Fire on the Mountain: Growth and Conflict in Colorado Ski Country
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UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones 5-2010 Fire on the mountain: Growth and conflict in Colorado ski country Michael W. Childers University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Social History Commons, Tourism Commons, and the United States History Commons Repository Citation Childers, Michael W., "Fire on the mountain: Growth and conflict in Colorado ski country" (2010). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 237. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/1449291 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). 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FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN: GROWTH AND CONFLICT IN COLORADO SKI COUNTRY by Michael Wayne Childers Bachelor of Arts Western State College 1995 Masters of Arts Colorado State University 1997 dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in History Department of History College of Liberal Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 2010 THE GRADUATE COLLEGE We recommend that the dissertation prepared under our supervision by Michael W. Childers entitled Fire on the Mountain: Growth and Conflict in Colorado Ski Country Dissertation Examination Committee be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy History Andrew Kirk, Committee Chair David Wrobel, Committee Member David Tanenhaus, Committee Member David Hassenzahl, Graduate Faculty Representative Ronald Smith, Ph. D., Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate College May 2010 ii ABSTRACT Fire on the Mountain: Growth and Conflict in Colorado Ski Country By Michael Childers Dr. Andrew Kirk, Examination Committee Chair Professor of History University of Nevada, Las Vegas This dissertation examines the environmental, economic, and cultural conflicts over the private development of ski resorts in Colorado’s National Forests between 1910 and 2000. Downhill skiing emerged as an increasingly popular winter activity during the first half of the twentieth century, particularly in western state such as Colorado. A part of the a larger outdoor recreational boom throughout the United States’ during the interwar years, downhill skiing challenged the Forest Service’s ability to meeting the public’s growing appetite for year-round recreational opportunities. These challenges increased following World War II as the nation’s growing population and affluence drew millions to their public lands to sightsee, camp, hunt, and ski. The Forest Service turned to private ventures to develop ski resorts to meet this growing public demand. But the development of ski resorts on public lands by private interest proved to be problematic when faced with competing views of public lands and public land management. The same natural allure that drew millions to the country’s national parks, national forests, and other public lands also gave rise to a modern environmental movement, which called for the preservation of wilderness, limits on urban and suburban growth, and pollution reduction. These two emergent views of nature came into increasing conflict with one another over iii the management of public lands, particularly concerning the development of ski resorts. With more ski resorts, and more skier visits, than any other state, Colorado sat at the center of these conflicts. By the late 1960s, a growing number of critics began denouncing the environmental impacts of ski resorts on national forests. Over the next four decades, political battles raged throughout Colorado over the environmental, social, and economic impacts of ski resorts. Controversies such as Colorado voters’ rejection of the 1976 Denver Winter Olympics, the fight to develop Beaver Creek Ski Resort, and the burning of twelve buildings on top of Vail Ski Resort by members of the extremist environmental group Earth Liberation Front pitted the American public’s growing recreational demands against emergent concerns over the environmental and social consequences of the commercial development of ski resorts on public land for private corporate gain. These fights not only tell the story of skiing in Colorado, but Americans’ changing understandings of nature and the larger environmental costs of outdoor recreation and tourism. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Dissertations mark the culmination of years of study, research, writing, and hard work, and thanks is always needed at their conclusion. But this dissertation marks more than the end of the typical doctoral experience, one that began with the passing of Hal Rothman and ended with last minute heroics of several professors. In between, there were moments of great sadness and greater joy, and I want to express my deep-hearted gratitude to all who were there for me along the way. I wish to begin by thanking my chair, Andy Kirk, who provided much needed encouragement at moments of loss and priceless dissections of my arguments and prose throughout my writing process. David Wrobel’s seminars and sage advice helped lay the foundation for the dissertation and my future career. David Tanenhaus and David Hassenzahl’s agreement to join my committee not only saved the day, but also helped articulate my argument and clarify my writing. I began this dissertation with three other committee members, who for various reasons were unable to help me complete my project. Elizabeth Fraterrigo and Tim Farnham both served as committee members through my comprehensive exams before taking jobs elsewhere. Both helped me tremendously in getting my arms around the dissertation and articulating the most striking characteristics of ski resorts in Colorado. And finally the late Hal Rothman—Hal hired me as his graduate assistant the first day I set foot on UNLV’s campus, a position that I held for the next four years working on projects as diverse as the history of the National Park Service’s fire policy and the downfall of the mob in Las Vegas. During that time, I learned a tremendous amount about history and writing, but more importantly, I learned about being generous with your time, true to your friends, and solid in your convictions. Hal was able to get me through my v comprehensive exams before his death. During our last conversation, he listened intently to what my research had thus far produced and offered advice on what do next. He was a true mentor till the end. Hal, I did it. I would also like to thank other members of the generous UNLV faculty and staff. Elizabeth White Nelson and Andy Fry broadened my understanding of American history in their seminars. David Holland, Kevin Dawson, and Marcie Gallo gave generously of their time through conversations that improved my teaching, especially during my first couple of semesters on the other side of the lectern. Without Lynette Webber and Kathy Akins I would never have been able to navigate through the mountains of paperwork needed to complete a PhD, or at times to get back into my office after locking the door behind me yet again. I am beyond grateful to my cohort, Michael Duchemin, Jonathon Foster, Peter Gough, Aaron MacArthur, and Jeffrey Richardson, with whom I shared the seminar room and sighed whenever we heard Dr. Wrobel announce that he had a “good feeling” about ending on time that evening. Those who followed my group, including Charlie Dietrich, Michelle Turk, Garron Maloney, Julie Stetler, John Liss, and Megan Weatherly have all become dear friends and helped immensely in my survival of graduate school and Las Vegas. I want to make special note of two friends, Chris Johnson and Christian Harrison, whose long conversations on environmental history, writing, and even married life helped more than either of you may know. Beyond the sandstone walls of UNLV, I found other lifelong friends in Las Vegas who I wish to thank. To the mountain bike squad comprising of Jason Smith, Marshall Evans, Chad Hayes, and Tim Ward, our weekly rides were often a needed break from studying and writing. In particular, Marshall, whose conversations about recreation, vi skiing, and life in general were as valuable to me in writing this dissertation as any seminar. I am especially thankful to Bob, Anna, and Hanna, and Tucker Bond, for letting me crash in their basement while I spent a summer digging through the Denver Public Library’s archives. Paul Brooks and Kitty Lohse’s sage advice on academia and invitations to many adventures were always welcomed. Leonardo Fey always provided a place to stay and a wondrous meal when I visited Denver. In addition, Josh and Andi Walton always welcomed me and Leisl to Flagstaff with open arms whenever we needed a break from the Las Vegas heat and were companions in many excellent adventures. No dissertation is written without the help of archivists and I have been blessed throughout the entire process to work with some of the best. I did the majority of my research in the Denver Public Library’s Western History and Genealogy Archive. Enough cannot be said of the DPL’s staff, all of whom often went well beyond the call of duty to find materials and even offer suggestions that later proved instrumental. In particular, I want to thank Ann Brown, without whom chapters one and two would have never been written, and Claudia Jensen, who not only helped in running down obscure facts, but also provided priceless advice and insights into the collection.