Control of a ski area revival in southern Colorado could shift following a recent decision by Huerfano County commissioners.

Two of the three voted to pursue transferring Cuchara Mountain Park back to Cuchara Foundation, which in 2017 purchased the former ski area base that was abandoned at the turn of the century. The foundation then moved the property to the county as a plan came together for a year-round recreation hub built by and for the public.

That plan has faltered over the years. The initial idea for a commercial operator — someone who could make money while carrying costly insurance in place of the county — fell through amid an outcry of privatization and other concerns. Nonprofit Panadero Ski Corp., closely tied to Cuchara Foundation, has been in agreement with the county to raise funds to restore a chairlift while upgrading snowmaking and charging for uphill access via snowcat.

That agreement took on controversy last fall as officials questioned the conduct of Panadero’s team of volunteers and staff. Sides agreed to build trust, while Cuchara Foundation drafted a letter to county commissioners “humbly requesting” the return of the mountain park.

The request was recently granted in a split decision — but it’s not a done deal yet.

Commissioner John Galusha moved to seek a transfer that comes with deed restrictions. As did Karl Sporleder, “because I do believe there needs to be some more oversight in that venue,” he said.

Galusha suggested deed restrictions were important as part of talks with Great Outdoors Colorado. The state agency distributing lottery revenues to recreation and conservation projects previously granted $219,602 to Cuchara Mountain Park improvements.

GOCO contracts “mandate that grantees maintain the project in good condition and provide public access for 15 years, irrespective of ownership changes,” explained Christopher Aaby, a GOCO program officer.

The contracts also outline grantees paying money back to GOCO if terms are not met. Regarding the Cuchara Mountain Park transfer, Aaby said GOCO “is open to exploring several options that would maintain the intent of the original proposal, and we understand that the county and foundation are being thoughtful in their approach.”

Deed restrictions could maintain county involvement over the mountain seen as a key economic driver, Michele Appel said at the commissioners meeting. She’s treasurer of Huerfano County’s parks district.

“I think that public-private partnership can still exist, but just in a different form,” she said.

Commissioner Arica Andreatta, whose district includes Cuchara Mountain Park, called the transfer “a horrible, horrible decision.” The discussion came in a meeting that detailed layoffs to county staff, underscoring grim realities of a historically cash-strapped government.

The county “is much better suited for grant opportunities and to work with private entities,” Andreatta said, also calling a nonprofit board like Cuchara Foundation’s “ever changing, and it’s hard to have one vision when you have different people coming and going.”

The vision is unchanged from the one the county accepted after 2017, said Ken Clayton, treasurer of Panadero Ski Corp.

That idea is a nonprofit ski area like others in the West, with hiking, mountain biking, youth camps and other events in the summer. That could be achieved through other partnerships, Clayton said.

When it came to fundraising, he added: “We believe there are people who would donate to a nonprofit that would have a hard time donating to a county.”

Cuchara Foundation’s request letter pledged “community engagement, environmental stewardship and cultural programming.” It cited “dedicated focus” as a benefit to park ownership.

Chris Smith represented the foundation at the commissioners meeting. He runs the restored mercantile and event space by the old ski base.

Regarding the park, “we’d like to see some things happening more than what’s happened now,” he said.