Here we go again. For nearly a decade, the battle over the Village at Wolf Creek has been waged between the Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture and virtually everyone else.
To this point, millions have been spent attempting to have McCombs” “Premier Mountain Recreational Village in the World” approved.
After repeated setbacks and losses in court, Red McCombs and Bob Honts have again applied for access permits, the first of the many approvals necessary to build their village.
It is crystal clear from their last attempt at this that the vast majority of people in Colorado, and the nation don’t want to see a “village” of 10,000 people perched at the top of Wolf Creek Pass.
No mitigation measures could ever make up for the permanent destruction to wildlife habitat, high alpine wetlands, and the magnificent natural beauty of the area.
Nor do most believe McCombs” unsubstantiated claims that the village will make life better for the surrounding communities.
Ironically, none of the tax revenues from the village would go to the coffers of the most impacted communities, those of Archuleta and Rio Grande counties, but to Mineral County, whose only town is forty miles away from Wolf Creek Pass, through Rio Grande County.
Locals and visitors alike attach a special sense of place to Wolf Creek Ski Area, not just for the beautiful natural setting but for its affordability, its rustic appearance, lack of development, deep snow and undiscovered glades, and because it is a direct contrast from the crowds, costs, clutter and mechanical efficiency of major ski resorts like Breckenridge, Aspen and Telluride, and the vast majority of us do not want that to change.
As the USFS begins anew its review of the Village access proposal, it is about time for all options to go back on the table.
It is clear that the development of Wolf Creek Pass isn’t in the public interest, and we hope that the Forest Service, and yes, Mr. McCombs” too, will consider land exchange and buyout options for the property that will return ownership of this unique and fragile high alpine land to the public.
There are many ways to leave a legacy, but comparatively few opportunities to preserve a region’s quality of life. This is such an opportunity. It’s the right thing to do.
Hunter Sykes is a Ski Area Campaign Coordinator and lives in Durango.
