The Outpost

It’s zero degrees outside, but inside the Nordic Center, you’d never know it. A dense atmosphere of noise and bodies heats the air: kids shriek and chatter, parents give directions, jackets and snow pants rustle, footsteps pound, doors slam, mouths munch and steadily melting snow drips from hats, mittens, snowpants, and boots to puddle on the floor. Wall to wall, bodies and equipment fill the Nordic Center, making it impossible to hear or think or move apart from the heaving mass.

Any winter day, this is the scene at the Nordic Center. With more than 2,000 season pass holders, kids on waiting lists for programs, more than 500 people going out on lessons and tours, and a Masters Community of nearly 300 participants, we’ve simply run out of room.

We’ve packed a lot of folks into the Nordic Center, but the quality of everyone’s experience has declined the more crowded our Center has become.

Since 2010, Crested Butte Nordic, the Town of Crested Butte, and the hockey community have been working to maximize Big Mine Park to meet community needs. Based on an extensive planning process, all stakeholders agree the best and most economical way to move forward is to expand facilities outside the current Nordic Center. Building the hockey changing rooms in 2020-2021 was part of that effort, and The Outpost continues it.

By adding The Outpost to the existing Cat Barn, we will nearly double our square footage. Anticipated maintenance costs will be minimal due to a smart, streamlined design. The first floor will be the Murray Banks Team Room, providing a critical home for the CB Nordic Team —with changing rooms, a waxing room, and a coach’s office. This flexible facility will also serve CB Nordic programs and events. The upper floor will give our administrative team a home, freeing up half of the Nordic Center to become a public gathering place.

The Outpost will be a highly accessible and functional building, while allowing the Nordic Center to fulfill its designed purpose as a warm, welcoming gathering place to serve and support our vibrant programs and community.