Drop in Winter Spending Has Colorado Mountain Towns Cutting Budgets

Drop in winter spending has Colorado mountain towns cutting budgets

A busy Valentine's Day in 2026 at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Skiing remains the largest economic driver of Colorado's $18.1 billion outdoor recreation economy, contributing $1.6 billion in direct spending. (Jason Blevins/Colorado Sun) Colorado’s high country towns are cutting budgets after a slow winter pinched critical sales tax revenue. Spending in 18 Colorado mountain towns fell in the winter of 2025-26, reaching a four-year low. It’s the…

Drop in winter spending in Colorado mountain towns in has communities cutting budgets

Spending in 18 high country communities dropped to a 4-year low in 2025-26, when visitation numbers fell and snow didn’t. But towns are diversifying economies and showing resilience to bad snow years.