Hot Sulphur Springs Winter Sports Carnival Fact Sheet

  • Hot Sulphur Springs and GrandCounty were established in 1874.
  • Hot Sulphur Springs is the county seat for Grand.
  • The railroad arrived in town in 1906.
  • Jon Peyer, an immigrant from Switzerland and owner of the Grand Hotel organized a committee in October, 1911 for the purpose of planning a “winter carnival of sports.”
  • The Winter Sports Carnival of Hot Sulphur Springs kicked off on Dec 30, 1911.
  • The HSS Winter Sports Carnival was the first of its kind held west of the Mississippi River and is considered the birthplace of Colorado’s ski industry.
  • Due to the enthusiasm of the 1911 carnival, the 1st Annual Hot Sulphur Springs Winter Sports Carnival was held Feb 12,13, and 14 in 1912.
  • Carl Howelson and Angell Schmidt of Denver disembarked from the train at Corona and skied to Hot Sulphur (44miles), each carrying 30lb packs and a rifle for both carnivals.
  • Howelson met Marjorie Parry of Steamboat at the 1913 Hot Sulphur Carnival and she recruited him to visit Steamboat, where they started their Winter Carnival in 1914.
  • Ski jumping, ice skating, tobogganing, cross country skiing, and a grand ball were part of both carnivals, as well as every carnival to come.
  • A special train carried participants and spectators to the carnivals, this is the for-runner of the official ski train.
  • The official ski train was sponsored by the Rock Mountain News in 1937 and carried thousands of people to Hot Sulphur from Denver and Steamboat Springs.
  • The Hot Sulphur Carnival was held annually from 1912-1940, with the exception of 1919, which was interrupted by Work War I and the influenza epidemic.
  • Hot Sulphur hosted four ski areas, listed in chronological order: Bungalow Hill, Maggie’s Hill, Mt Bross, and Snow KingValley.
  • Maggie’s Hill was the longest lived ski area, 1913-1960s.
  • The Winter Carnival produced 3 Colorado Ski Hall of Famers, Barney McLean, Jim Harsh, and Horace Button. The carnival also produced one of Colorado’s first Winter Olympians, Jim Harsh in 1932 and was followed by Olympic Ski Team Captain, Barney McLean in 1948 (Barney was selected to the 1936 Olympics, but backed out due to injury and the 1940 Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II).
  • Barney McLean, whose real name was Loyd McLean, was also inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and the National Ski Hall of Fame.
  • The Western Amateur ski Association’s championship was held at the HSS Winter Sports Carnival annually.
  • Many famous and accomplished skiers of national prominence competed at Hot Sulphur.
  • Skijoring made its debut at the 1913 carnival and was an annual event.