That same year, a group of budding skiers from the San Luis Valley, including a farmer named Kelly Boyce, created the Wolf Creek Ski Club and installed a rope tow on the north side near the summit of Wolf Creek Pass.

At the outset of WW II, at least three of the individuals active in the development of Wolf Creek Pass as a ski area served as members of the 10th mountain Division, Charles Elliot, Dick Long and Bob Wright.

[5] But finally, following the end of WW II, the hardy skiers of the Wolf Creek Ski Club grew bored with the 150-yard rope tow on the base of Thunder Mountain and began to look around for options.

[6] In the Journal, The San Luis Valley Historian the author records an interview with W. Edward Sharp, "Late in the summer..(1954)..I was at the Chuck Wagon Dinner the night before the Stampede Rodeo..(in Monte Vista).

That fall we appeared before the Chambers of Commerce of Monte Vista, Alamosa, Del Norte, South Fork, and Pagosa Springs and told our story of the need for the new lift.

We estimated the tow lines would be much longer than the old site, making the cost about $15,000, it seemed ideal for what we wanted, so we applied to the Forest Service for a permit to use it.

"[6] W. Edward Sharp and the original board called for the first "Investors" meeting at his office building in Monte Vista on June 6, 1955, where the plans for the initial investment of nearly $20,000 of stock sale was to be discussed.

Arrowsmith, treasurer and Leonard Gustafson, Myron Cochran, Boyd Brown, Dave Goodman, John LaRue, Charles Elliott, and Earl Clark as directors.

[6] Most of the people involved in the leadership over the years were from the east side of the Pass, from Monte Vista and Sargent.

On the west side of the pass (in Pagosa Springs) the coordinators were George Yamaguchi, June Lynch, and Dave Goodman.

With his engineering background, friends, family members and the local ski club with lots of muscle, borrowed trucks, snow cats, tractors, and determination, they launched a bond drive to raise the necessary funds.

Ed stated in a board of directors report, "We spent very little money...freight from New York, materials for the tower foundations, and a gasoline motor.

"[9] The first 5 years showed slow but steady growth and there was an increasing need for more full-time management and some investment capital.

"[6] The San Luis Valley Historian records this history from Mr. Sharp: "About that time, we felt we were getting too big for volunteer management by a board of directors.

In the fall of 1960, after considering several offers to buy or take over the area, we entered into a deal with Mr. Joe Dyer of Dallas and a group headed by Clay Scott, a lawyer, to sell the assets of the corporation.

The area continued to grow for the next decade with the addition of two more Poma tows and increased runs with slope groomers.

In 1971 the annual financial report indicated $48,000 of skier revenue, an additional $16,000 of snack bar, ski rental and other miscellaneous income.

Glen Edmonds, then publisher of the Pagosa Springs Sun, was a stockholder and had become president when Sharp stepped into the treasurer's role.

Pinnell also interested three Dallas Cowboys as investors in promoting Wolf Creek: Charlie Waters, Dave Edwards, and Mike Ditka, who used to coach the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints.

For decades McCombs has pursued his vision for the development and has been working with the Forest Service to acquire highway access to the property, which is an inholding.

[18] Following the most recent lawsuit, the developers reached agreement not to break ground at the site until the case is resolved in court.

[19] Opponents of the Village state that the development would likely harm a vital wildlife corridor between the Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness areas, alter backcountry experiences on Wolf Creek Pass, compete with local businesses in nearby Pagosa Springs and South Fork, adversely affect rare fen wetlands, and stress water supplies in the Rio Grande watershed.