the ghost ski resorts - Ski Rio - chapter one

[@blackcrowsskis2006]

the fortress ghosts, ghost ski resorts chapter 2 teaser went live: bit.ly/ghost_resorts_chapter_two_teaser blackcrows to premiere at Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival, on November 6. full movie will land on January, 11, 2022 #savethedate . . #blackcrows #Banff #GhostResorts #nocta #anima #FortressMountain

[@billherbert4961]

I worked Ski Rio in it's last season. That place was SHADY, although the mountain was pretty epic when the snow was fresh. I was a first season ski and snowboard instructor. My boss on the snowboard side broke his hip early in the season. He did it first run on our enormous booters once we'd had enough snow to build them. Those jumps were probably the best NM had ever had up to that point. It was little wonder about his injury and the injuries to come. Suddenly I was head of snowboarding (kinda) in the ski school. Trial by fire but my pay was much better. I also ran front of house in the restaurant whose ghost kitchen is featured in an early shot. I had some pretty confronting times in that kitchen with the brilliant but seriously drug addicted chef and a nice but criminal cook. The chef would sometimes be asleep during peak service and I'd find myself in an apron getting steaks off the grill and plating meals, removing the apron to serve, and repeating this until he woke up. Luckily I know back of house too. That restaurant could have been awesome. Some nights it was. He daily puked up magic mushrooms from the chair in the morning, sometimes just past the bull wheel in the base area. So it was well known what a mess he was and I think he was protected. One night in March he and the cook had some pretty serious gangsters as guests in the restaurant who's meals I had to comp by trammel and threat. I was told they were very dangerous people, that they had an important deal going and cook wasn't so effing nice suddenly. He had recently served prison time. I quit the next day and informed my managers of exactly why I'd quit. Once a week the very shady Mtn owner would dine there with an entourage. They never paid either. (I served Julia Roberts there one night. She and her crowd were awesome guests.) The Fed's closed down both his ski areas (Cuchara on the other side of the Colorado boarder) the next season a few weeks after opening. My old boss at the ski school gave me a head's up that s&%t was going down when I came back the next pre-season. Real estate fraud and a RICO case was how it went down I think. But my old boss looked after me. He sent me south to Angel Fire with a handwritten reference letter to the Ski School boss. I met my wife working at AF a few weeks later. I write about this from the other side of planet Earth where we have no real Covid problem and generally sane population. So, as Thanksgiving nears, I am grateful for having a pretty awesome life outcome. Thank you SHADY SHADY SHADY Ski Rio. I do wish it wasn't such a doomed ski field though. Great mountain when the snow is deep. Zero crowds even when it was still going. And jobs around the area are scarce, so Amalia and the surrounding towns could really use it.

[@yellowsupercar-bm4cl]

this place sounds like a fukcing hbo original

[@jamesdunn2214]

It was always shady.

[@billherbert4961]

@@jamesdunn2214 Darn tootin.

[@billherbert4961]

​@@yellowsupercar-bm4cl It was. I'm from Albuquerque and many other parts in NM. I know dodgy from many angles. It had real Breaking Bad potential up there. A few years ago there was a tragic case of kidnapped kids imprisoned by a terrorist group in Amalia, the village below. I lived there that 98-99 season. I heard about it over here "Down Under" on legitimate mainstream news. Real footage of the bust. Poor kids. I drove past and up to the Ski Rio locked gate with my wife in 2009. On our way to the I-70 ski areas from our old haunts in Angel Fire. Everything was in severe decline. It's sad. And I won't be back.

[@aztecducky]

@@billherbert4961 what years were you at Angel Fire, and what did you do there? I learned to ski at Angel Fire from 1997-2003

[@gladystorres3660]

My husband Bernie Torrres together with his employees built about 80% of the ski trails and parking lots. He also provided the concrete for the chair lift towers because at the time nobody wanted to take ready mix concrete up the slopes. The work was accomplished with helicopters and Bernie’s trucks. I myself worked in the ticket office for a period of two years.

[@francescotortorici292]

Glady's, I had so much fun working with Bernie.

