Tue Dec 30 12:10:00 UTC 2025: Telluride Ski Resort Shuts Down Amid Ski Patrol Strike Over Wages

TELLURIDE, CO (CBS News) – The popular Telluride Ski Resort in Mountain Village, Colorado, unexpectedly closed its slopes on Saturday, December 27, 2025, after the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association initiated a strike over stalled wage negotiations. A reopening date has not been announced.

The ski patrol union, representing the resort’s specially trained rescue workers, voted to strike following months of unsuccessful negotiations with Telluride Ski and Golf Resort (TSG) management. They claim that proposed wage increases, essential to address the high cost of living in Telluride, have been consistently ignored.

“We exhausted every idea to avert this situation,” the ski patrol association stated on Friday. “TSG never attempted to increase their offer whatsoever and completely wasted our time leading into the Holiday season.”

Resort owner Chuck Horning countered that the ski patrol rejected the resort’s “best and final offer.” He expressed disappointment that the strike is occurring during a peak season.

At the heart of the dispute is the ski patrol’s demand for a restructured wage system that allows for career advancement and retention. While starting pay for patrollers is $21 per hour, with supervisors averaging $38.17, the union argues that these wages are insufficient given Telluride’s exorbitant cost of living, where average rent exceeds $8,000 per month.

“It’s not really a huge amount of money we’re asking for,” said Bailey Mallette, a 15-year veteran of the Telluride ski patrol. “It’s also about keeping talented people, especially considering the time it takes to learn the job.”

The closure has sent ripples through the Telluride community. Mayor Teddy Errico called the situation “unprecedented,” emphasizing the ski resort’s critical role as the town’s “economic driver.” He is in contact with both parties, urging a swift resolution to minimize the economic impact.

“It’s just that reality that when you rely on one business, when that business gets affected, it hurts everybody,” Errico stated.

The Telluride strike follows similar labor disputes at other resorts, including Park City Mountain Resort and Keystone Resort, where ski patrollers ultimately secured improved wages and benefits. The Telluride ski patrol is hoping for a similar outcome, stressing that a fair wage structure is essential for the long-term sustainability of the program and the safety of resort guests.

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