The Ute Indians were the first to inhabit the Yampa Valley, hundreds of years before fur trappers came to Steamboat in the early 1800s. They were here for the lush valley in the summertime and the abundant hunting opportunities throughout the region. At some point the trappers thought they heard the chugging sound of a Steamboat steam engine, but it was actually a bubbling mineral spring that sounded like a Steamboat — hence the name “Steamboat Springs”.
Ranching has always had a stronghold on Steamboat Springs and the Yampa Valley. In the early 1900s, Steamboat Springs was the largest exporter of cattle in the western United States. In addition to ranching, mining is another industry that helped build the foundation and heritage of Steamboat Springs before the first ski-turns were carved down the mountain.
Although ranching and mining are still alive and well in Steamboat, it’s the tourism industry that now dominates the local economy. In the early 1900s skis were one of the best ways to get around town in the wintertime. In 1913 the legendary Carl Howelsen showed up and started ski-jumping. Howelsen, dubbed the “Flying Norseman” built a 100-foot jump and solidified himself as the father of skiing in Steamboat. Howelsen Hill is the oldest continuously running ski area in Colorado, founded in 1915 by Howelsen himself.
In 1963 the Steamboat Ski Resort launched as Storm Mountain with one lift and an a-frame warming hut at the base. The mountain was renamed Mt. Werner in 1964 after Buddy Werner, a famous, local Olympic skier who sadly died in an avalanche. Today, the Steamboat Ski Resort boasts over 19 lifts, 128 runs, and almost 3000 skiable acres of terrain.
Though Steamboat Springs evolves and changes with the seasons and years, the genuine community spirit, caring residents and lush, abundant valley anchors the place Steamboat residents call home.
