Telluride Ski Resort To Close Dec. 27 When Patrollers Are Planning To Strike

Telluride Ski Resort owner Chuck Horning announced the resort will close on Saturday, Dec. 27, after the Telluride ski patrollers voted to begin a strike that day; the company said it will work on a plan to reopen safely once the labor dispute is resolved.

Telluride Ski and Golf Co. owner Chuck Horning said the resort will not open Dec. 27 in response to a planned work stoppage by the Telluride Professional Ski Patrollers Association, a move that follows months of failed contract talks between patrollers and management. The patrollers voted overwhelmingly to strike after negotiations over wages, benefits and staffing stalled, and the resort said it would close while it develops a plan to reopen safely.

The union vote came after patrollers rejected the resort’s most recent offer; patrollers have been bargaining since June and have been working under an expired contract since September, according to local reporting. 

The strike occurs against the backdrop of a challenging early season. Due to unusually warm weather and low snowfall, Telluride has only been able to open 20 of its 149 trails so far this year. Some industry analysts suggest the low snow volume may have emboldened management to endure a closure now rather than during a peak-snow cycle.

This labor action mirrors a similar 13-day strike in Park City, Utah, last December, which resulted in significant wage gains for patrollers after a high-profile standoff during the same holiday window.

Negotiations have centered on a wage structure that the union argues is "broken." While resort management, led by owner Chuck Horning, recently presented what it called its "last, best, and final offer," the union rejected it for the second time this month.

• The Union’s Demand: Patrollers are seeking a starting wage of approximately $28 to $30 per hour, up from the current $21 per hour. They argue that higher pay is essential to retain senior experts capable of performing high-stakes tasks like avalanche mitigation and technical rope rescues.
• The Resort’s Offer: Management offered an immediate 13% wage increase for the 2025/26 season, followed by 5% annual increases. This would bring starting pay to roughly $24 per hour.
• The Standoff: According to union representatives, the total difference between the two proposals is roughly $65,000 over three years—a figure they call a "drop in the bucket" for a resort of Telluride’s profile.

"This is about fixing a broken wage structure and creating a pathway forward for those who strive to make this job a career," the union stated in a social media update. "The current proposal from Telski is simply a band-aid."

In a statement released on Christmas Eve, resort owner Chuck Horning expressed disappointment in the union's timing, characterizing the strike as a "nuclear option" that would have a "devastating effect" on the local community and economy.

Because the resort cannot safely operate without a certified patrol team, Telluride Ski Resort will be closed to the public starting Saturday morning. ### Refund Policy for Impacted Guests The resort has confirmed the following for those with travel plans:

• Lift Tickets & Lessons: All advance-purchase tickets and ski school products will be automatically refunded.
• Season Passholders: Pro-rated refunds will be issued based on the duration of the closure.
• Epic Pass Holders: The resort is working with Vail Resorts to find a solution for Epic Pass holders currently in Telluride.
• Mountain Village Gondola: The gondola linking the town of Telluride and Mountain Village is operated by the town and is expected to remain open.

Local and national outlets reported the closure and strike plans amid holiday travel, noting the timing could disrupt weekend operations and holiday visitors. Telluride’s closure announcement framed the decision as a safety-first measure, saying the company did not make the timing of the strike and would not operate without its professional on-mountain emergency responders in place.

Community leaders and tourism officials urged calm and emphasized that the town and Mountain Village still offer winter activities beyond downhill skiing, including Nordic trails, snowshoeing and other outdoor options for visitors while the resort is closed. Officials stressed that the closure affects lift-served skiing only and that the town remains open for other winter recreation and hospitality services.

Union leaders said the strike was a last resort after months of bargaining and that patrollers do not want to endanger guests but feel they must press for compensation and working conditions they consider fair for emergency responders who work in hazardous conditions on the mountain. “Nobody on patrol wants this to happen,” one patroller told reporters, describing frustration over what they called inadequate pay and benefits relative to the risks and responsibilities of the job.

Horning’s decision to close the resort rather than attempt to operate without the regular patrol staff follows precedent in other ski-industry labor disputes, where operators have cited safety and liability concerns when core emergency personnel are unavailable. The company said it will continue to negotiate and hopes to reach an agreement that allows a safe reopening as soon as possible