Developers discuss Wolf Creek resort

Developers discuss Wolf Creek resort

A crowd of 200 seeks answers to many questions about the massive proposed development.

By ERIN SMITH
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

ALAMOSA - The more than 200 people attending a meeting on the proposed Village at Wolf Creek at the Inn of the Rio Grande Friday night appeared divided in their support of the project.

After the announcement of the plan by developers Bob Honts and B.J. “Red” McCombs, Karla Willschau, a certified public accountant with the Alamosa accounting firm of Wall, Smith, Bateman, presented her analysis of what the village would do for Mineral County. She said the project could be worth $237 million in revenue to Mineral County over 20 years.

Honts also announced that he and his partner are closing Monday on Twin Pines Ranch in Rio Grande County and will be buying the more than 1,700-acre Flying W Ranch in the spring.

When asked later what is being proposed for the two properties, Honts replied, “We have no plans but to farm, fish and walk around.” That could change though, he admitted.

He called reports of the possible development and construction of employee housing on the property “Rumors. Rumors can be very dangerous. They approach slander.”

The Village at Wolf Creek, to the east of the Wolf Creek Ski Area, is designed as a self-contained village resort that could house up to 12,000 people, but that would be if every bed was filled, Honts told the standing-room-only crowd.

At full build-out, it could contain up to 1,200 hotel rooms, 222,000 square-feet of commercial space, 129 lots for single family units, and 1,643 multi-family units, 2,172 units in all.

Environmentalist Rio de la Vista, who expressed concern for the wetlands and suggested third-party monitoring of the development near the Continental Divide in Mineral County, asked for a show of hands of those for and against the project. There seemed to be a slight edge of those for it; however, much of the audience did not move.

While few actually verbalized why they were in favor of the development, those opposed were vocal.

Concerns were raised over water, wetlands, the burden of services to counties, the ability of the ski area to support a major increase in skiers on any given day, wastewater treatment and effluent, and altitude sickness.

Project supporters Jon Boyd and Dusty Hicks said there is enough water allotted to the project by the water court to support 12,000 residents. And, Hicks added, 12,000 residents would use only that amount of water it takes to irrigate an acre of alfalfa in a season.

However, a question from the audience about where the water for the subdivision came from went unanswered.

Honts said water from snowmelt would be held in underground tanks and released over a 12-month period into the river to replenish what the development uses, but that is not the water to be used in the village.

“It’s a big rip-off for the (San Luis) Valley,” retired physician Joel Kaufman shouted.

Area potato farmer Bill Ellithorpe expressed concern over wetlands.

“It’s our commitment. We will not harm wetlands,” Honts said.

Alamosa resident Don Thompson asked about the burden of services on neighboring counties. “Growth has never paid its way in Colorado,” he insisted.

Honts replied that the developers would be responsible for all the infrastructure and services at the development. It would not cost taxpayers anything.

Pointing to Willschau’s analysis, Honts referred to the estimated millions in revenues anticipated over a 20-year period for Mineral County.

Frequent skiers at Wolf Creek Ski Area questioned the potential for more skiers sharing their slopes. Honts said the area only runs at 50 percent or more capacity eight days a year. Filling the chairs will be good business. The response brought a moan from some in the audience who said that was what was so wonderful about the ski area - the lack of skiers.

Many in the audience seemed unconvinced after Honts remarked that developers want more stringent standards for their wastewater treatment system and effluent.

“You have a lot less to fear from the Village at Wolf Creek than (from) cities,” Honts said.

Kaufman, an emergency room physician in Alamosa for many years, cited a prestigious medical journal and asked if consideration had been given to travelers from low altitudes going to an elevation of 10,500 feet above sea level.

Honts replied that a study he had received showed altitude sickness abated after a few days.

McCombs, a former owner of the Denver Nuggets, said that altitude gave his team home-court advantage as visitors “were gassed out.”

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