Home » HOTEL NEWS » Telluride Ski Resort Closing: Ski Patrol Strike Shuts Down Slopes for Holidays 2025
Published on December 27, 2025
The heart of the Colorado Rockies is facing an unprecedented chill—and it’s not just the winter air. In a historic standoff that has sent shockwaves through the ski community, Telluride Ski Resort has officially announced it will close its doors indefinitely starting Saturday, December 27, 2025, following a decisive strike vote by its professional ski patrol.
As of today, thousands of holiday travelers are recalibrating their plans as the “nuclear option” of a labor walkout meets the “nuclear response” of a total resort shutdown.
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The decision to strike was not made lightly. After 16 rounds of negotiations that began in June 2024, the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association (TPSPA) voted with a 99% majority to authorize a work stoppage.
The crux of the dispute lies in a “broken wage structure.” The union, which represents 78 patrollers and supervisors, is fighting for a living wage in one of America’s most expensive zip codes.
- The Union’s Demand: A starting wage increase from $21 to $28 per hour, with senior patrollers (30+ years) moving to a range of $39 to $48.60 per hour.
- The Resort’s Offer: An immediate 13% bump (approx. $24.06 for trainees) and a 5% cost-of-living increase for the following two years.
For the patrollers, the $115,000 gap over a three-year contract represents more than just money—it represents the ability to treat ski patrolling as a career rather than a temporary gig. “It takes five years to truly know every avalanche route on this mountain,” union leaders noted, emphasizing that low retention rates compromise the safety of every guest on the slopes.
The Owner’s Response: A “Nuclear” Counter-Move
Telluride owner Chuck Horning took a hardline stance in response to the strike announcement. Rather than operating with a skeleton crew or temporary replacements—as some resorts have done in the past—Horning opted to close the entire mountain.
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“We are naturally disappointed that the ski patrol made this choice during such a busy time,” Horning said in a statement. He described the strike as a “nuclear option” and expressed concern over the “devastating effect” the closure would have on the local community, which relies heavily on the lucrative Christmas-to-New-Year window.
The Human Toll: Vacationers and Locals in Limbo
For the families who saved all year for a Telluride Christmas, the news is a bitter pill. “We arrived on the 23rd, and now we’re looking at a mountain we can’t ski,” says Mark, a visitor from Texas. “We support the patrollers, but it’s hard not to feel like the middleman in a fight that should have been settled months ago.”
The resort has moved quickly to mitigate the financial blow to guests:
- Lift Tickets & Lessons: All pre-purchased products for the closure period are being automatically refunded.
- Season Passes: Passholders will receive pro-rated refunds based on the number of days the resort remains closed.
Meanwhile, local businesses—restaurants, boutiques, and hotels—are bracing for a secondary impact. While the historic downtown and Mountain Village remain open, the absence of ski operations is expected to drain the town’s primary economic engine during its peak week.
A Growing Trend in the Industry
The Telluride strike is not an isolated event. It follows a similar 12-day strike at Park City Mountain Resort last season, where patrollers successfully negotiated for a $2-an-hour base pay increase. Across the West, from Breckenridge to Steamboat, ski employees are unionizing at record rates, driven by a skyrocketing cost of living and stagnant wages in mountain towns.
The outcome of the Telluride standoff will likely serve as a bellwether for the industry. If the resort remains closed through the New Year, the financial losses could reach into the millions, potentially forcing a return to the bargaining table.
What to Do if You Are in Telluride
While the lifts are still, the town of Telluride is working hard to keep the holiday spirit alive. The Telluride-Mountain Village Gondola (operated by the town, not the resort) remains operational, providing breathtaking views and access between the two hubs.
- Alternate Activities: Local guides are pivoting to snowshoeing tours, historic walking tours, and ice skating at the town rink.
- Dining & Shopping: Telluride’s world-class culinary scene remains fully operational, offering a cozy alternative to the snowy slopes.
As the strike begins on Saturday, all eyes are on the negotiating table. The mountain is silent for now, but the conversation about fair wages in the high country has never been louder.
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