Telluride Ski Patrol Strike Continues, Resort Closed Indefinitely

The famed Colorado resort Telluride remains closed after its unionized ski patrollers went on strike in pursuit of a new contract with improved wages, marking another dramatic chapter in the wave of union efforts at ski resorts across North America over the past year.

The closure began on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at the height of the busy holiday season, as announced by Telluride’s owner, Chuck Horning.

“Telluride didn’t make this decision—the strike nor the timing of it,” a statement from Horning read, as reported by the Colorado Sun.

“We are naturally disappointed that the ski patrol made this choice during such a busy time. They have repeatedly said publicly in town meetings that if they decide to strike, it would be their ‘nuclear option,’” the statement continued. “We are concerned that any organization, particularly one that exists to help people, would do something that will have such a devastating effect on our community.”

The resort, in a social media post, said it closed as a result of the strike and is continuing to work on a plan to reopen safely as soon as possible. It added that it doesn’t know how long the strike will last. On Telluride’s job portal, there are openings for temporary ski patrollers, which were posted before the closure and aimed at ensuring “continued operations” due to a “potential labor dispute.”

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On December 8, the Union rejected an offer from Telluride that, according to the resort, would result in an immediate 13% wage increase for this season. The Telluride Professional Ski Patrollers Association (TPSPA), which has said that it’s hoping to increase its mean wage from about $29 an hour to about $34 an hour, added in a statement that Telluride has continued to push the December 8 offer, despite the rejection.

The TPSPA also said that it has dropped healthcare and a higher gear stipend from its bid.

“Instead of negotiating, the Telluride Ski and Golf Resort (TSG) brought us back to the table this past week with no ideas, solutions, nor improvements to move towards the middle. TSG never attempted to increase their offer whatsoever and completely wasted our time leading into this Holiday season,” a recent statement published by the TPSPA read.

“The Ski Patrol did not make any decision to close this mountain. That is not, and has never been, our decision to make. Our Union has given us a voice with which we are using to stand up for a fair wage, our future and the sustainability of our program,” the statement continued.

Last week, the TPSPA announced that 99% of its members had voted to strike on December 27 after months of contract negotiations. The patrollers have started a GoFundMe to cover their expenses while striking, which, at the time of writing this, has raised more than $70,000. 

Like other unionized patrol groups, TPSPA is hoping higher wages will make living in ski country, which is notoriously expensive, more feasible. According to Zillow, the average rent for a one-bedroom property in the Town of Telluride is $3,336, which is 122% higher than the national average. 

“The heart of this community has been shrinking for years. It is impossible to live here on these wages. We all know this,” the patrollers wrote in their statement. “Chuck Horning and Steve Swenson (a representative for the resort) have no idea what it takes to subsist here. However, they do know exactly what it takes to devastate this community.”

The Telluride strike follows a work stoppage led by unionized patrollers at Park City Mountain, Utah, last winter that drew national headlines, ending with a new contract that the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association called a win.

Telluride remains closed indefinitely. POWDER will continue to cover this developing story.