[@johngarrison4228]

Do you guys remember Levi. I cut my teeth as a child there and went until it closed, I still remember it well. The guys with ski patrol would occasionally let me ski down with them when they were closing the mountain at the end of the day. They called me Rocket. Great people, wonderful place I’ll never forget it.

[@gladystorres3660]

@@johngarrison4228 What’s Levi’s last name?

[@johngarrison4228]

@@gladystorres3660 I'm not sure, but if I remember correctly he was the mayor of Costilla for a while I remember the faces several people who worked there but can't remember there names. I went starting in 95 and went at least once a year until it closed.

[@gladystorres3660]

@ We’ve never had a mayor in this area because we’re not a municipality. Can you remember if Levi’s last name was Santistevan?

[@ateamNM]

Skied it, loved it. Sad to see the demise.

[@mr_tantrum5051]

This video brought back some fond college memories. A friend and I spent spring break at Ski Rio in 1987. From Oklahoma it was a perfect location as it was a much shorter drive than going to the Colorado resorts and at the time more affordable than the better-known NM resorts. I also remember staying in accommodations at the base of the lift which was pretty awesome as you could ski down the mountain and nearly to the entrance of the lodge. I certainly remember it being off the beaten path with nothing else in the area, but this was perfect for two broke college kids. We skied hard all day, came in to warm up and eat dinner, slept, and woke up the next day to do it all over again.

[@dcool2818]

Have skied most of my life. Lived in CO for 5 years… one of them in Breck. To this day, the best powder day I ever had was at Ski Rio, on a high school ski trip in 1989. Followed the patrol up. Made first tracks… and nobody else showed up for hours. What a day.

[@bmkeenan1848]

My stepdad was one of the original owners. We had our family reunion there after it had closed. It was beautiful. He died in 2017. Watching this brings me so much joy knowing how glad he would be to see how you all captured the beauty and magic of Rio. Thank you for this!

[@jamesdunn2214]

I was the ski school director at Ski Rio in 1986/1987. It was known as Rio Costilla back then. A major issue not mentioned in this video was there were a couple of crooked developers involved that aided in its downfall.

[@caseykoenig9414]

This is such a cool idea for a series! I've always been curious about abandoned ski resorts and what they were like in the day. There's a bunch of little ones out here in upstate NY. Great editing Nikolai

[@lazercatzz]

I didn't realize Nikolai was doing edits for Black Crows too! Now I know why I enjoyed it so much...

[@ViperFox_]

This is the coolest series ever!!!! Coming from a person that spent his whole life traveling from Denver to Albuquerque and always looking out the windows wondering why those beautiful mountains arent skied!!

[@thecast9175]

They are! Just look at all the mountains in the enchanted circle! Taos has some of the best skiing around as does Angel Fire, Red River, Sipapu, Santa Fe and so much more! NM is a great place to ski!

[@francescotortorici292]

I ran the cross country ski program at Ski Rio from its inception, also ski instructed. It was a great area with wonderful snow. I also managed the installation of utilities, built the hotel,, etc for one of the contractors. This video puts a smile on my face.

[@noellemiller7481]

Ski Rio was a fun, affordable place to take our family of 5 skiing. To entertain us at night, we played board games & cards together. The year the cousins came was especially fun! So many memories!!

[@markromero2740]

I was a kid in 96 97 when my mother worked at ski rio and stayed at the silver tree condo's I've been in love with snowboarding ever since even though I skied first , first time I saw snowboarding was there, and today I am a lift attendent in Colorado, great childhood memories thanks Mom and Dad

[@joshdenison9455]

I learned to snowboard here in the late 90's. It was a great little ski area. My friends and I had a blast on weekend trips from Texas.

[@greysonpowell8304]

Yes I too have good and bad memories of Rio. Doing snowmobile laps on the closed years. Staying with friends in a cabin half way up the mountain. Enjoying the quiet. The powder. The feeling of being the only one on the mountain. The other side was I had gone there when it first reopened with two good buddies. One to learn telemark skies, the other to learn to ski. And I was snowboarding. First run to the upper chair ended in me with a broken back and a long recovery. The board was more than likely one of the ones in the shop. And the patrol shack was all to familiar. Fast forward many years. And I still ski and backcountry tour. But ski Rio will always remind me to respect the mountain. Thank you for the great short. J

[@Culture_Conservationist]

I miss Ski Rio. I was an instructor there for the last couple seasons and my dad is actually the realtor who sold the ski area to it's current owner. Wish they'd turn it back into a resort.

