2025 Market Facts VRP - Flipbook - Page 103
ECO NO MI C PRO FI L E & MA R K ET FACT S 2025 | 95
COURTESY ELDORA
A skier at the Eldora Mountain Ski Resort in Boulder County.
OUTDOOR INDUSTRY
Colorado’s outdoor-rec scene
one nation’s most robust
Colorado remains one of the top locations in the world for outdoor
recreation, fostering a robust and diverse industry — from gear and
apparel brands, to hospitality services to resort-management firms to environment advocacy organizations — that serves the millions of local and
out-of-state skiers, hikers, hunters and fishermen who visit the Centennial
State each year.
Colorado’s outdoor-recreation economy was the 10th-largest in the
nation in 2023, according to 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic
Analysis, adding $17.2 billion to the state’s economy and accounting for
132,594 jobs.
The Centennial State was first in the nation for economic activity related to snow activities — skiing and snowboarding, for example — in 2023,
with that type of recreation adding $1.6 billion to Colorado’s economy.
Broomfield is home to the headquarters of Vail Resorts Inc. (NYSE:
MTN), one of the world’s largest ski mountain owners and operators.
Facing financial performance challenges and labor strife in recent months,
Vail recently brought its longtime CEO Rob Katz back as the company’s
leader. Vail, as part of a two-year “transformation plan” aimed at reversing
downward revenue and earnings trends, hopes to achieve $100 million in
annualized savings by the end of fiscal 2026.
Eldora Mountain Resort, Boulder County’s lone ski area, is going
through a leadership transition of its own as parent company Powdr Corp.
looks to offload the property — perhaps to the Town of Nederland. After
10 years at the helm of Eldora, Brent Tregaskis retired in May as president
and general manager.
Not only is the outdoor industry an economic driver in its own right,
the region’s abundant recreational opportunities serve as selling points
for attracting youthful and energetic talent for local companies in other
sectors.
“Northern Colorado has a burgeoning workforce attracted by worldclass outdoor activities, superb cultural offerings, and a peerless quality of
life,” according to CU’s Colorado Business Economic Outlook report.
Outdoor Equipment Resources
Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office
https://choosecolorado.com/programs-initiatives/
outdoor-recreation-industry-office/
Outdoor Industry Association
www.outdoorindustry.org
