Snowmass reaches preliminary consensus on Krabloonik future

Snowmass Town Council agreed that a dog-park and restaurant could be in the Krabloonik property’s future.

Council members seek to pay homage to the historic property, which was used to house up to 150 Alaskan huskies until last year, by opening up both a dog park and restaurant on the 2.44 acres of land. The restaurant would service dog-park users during the day before transitioning to finer dining at night. 

The decision comes as the town of Snowmass Village, who owns the Krabloonik property, reached a legal settlement with their tenants, Krabloonik Dog Sledding, and ordered them to vacate the premises by mid-2024 following allegations of dog mistreatment.

“If we do something, I think it should be minimal but meaningful,” Council member Britta Gustafson said of the property in a Monday council meeting.

Before Monday, the town had not yet determined the future for the property, which is located near the top of Divide Road.

Snowmass Town Manager Clint Kinney told council members that the property is zoned for a dog sled operation and restaurant, a single family home, or open space. He said a dog park and restaurant could be within the scope of the zoning, but that the alterations would need to be discussed further to ensure they fit within the property’s zoning guidelines.

Council members opposed selling the land for construction of a single family home. 

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“I think a couple decades from now, we would look back and only regret, at the very least, not preserving it as common open space,” Gustafson said. “Or putting some kind of community hub or restaurant that pays some sort of homage to what it used to be.”

She added that she’s seen a desire from visitors and locals to experience the space as it existed in the past.

Council member Susan Marolt advocated that the space incorporate some type of community hub with the restaurant.

“And I think housing too,” she said, “maybe housing for any of those operations that were going on there at the very least.”

Though the land isn’t zoned for workforce housing, Kinney said Krabloonik Dog Sledding formerly provided some employees housing for those working on the property, which he believes would still be allowed if another operation involving dogs and food service is built.

Council decided to visit the property during their work session on Sept. 8. They plan to have the Parks, Open Space, Trails, and Recreation Board accompany them.

“I think what I’m hearing is concurrence,” Council member Tom Fridstein said of council’s tentative plans for the property.

Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.