[@heymanmotorsports49]

My love for skiing is because of this place. Went for many many years as a kid. Learned to ski there Rio Costilla/Ski Rio & Red River will forever hold a very special place in my heart. So sad to see what happened to it. I truly believe it would prosper today. Thanks yall so very much for making this.

[@mrsir1872]

brought tears to my eyes seeing those slope being skied on once again like theyre supposed to be

[@ryanlsorrell1983]

I learned to ski and snowboard here in the mid to late 90's. It was such a great place.

[@whattf3618]

Cat skiing/touring there has been on the bucket list for years!

[@CharlesNelson303]

This was awesome! I was a Jr. Ski Patrol at Rio in the late 90s after I quit racing at Taos and started snowboarding. It was a really cozy place to just get out without crowds but next to no amenities. Blast from the past with a fantastic edit, thanks for jogging the memories!

[@rwbsocal8371]

As a former patroller at Ski Rio, loved the place. I am impressed by your video, well done. Looking forward to seeing your next set.

[@RyandeMilliano]

Wonderful message,, thank you to all the storytellers who worked on this. It definitely has the feel of a Nikolai edit, wasn't surprised to see his name on the credits and motivates me to improve my video skills. Cheers!

[@jgoodygoods512]

Right when I saw “Chapter 1: Ski Rio” I just shouted HOLY CRAP - SKI RIOOOOO!!! The timing of this nostalgia mini doc before ski season 2020 was just what we needed. Incredible video and editing.

[@rollingedges9469]

Ok youtube! Now the algorithm's are getting it right! 🤙Hopfully there are some colorado spot's in the future!

[@BestlifeandBeyondofficial]

Lived nearby in Questa and Red River in the mid 90s and was part of a very small contingent of local New Mexico snowboarders at the time. Just about every snowboarder from Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Angel Fire, and Red River pretty much knew eachother back then cuz the sport was still small in New Mex then. I literally had to beg to convince management to let me build the first snowboard park at Red River. Now ironically they have multiple parks. We really loved going to Rio for day trips as we worked and rode daily at Red River long before Taos allowed snowboarding. So consequently Rio was a welcomed alternative for us as they really catered to snowboarders when others didnt. Really Goodtimes. Its So bizarre to see it so ghost-towny. Really great video as ive always wondered what happened to Rio after hearing about its closure.

[@CharlesNelson303]

Learned to Snowboard at Rio myself back then. Great to see it immortalized in video.

[@atomicking5057]

The NM Snowboarding community is still tight for how spread out we all are. It's as if everyone is separated by just a few degrees from friendships. Red River has had some of the best parks in the state for while too. It's awesome to hear your part in that history 🤘

[@billherbert4961]

@@atomicking5057 Spread out! Yeah. I miss my NM peeps hard. But Covid Free NZ works for me. And our Mt Ruapehu still gets snowpack...coastal snow though, which isn't ideal.

[@billherbert4961]

I bet you and I have had turns then. Angel Fire was my work base for a few years. Red River was sometimes my day off. Or my home mtn Santa Fe. Or Pajarito. When I worked Ski Free-O it was always Wolf Creek of course. No reason to head south with the Creek's pow closer and north.

[@oychoppa]

I traveled to Ski Rio two years in a row. What a great mountain it is! I really wish it would have been able to turn a profit. Out of all of the ski areas I've been too, that mountain is my favorite. It was a great time if you just wanted to ski leisurely down the slopes.

[@riveringmovie5046]

This just popped up on my feed so I took a look. What a wonderful short film! This is how to make films: no rapid edits, no flash frames, with just subtle music or natural sound. Let the footage and the content tell the story. I am really looking forward to the next episode.

[@connordavis6149]

The content the ski community deserves! Hell ya!

