Another record winter for visitor spending, sales taxes in Colorado ski towns
The Denver Post
Jeremy Wallace/The Aspen Times file photo
Not only did a record number of visitors pack Colorado ski areas last winter, but the spendthrift skiing masses left mountain towns awash in record tax revenue.
The past three Colorado ski seasons have hit all-time highs. The ski areas are making more money than ever — as evidenced by record-setting revenue-based annual rent payments to their Forest Service landlords. The sheer number of visitors is growing, reaching a record 13 million in 2015-16.
And sales tax reports show those visitors are leaving more cash in their wake than ever before. Right around 2012-13, ski towns started seeing sales tax harvests inch back to pre-recession levels, with some towns even besting previous highs set in the banner 2007-08 ski season.
The Great Recession pinched visitor spending and most ski towns saw sales tax revenues plummet in 2008-09 as the economy withered.
Read the rest of this story at http://www.denverpost.com.
Support Local Journalism
Support Local Journalism
Readers around Aspen and Snowmass Village make the Aspen Times’ work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.
Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.
Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.
User Legend: 
Moderator 
Trusted User
High Country: Shop Edie Parker Flower’s cannabis collection at AGO Projects’ Aspen pop-up
Stash jars, fruit-shaped pipes, a ’60s-inspired table top lighter and custom rolling trays are all in store through Labor Day.
