In August, we presented 29 days of Telluride trivia, and if you follow us on social media, you’ve probably learned some interesting tidbits about this town’s storied history and incredible ski mountain. Each day that we presented a piece of trivia, we also invited you to enter to win a ski trip to see Telluride’s mountain magic for yourself.

Congratulations to Carole R. of Denver, Colo.!  Carole was randomly drawn to receive a five-night stay at the Inn at Lost Creek plus four days of skiing for two people.

In case you missed anything, here’s a roundup of Telluride facts and stats we shared throughout the month.

29 pieces of Telluride trivia

  1. Q: Which prestigious award has Telluride won for the last three ski seasons?
    A: America’s Best Ski Resort in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards from 2012 – 2014.
  2. Q: Where did Telluride get its name?
    A: There are two theories about where Telluride got its name: from the mineral tellurium, a non-metallic element associated with gold deposits (and ironically not found in Telluride) and for the famous send-off given to fortune seekers headed to the southern San Juan Mountains, “To hell you ride!”
  3. Telluride has two lodging centers–town and Mountain Village–which are linked by a free gondola, the only public transportation of its kind in the United States.
  4. Q: How much money did Butch Cassidy make out with when he robbed his first bank in Telluride in 1889?
    A: $24,580
  5. Did you know that Telluride’s town shuttle, called the Galloping Goose, is free for humans and their canine companions? Meet one of the drivers:
  6. Telluride has one of the top ten longest vertical drops North America with 4,425 vertical feet of skiing and 3,845 vertical feet of lift-served terrain.
  7. In 1972, five lifts were constructed, and the Telluride Ski Resort officially opened on Dec. 22. For two years before the lifts went in, skiers accessed the slopes on snowcats for $12.50 a day, including a sack lunch.
  8. Telluride has three terrain parks, which served as the early training grounds for Olympic silver medalist Gus Kenworthy.
  9. Many commercials and movies have been filmed in Telluride, including Quentin Tarantino’s newest film, The Hateful Eight. The trailer was released in August and features stunning scenes of Telluride. Watch it here.
  10. Telluride has a literal “Stairway to Heaven.” Check out how the resort installed the metal staircase that skiers use to access the farthest Gold Hill chutes.
  11. Telluride is home to the highest elevation restaurant in Colorado: Alpino Vino. Read more about this charming restaurant in our “first timer’s guide to Telluride.
  12. Q: What’s the longest run on Telluride Ski Resort?
    A: Galloping Goose: 4.6 miles
  13. Telluride was once called “The City of Gold” thanks to an abundance of the precious metal discovered in Tomboy Mine in 1898.
  14. Can you tell which Telluride hotel this is? Hint: You’ll warm your toes here after a day on the slopes if you’ve won our Telluride trip giveaway.
  15. This piece of Telluride trivia  is more of a mental break. Sit back, relax and watch Telluride Helitrax ferry skiers to 200+ square miles of pristine powder fields.
  16. In addition to being called the “City of Gold,” Telluride was once called the “City of Lights” because it had the world’s first electric street lights thanks to the invention of the first alternating current (AC) power plant built here.
  17. Those mountains that turn blue on your ice-cold Coors Light? They really exist, and they’re in Telluride! The one in the middle is Wilson Peak. See more Telluride cameos here.
  18. Q: Which iconic 1980s ski movie was filmed at Telluride Ski Resort?
    A: Greg Stump’s The Blizzard of Aaahh’s
  19. Beginner skiers have access to the “Chondola” at Telluride Ski Resort, which is a combo chairlift-gondola. This lift is great for cold kids who need a quick warm up inside a gondola cab! Read more about Telluride’s beginner areas here.
  20. Telluride’s Bridal Veil Falls, which freezes in the winter, is Colorado’s tallest free-falling waterfall.
  21. Telluride’s population peaked near 5,000 people during the mining era. Today, the town’s population is about half that figure.
  22. Q: Which famous bump run at Telluride ski resort has a dramatic view into town and an appropriately dizzying name?
    A: Spiral Stairs
  23. Q: Can you name the two famous Westerns that premiered in 1969 were filmed in Telluride?
    A: True Grit and Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
  24. During Telluride’s mining days, land prices were about $1 per acre. Needless to say, the real estate market has picked up since then.
  25. Everyone knows Telluride shuns commercialism, but did you know that neon signs are actually prohibited in the land-use code?
  26. Q: Telluride has plenty of old-timey saloons, but can you name this one?
    A: The Saloon at Gorrono Ranch
  27. A Telluride Ski Resort lift ticket gets you a free, 2.5-hour mountain tour, a great way to get your ski legs on your first day on the slopes! Learn more here.
  28. Telluride’s free public transportation is green! The gondola connecting town and Mountain Village is wind-powered, and the buses run on biodiesel.
  29. Named after the family that built it, Gorrono Ranch was a sheep farm in the 1800s. Today, herds of skiers flock to this mid-mountain lodge to soak in the sun with views of Wilson Peak.

     


Now that you’re well versed in Telluride trivia, start planning your sojern to the San Juans. Shop Telluride deals or browse lodging options. When you’re ready, get expert advice from a Telluride Travel Expert by requesting a free quote or calling 800-610-8911.