[@ggolsong]

Eerily beautiful and sad all in one film. Excellent work Black Crows and the team who worked on this. Bravo.

[@chriswithers5282]

'Edited by Nikolai Schirmer' - that's why it's such a sick edit! Great work as always.

[@Tanner731]

THATS MY BACKYARD!!! never thought id see a ski movie made in NM!

[@Theninjaonthemountains]

do you know if anybody can go and ski in there?

[@GOLH]

Great storytelling! Just like we say, Backcountry skiing is all about the journey! Prochain épisode... à suivre!

[@n1kkou_]

I was just searching for reviews on my daemon skis and got to this video. Please, keep going with this series! While this is beautifully done, it's so sad to see such a beautiful place "left behind". And I always loved aspen trees eyes... haha

[@freework24]

The cinematography is so phenomenal and thats how i know im getting old.

[@jonathanpatzke6627]

Is Nikolai Schirmir just the best editor skiier combo ever or what?!

[@dwnshft]

Gorgeous film; wonderfully produced, shot and edited. Watched the second installment and then found the beginning of the series here. Excited to watch the rest!

[@quartzslab]

I used to love going to Ski Rio when it was still open. It was very uncrowded, sometimes you could ski from the top to the bottom and not see one other person. It had a (perhaps somewhat warranted) reputation for being an "easy area." Thus, a lot of people would go to more difficult areas like Taos, so that they could make it appear that they were expert skiers, even although many of them really couldn't ski the more difficult trails at Taos. Ski Rio also suffered from being too long a drive for day skiers, and not big enough to draw people wanting to stay more than one day.

[@willyter2165]

Blacks Crow merci pour ce film magnifique des lieux magnifique en espérant qu'elle revive cette station mais différemment dans un style freeride comme à la grave vue c'est beau sommet. ❤❤

[@reinkiewel7465]

Always enjoi a Nikolai edit! The aspens, sunshine, and emptiness are quite intriguing, keep them coming

[@aledh91]

Beautiful documentary! I never imagined you can ski in New Mexico, looks like the nature got a second chance and real skier can enjoy a natural terrain into savage lands

[@ericramirez6043]

love this. growing up in a ski town, this is heart-breaking. But I revel with those who want to keep it alive, have it reborn. I think that for those who can ascend on skins, this place is a bucket-list filler. It's on my list now. probably won't get there anytime soon. Maybe it will open again during that time.

[@algrande38]

I had a TON of fun at fortress in 80's and 90's. My all time favourite mountain by a mile!

[@johnhealey4148]

Was fortunate enough to ski this mountain when the caretaker was still there. He was a Vietnam Vet and he allowed myself and another buddy to stay in one of the homes, while he'd take us up in the KAT and we'd ski/board down. A full week of record dumps, snowmobiling, and rippin' the shit out of Ski Rio! It was deep..

[@alfredreisenberger2298]

Absolutely fantastic! What a wonderful unspoiled place to ski!!!!

[@asclepias]

this is beautiful. thanks for making this. more ghost resorts! more New Mexico!

[@johnbainbridge9034]

The problem is you had to drive past Taos and even Red River if coming up from Albuquerque or Santa Fe. No one wanted to drive an extra hour to get there when you could just go to Taos or even Red River.

[@JasonKavetis]

It wasn't worth it to have a less crowded mountain?

[@snowyman42]

I love the documenting of snow sports like this. It’s so dope please keep this coming!

[@ItIsJustKetchup]

I have been looking for videos about this very topic for a long time. So cool!

[@robc.8269]

I skied there early on in the mid 80's when I was a child. My memory was that there wasn't enough snow.

[@Connor_Herman]

Love it! The cinematography and sound design were on point and I really appreciated les sous-titres en français.

[@jmc8810]

You should call your work KENOPSIA. Which is basically a feeling of absence. It's the name given to that eerie, forlorn atmosphere of a place that’s usually bustling with people but is now abandoned and quiet-a school hallway in the evening, an unlit office on a weekend, vacant fairgrounds-an emotional afterimage that makes it seem not just empty but hyper-empty, with a total population in the negative.

