The simplistic ideology that many ski towns were built on is now fading farther and farther away as these ski towns are becoming more influenced by money and materialism. But, the people who have really watched this shift unfold are the ones who have lived in these mountain towns for decades. Many lifelong residents in Steamboat, Colorado are feeling the pressure of this issue. As an affordable housing crisis becomes worse each year, the possibility of getting priced out of their homes becomes greater.
Affordability Crisis
While COVID is a factor in this pricing crisis, the price of everything from groceries, travel and most importantly housing has increased. According to an article from the Colorado Sun, from 2020-2025, the median price for a house in Routt County (where Steamboat is located) rose by 98%. Finding a house for under a $1 million is hard to come by now in this county. A new housing development could make matters worse as the homes are priced at $3 million plus.
A local Steamboat resident who has been there since the 1990s told the Independent in an interview, “I predict that after a lifetime of serving our community, we will be forced to move and drive out of here with empty mansions and private ski resorts in our rear-view mirror.”
The 0.01% playground
Steamboat Mountain Ranch (SMR) is located about 25 minutes outside Steamboat and was founded in the 1970 by Woodmoor Corporation. Woodmoor had the same goals for the ranch as the Discovery project has for it now. Ultimately, though, in the 1970s, the ranch never got fully developed and the Whittemeyer family bought the ranch in 1977 from bankruptcy. The family partnered with Discovery Land Company in 2022 and began making plans for the new and improved Stagecoach Mountain Ranch project. The company is globally known and has sold homes to people like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. This project is modeled similarly to the private Yellowstone Club in Montana, which Discovery partially owns.
The exclusive ranch club will include a private ski mountain, luxury residences starting well over $3 million, a high-speed gondola connecting the base area to the mountain, bars, restaurants, pools, spas, and even an equestrian center. These amenities are only available to those who purchase a property in Steamboat Mountain Ranch. According to a real estate group in Steamboat, the Ranch is looking to build about 700 residences. Which is 100 fewer than the 800 residences Discovery proposed in its original pre-application process in the spring of 2023.
How do the locals feel?
According to the Independent article, some locals support the plan, and others do not. Those who support the plan say the club could help boost tourism in the town, as tourism is Steamboat’s primary source of income. The developers have also made some promised investments that could help fund things like local fire stations. Others say this could raise taxes and add to the already severe affordable housing crisis. But one of the biggest reasons locals don’t support the project is because it might make Steamboat lose its small-town mountain-town charm.
Discovery's plan is currently under review by the county and could take a couple of months to be finalized. If approved, the club will be fully functional within three to five years, but complete construction could take up to 15 years.
