By Shannon Lukens. All pictures courtesy Jay Fetcher. Pictured is the Christie base area in February of 1963.

 

Sixty years ago today, on Jan. 12, 1963, Steamboat ski area fired up the Christie Lift for the first time. John Fetcher was the general manager of the ski area and Hank Perry was his financial partner. John’s son, Jay, sent us some pictures of that first day. He said before the Christie Lift opened up, there was only a poma on Headwall.

 

Here is a picture of John Fetcher’s diary. It said it was 50 below and a boy broke his leg. Five lift tickets were purchased and seven comp passes were handed out on opening day.

 

This is a picture of the “Christie Crew.” It includes names like Vernon Summer, Ed and Bud Werner, Marv Crawford, Chuck Bush, Kirk Gibbs, and a few more.

 

Shorty Bashor (pictured) owned the property where Bashor Bowl is now.

 

Here is a spreadsheet for that first season to 1970 showing skier days, lift revenue, visitors to the ski shop, ski school and ski rentals, and how many visited the cafeteria. A nursery was set up in 1967.

 

Here are the ledgers from that first season.

 

Steamboat Resort will be celebrating the 60th Anniversary on Jan. 21, with a  60th Anniversary Celebration and Party. It’s a drone show with 150 drones over the slopes, a special figure skating performance from the Steamboat Skating Club, and a birthday dash  in Steamboat Square. We’ll have Cosmic Skate Night and DJ Dancing Music!