The Town of Nederland , Colorado, has formally approved the purchase of Eldora Mountain Resort , marking one of the rare instances in which a U.S. municipality has moved to acquire a ski resort from a corporate owner. On January 6, 2026, the Nederland Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the $120 million acquisition of the ski area from POWDR , concluding roughly 16 months of negotiations and planning. The deal is expected to close later this year, pending final regulatory approvals.
Nederland plans to fund the purchase through revenue bonds backed solely by Eldora’s operating earnings, including lift ticket sales, food and beverage revenue, rentals, and other resort activities. Local officials in Nederland has emphasized that local tax dollars and the town’s general fund will not be used to repay the debt.
Once the bonds are paid off, the town projects that Eldora could generate more than $5 million annually in free cash flow, which could be directed toward infrastructure, services, and long-term financial reserves, according to reporting by The Denver Post. Bank of America and RBC Capital Markets are serving as co-underwriters for the bond issuance. As part of the agreement, Eldora’s approximately 700 employees will also become municipal employees. POWDR will continue to operate the resort for the next two winter seasons to ensure a smooth transition, after which day-to-day operations are expected to be handled by 303 Ski, a Colorado-based operator. The town also plans to create a new management position to serve as a liaison between municipal leadership and resort operations…