[@Soldierblue73]

This is a great production, well done to Black Crows. As mentioned in the video, the current owners want it to go back to its natural state and to share the natural beauty of this area with people...all for the low cost of $100,000 per week. *You read that correctly, $100K per week*. I wish private equity firms would get their grubby fingers out of the mountains and ski towns, this was a great chance to legitimately open up a forgotten area to be appreciated by all and not just a private spot for the mega rich. I understand capitalism and free-market opportunity but it would have been nice to see this area adopted and maintained by a ski club similar to the Broken River ski area in New Zealand. Broken River is run and maintained by a ski club, anyone can go there and it's quite popular but it has that authentic ski feel of what the sport was like before money was a driving force. Maybe I'm just bitching because I don't have $100K to spend for a week on the snow in New Mexico.

[@carsonhoward2884]

Glad to see Charlie is still here

[@TeneTsTaroT]

I drove right up to the gate before because I wanted to check it out. Whole road was locked down back then. I had just skid Taos for a few days, very amazing place in America

[@gijssavelkouls7184]

That last drone shot😍😍

[@deweymonstersoutdooradventures]

I love this idea for a ski series!

[@ablinkontime9890]

"Natural parts of the world that haven't been spoiled yet" Good quote about a place that has been shut down for 20 years

[@robertrooks1309]

Ski Rio is closed to visitors looking for a backcountry experience. Stopped in with a buddy to do a little backcountry but the gate is closed with many no trespassing signs and camera surveillance.

[@powdertrax9742]

Terrain looked killer

[@princevt19]

Phenomenal production/editing

[@zacbass1636]

Dude those old Burton and Sims boards! Pure nostalgia is just like where I grew up riding

[@rickh590]

I skied there more times than I can count in the 80's. We would drive all night from Huntsville,Tx and skied all day for 4 days and drive back home. January and February were the best months. We did that as many as 3 times every year. Hey only 856 miles one way! Ski Rio was the best. Sadly, at times there were no crowds, it was like having your own ski area but that is not a sustainable business model.

[@WarrenWernick]

Wow. What a treat. Bravo

[@iansnipes4722]

Awesome cinematography

[@x-jamms3135]

Oh I think i'm gonna enjoy that series! What a good idea, thanks for that! I'm French and I'm kinda curious about that trailer of the next episode!

[@eliswann1922]

I have a love of snowboarding and snow and just the mountains in general also conservation ide love to see all these ghost resorts open again one day or just visit them maybe help resort them

[@lifewithchris-9964]

I still ski in Solomon downhill boots, exactly like the ones shown at 4:40 . :p haha So much easier to enter than the new models. We got them at a rental selloff at Nakiska ski area about 20 years ago.

[@jamescripps4365]

This was awesome. Thank you

[@brantday8003]

In March of 96, I was skiing at Ski Rio and had a bad accident. Ended up being taken to Questa then Taos for emergency surgery. The ski patrol at Rio were super professional and acted quickly. I’m sad I never got a chance to go back.

[@robbaym]

Awesome footage brother!!

[@mrbeans2425]

ive been dying to take a trip like this! and there are abandoned mountains ALL OVER. it always astonishes me when things get abandoned and its like everyone just up and left at the same time.... its cools, makes the place look like its trapped inside a little bubble!

[@cvn6555]

Nice video. Sad to see places close but snow is unpredictable. Black Crows skis are not. Got the Navus last season and it elevated my skiing far above what I thought I could ever do. Thank you.

[@thangquocnguyenmdp]

2:21....Homes built in the snowy territories, all doors must be open from the inside. This’s preventing for the occupants who can’t open their doors to escape Incase of fire.

[@richarddzisiewski7197]

Beautifully shot with a great but sad story. Would love to ski these abandoned areas myself...!

[@homi0024]

Beautiful Drone Shoots! Great Clip, thanks.

[@happylimi8177]

This is exactly like “The Road West Traveled” it’s a documentary about abandoned ski resorts! It’s nice having another skiing documentary about Resorts! Check them out

[@walkingmountain22]

I was the chef there briefly in 1995-96. The ownership took money out illegally and threatened the bookkeeper when it was pointed out. It was destined to fail.

