Cuchara Ski Resort in process of changing hands

by Debi Sporleder
CUCHARA — The Cuchara Mountain Ski Resort  is now under new ownership, at least, part of it is.  
QE Ventures, Inc. (Jerry and JoVonne Fitzgerald of La Veta) have acquired the tax deed for the base of the resort.  The remainder is still owned, for now, by Bruce Cantrell through Cuchara Mountain Resort Investors.
Jerry Fitzgerald told the World Journal they had been paying the taxes for four years thinking Cantrell would catch up on back taxes.  When that didn’t happen, QE Ventures, Inc. became the new owners of the base, which is about 47 to 49 acres and includes the beginner slopes, the ski rental shop, the ticket office, the warming hut, a storage garage and a service garage.  
The two big buildings, Baker Creek Restaurant, and the corporate offices/ shops building are currently held in tax lien certificates by Arnold and Jean Okerman, and by Rundell Ranches.
Fitzgerald knows something can be done with the property, but nothing has been done for quite some time.  Not much information has been passed on to them, and there are a lot of unknowns.  He doesn’t expect much to happen in the near to mid future.