1875. Since then, there have been several versions of the Berthoud Pass Inn. This includes the largest and final version, named the Berthoud Pass Lodge, which was built in 1949, and torn down in 2005.
A brief overview of the Berthoud Pass Inn and Lodge timeline:
• c. 1875 - Large Cabin Is Built
• 1925 - Berthoud Pass Inn Built
• 1938 - Inn Torn Down & Shelter House Built
• 1946 - Shelter Struck by Lightning, Burns Down
• 1947 - Shelter Rebuilt
• 1949 - Berthoud Pass Lodge Built
• 2005 - Berthoud Pass Lodge Torn Down
Credits. This page was last revised on November 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 43 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 12, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
