Steamboat Springs is facing more repair bills as the city tries to stabilize its historic ski hill, which has been prone to mudslides.
The most recent mudslide on Howelsen Hill cost the city $355,000 in repairs. Now the city council is considering spending more than $800,000 over the next two years to stabilize the slope, which has been a fixture in Steamboat for more than a hundred years.
Former city manager Deb Hinsvark has said the costliest repair will be around $750,000 and will involve installing Styrofoam to prevent erosion near the 90-meter jump. Significant ground work throughout the hill has also been planned.
The city-owned ski area features a number of ski jumps and is used for training by both Olympic competitors and a local youth sports club. Opened in 1914, it’s said to be the oldest continuously operating ski area in Colorado.
