Mar 24, 2008 10:19 am US/Mountain
Many Ski Resorts Have To Stick With Closing Date
COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (CBS4) ―
The record snowfall in the Colorado mountains this winter has many again questioning why ski resorts can't move back their closing dates.
The larger ski areas will start to close in mid-April. Some on the western slope and southwestern Colorado have moved back those dates, but many can't because of their leases with the U.S. Forest Service.
"Just because we have those special use permits with the forest service and they pretty much tell us when we need to close," said David Roth of Copper Mountain.
Others resorts said business falls off dramatically after spring break and Easter, which came early this year.
"Then people start thinking about biking and hiking," Roth said.
Other ski areas also rely heavily on season workers from outside the United States who have limitations on their work visas.
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