Stagecoach, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stagecoach |
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 Stagecoach
Location in Colorado
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| Location | Routt County, Colorado  United States |
| Nearest city | Steamboat Springs |
| Coordinates | 40°15′10″N 106°51′25″W / 40.25278°N 106.85694°W |
| Vertical | 1,700 ft (518 m) |
| Top elevation | 9,150 ft (2,789 m) |
| Base elevation | 7,450 ft (2,271 m) |
| Skiable area | 170 acres (0.7 km2) |
| Lift system | 3 double chairlifts |
| Snowfall | 300 in (760 cm) |
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Stagecoach was a ski resort in Colorado that only operated for a short time in the early 1970s. It was located about 20 miles (32 km) south of Steamboat Springs in Routt County.
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The Stagecoach Ski Area
A company from Colorado Springs called Woodmoor Company started building the ski area. It had great slopes that faced north, which is good for keeping snow. However, the company ran into money problems. Because of this, the project stopped in 1973. The ski area closed after only its second winter season in 1974.
Today, Stagecoach is known as a "lost" ski hill. People sometimes hear rumors that it might open again. But the Wittemyer family, who have owned the land for over 25 years, always say these rumors are not true.
The ski area was located about a mile south of where the Stagecoach Reservoir is now. It had three double chairlifts. The total vertical drop, which is the difference between the top and bottom of the ski runs, was 1,700 feet (518 m). The highest point of the ski area was 9,150 feet (2,789 m) above sea level. The base, or lowest point, was at 7,450 feet (2,271 m).
Chairlift Details
Here is some information about the chairlifts that were at Stagecoach:
| # | Lift Name | Vertical Drop |
Length | Type | Ride Time |
Hourly Capacity |
Gradient | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Hitch | 1,250 ft (381 m) | 5,385 ft (1,641 m) | Double | 10 min | 1,200 | 23.2% (13.1 deg.) |
1972 |
| 2 | Yellow Jacket Express | 570 ft (174 m) | 2,000 ft (610 m) | Double | 5 min | 1,200 | 28.5% (15.9 deg.) |
1972 |
| 3 | Little Hitch | 347 ft (106 m) | 1,990 ft (607 m) | Double | 6 min | 1,100 | 17.4% (9.9 deg.) |
1972 |
Stagecoach State Park and Dam
The Stagecoach Dam was built on the Yampa River in late 1988. The reservoir behind it filled up over the next few years. This reservoir is now part of Stagecoach State Park. At the park, people can enjoy fishing, boating, camping, and hiking. In winter, visitors can go cross-country skiing and dog-sledding.
The dam is located at the northeast end of the reservoir. The water's surface is about 7,200 feet (2,195 m) above sea level. The dam was first planned in the 1970s to be made of earth. However, it was built using a newer method called roller-compacted concrete (RCC).
The Stagecoach Community
The area around Stagecoach is growing quickly, just like the nearby town of Steamboat Springs. A new fire station was built in 2006. New neighborhoods are also being developed. There is even a spot set aside for an elementary school. This school will be built when the current school in nearby Yampa gets too full.
