Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort is located in the rugged San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado, and 25 miles north of historic downtown Durango.
Averaging 260 inches of snow annually, Purgatory is known for consistent, dry powder from frequent storms, which are followed by sunny, bluebird days, creating perfect conditions for pure alpine nirvana. Purgatory features 1,360 acres of skiable terrain, 88 trails, 10 lifts, five terrain parks and a vertical drop of 2,029 feet.
Known as a top family-friendly resort, Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort offers terrain for all skiing and riding abilities as well as a variety of activities for all ages, allowing families to spend quality time together. From scenic horse-drawn sleigh rides right from the base area, to the Snow Coaster Tubing Hill, guided snowshoeing tours, Nordic skiing, to snowmobiling and ice climbing, there’s plenty to do. In the base village, Purgy’s Restaurant offers a special kids menu as well as Creekside Italian Kitchen, which also provides a special child play area and features kid-friendly movies during the holiday season.
Purgatory Lodge, a $50 million investment and new anchor to the base village, opened in 2008, offering luxury ski in/ski out accommodations, private club and game room, day spa, fitness center, outdoor heated pool, and fine-dining restaurant.
Over the past few years, Purgatory expanded expert terrain by 35% with new steep, gladed-tree skiing on the front- and back-side, added high-angle grooming equipment, enhanced snowmaking abilities and initiated brush clearing from the slopes, making for a better early season ski experience. Purgatory also built new terrain parks, constructing bigger features including a half pipe.
For the 2012/2013 winter season, Durango Mountain Resort has teamed up with iconic ski manufacturer, Rossignol, to provide break-through technology to skiers. The Rossignol Experience Center provides all levels of skiers, from beginner to advanced, with the latest technology in skis from the Experience line.
The Purgatory Ski School has also been trained by Rossignol to incorporate the Experience technology into their lesson programs, thereby minimizing the learning curve and getting skiers out enjoying the entire mountain quicker than ever.
Also located at Durango Mountain Resort is the United States’ largest snowcat operator, the San Juan Skiing Company, which taps into 35,000 acres of incredible backcountry skiing and riding.
Durango Mountain Resort is the ideal basecamp for experiencing all that Southwestern Colorado has to offer, including a vibrant and friendly mountain town with more restaurants per capita than San Francisco, four local craft breweries, galleries, shops and boutiques, museums and more. Steeped in rich history, visitors to the area can take a ride back in time on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, or experience Mesa Verde National Park and Chimney Rock National Monument.
From SkiCountry Magazine 2013, page 26.