Telluride's Illustrious Heritage - History In The Making
Mining Town Memoirs & Ski Resort History In Telluride.

The Golden History of Telluride
Established in 1887 with the buzz of eager miners looking to claim their fortune, Telluride's history is a colorful as the Victorian homes that saturate its town.

Many would argue that Telluride is named after the nonmetallic element "tellurium". Tellurium can be found in the surrounding vicinity and is associated with rich mineral deposits often bundled with gold and silver. On the other hand, historians often say that would-be-miners coined the name from yelling, “To-Hell-You-Ride".

At the "fever-pitch" of the Gold Rush, Nearly 5,000 eager inhabitants nestled in the box canyon of Telluride. With an astounding "millionaire" rate, Telluride's "make it or break it" attitude garnered international attention. More millionaires (per capita) lived in Telluride than in New York City at the turn of the century. The Tomboy Mine was one of the world’s greatest gold producers and over $360 million dollars of gold was pulled out of the mine during the rush. The wealth of Telluride attracted the likes of Butch Cassidy, who began his notorious bank robbing career in town. In 1889, Butch Cassidy walked away from his first heist at the San Miguel Valley Bank with $24,580. This sum of money was never regained.

A New Era For Telluride
Upon the mining bust in Telluride in the 1950’s, the area's mines were shut down and along with it, Telluride's once boisterous community faded into a sleepy ghost town.

Gold In The Form Of Snow
Snow, once despised by the miners, falls in never-ending abundance and put Telluride back into action. Nearly 20 years later, Joe Zoline, a wealthy entrepreneur from Beverly Hills, had the foresight to imagine a ski area graced with champagne powder. In 1972 the Telluride, Colorado Ski Resort opened with five lifts and a day lodge. Six years later, Colorado natives Ron Allred and Jim Wells purchased the Telluride ski area from Zoline and the Simonius-Vischer Corporation.

It took time and energy, but Allred and Wells transformed Telluride into a world-class resort through mountain and lift upgrades, construction of on-mountain restaurants and trails, development of Mountain Village, creation of innovative public transportation systems (gondola and chondola) and most recently, the development of Prospect Bowl.

In 2001, Hideo “Joe” Morita, an avid skier and partner in Arai Ski Resort, Japan, purchased the Telluride Ski Resort. Three years later, in February 2004, the resort transferred hands to Chuck and Chad Horning, a father/son team from Newport Beach, California, who are currently the majority owners. The Hornings are focused on economic, cultural and environmental sustainability.

The current day population fluctuates around 2,200 people. Once eager miners adorned with pick axes and shovels tromped through town. Now, on any given day, eager skiers and snowboarders bustle through town in pursuit of the perfect powder day. A town once built upon the extraction of gold from the nearby mountains, now provides golden memories for all who grace her town. Mention Telluride, and for those who have had the pleasure of experiencing this unique mountain town grin and nod in appreciation of its enchantment.