[@b.bomchanneltv8641]

Nơi nào bình yên công việc thuận lợi thì ở thôi Lộc huynh ơi. Miễn là không quên cội nguồn gốc rễ là được. Chúc gia đình a gặp nhiều may mắn- bình an và hạnh phúc!!!!

[@michaelperez81583]

Those actually were good skis, I used to race GS on the K2 Fours when I was younger. This is a series I’m interested in for sure

[@agm6095]

Looks like a nice ski area. Sometimes if a ski area is far from cities, they don't have enough local skiers to draw from and eventually they don't have enough revenue to stay in business. I hope this area can be revitalized.

[@AndreAdda97]

Great video and a very good idea! Here in italy there are a bounch of semi-abandoned/forgotten ski resort who got a huge potential for back country and enviroment friendly skiing! And with the closures due to the Corona crisis, when times will become better, it will be very helpful too having a video series like this one...

[@blackcrowsskis2006]

happy to hear what ski resorts in Italy you are thinking of, we might consider one in this country for a next chapter. Tell us here!

[@danieleflorean7064]

@@blackcrowsskis2006 I'm a bit late to the party but in my home region (Lombardy) many of the slopes and skilifts built for the 80s boom are closed now, no much money and lack of snow, with low elevations (1500-1800 m) and warmer winters. All the pre-alps around Lake Como for example, lots of 1-2 slopes "plants" as we call them, are closed and rusty... on the top of my head Artavaggio, Cainallo come to mind, for example. But I've been missing for a while, I'm sure other peoplewould know more

[@diaph8183]

Architecture et ski ! Jolie vidéo.

[@simonmader6987]

stunning!

[@traderbarry9139]

what a place to go touring with your friends

[@jonahwisen9524]

Please do more parts!

[@owen_som]

This video was awesome! Please continue this series!

[@ImFromBillinois]

Amazing idea for a series. Please keep doing these

[@Jskis]

Very dope. Great work!

[@jakedavis3458]

this is majestic

[@nickchambers8280]

Awesome Awesome video, unrealll

[@mrsmartypants_1]

There’s an amazing film of Japanese ghost ski resorts. Some nearly 100 years old. Lack of snow wasn’t the issue with 700+ inches a year. It’s lack of young skiers/riders. Number of young folks skiing is plummeting.

[@Quentin_Moreillon]

Wonderful video and great idea ! You should make one about the Super Saint Bernard In the Val d'Entremont, in Switzerland ;)

[@edwardlobb931]

An unfortunate endeavor. When they first started talking to banks it was obvious that it would never make it. A resort too far is not a resort, it's a piece of work. However, two locals told us Big Foot is lurking up there. We went with them up an old logging road they had been working, when they kept hearing very loud screeching over a two week period. When they returned, after a few days they were stunned by what we saw. Dead trees were broken and scattered like jack straws, even high up in standing trees all along, at crazy angles, total chaos. Could not have been caused by winds. They said it took three days to cur through, and both are logging pros.

[@jakescookingchannel1657]

This was beautiful...

[@MakoXL]

Great video!

[@MacMcCabe2456]

Great info. I hope that someone or a group of investors will reopen it. The great thing is, most everything is there still. Just needs a little tweaking to start up. We need it.....

[@Dirty830Outdoors]

When’s chapter two coming out. This is great. Love shorts like this!

[@blackcrowsskis2006]

we are on it, stay tuned.

[@ChrisG1392]

I think we should invest big money into these abandoned resorts and run them as nationally owned public parks. They have legitimate historical value and people would visit them if they were operational. Take 50 resorts and invest 100M at each resort and we could have a next level world class winter sports industry. They don't even need to be profitable because they wouldn't cost that much to maintain on a national budget scale. Letting Vail take over the ski industry is not conducive to long term viability. If Vail goes down they all will.

[@johnlaine6259]

A poachers dream!🤠

[@laeljon]

Skied there back in the day, wondered if one could go there skin and ski...? For awhile they offered track skiing, when they took the lift out...