There are two different hubs for facilities at Purgatory Resort. The Columbine Base Area is at the bottom of the resort where the beginner slopes are located along with a few facilities such as lift ticket sales and ski school. Further up the mountain is the central gathering place in the Purgatory Village pedestrian plaza, with most of the amenities located here.
The Purgatory Ski Resort facilities are well developed and modern, however the service itself is a little on the amateurish side with lots of young workers who don’t quite keep their eye on the ball.
Purgatory Ski Rentals
Purgatory Ski Rental in the Village Center Building offers a range of ski and board rental packages for adults and children. Prices are very good.
Also in the Purgatory Village is The Board Room which is dedicated to snowboards.
Cliffside and Bike Rental (46825 Highway 550 Durango) also have cheap rental packages. Equipment rentals also include demo skis, snowboards, and snowshoes. The shop is located next to the Needles Country Store opposite the Olde Schoolhouse Café, 2.5 miles south of Durango Mountain Resort.
Child Care
At Purgatory Ski Resort the Den in the Village Plaza offers indoor child care for ages 2 months up to 4 years in a half day or full day format. The costs are very reasonable in comparison to other Colorado and Utah ski resorts.
Purgatory Ski School and Snowboard Lessons
Purgatory Resort provides standard group ski and snowboard lessons for adults. Prices are very inexpensive in comparison to other Colorado and Utah ski resort costs. Private lessons are also relatively cheap. Purgatory also has a well developed adaptive sports program.
Kids ski school is also very economical. The kids ski school for the wee ones operates from the area out the front of the ski and board rental. Parents have a great viewing spot on the deck outside Hoody’s.
Durango Ski Rentals
There are various ski and snowboard shops in the town of Durango on Main Ave and Camino del Rio, with very competitive prices for equipment rentals. Shops include: the
Ski Barn (3533 Main Ave) with a large range of kids and adults equipment; and
2nd Avenue Sports.
Eating On Mountain
There are several options for daytime dining in the Purgatory Village.
Purgy’s in the Purgatory Lodge is good for a quick brekkie. Otherwise it’s a full service restaurant with a range of fare.
The Village Market is a cute little spot for breakfast or lunch.
If you don’t want to return to the main base area, there are a few dining options on-mountain. Just below the top of lifts 1 and 2 is the Powderhouse where you can buy hotdogs and pizzas, or sneak upstairs for a beer at the Pitchfork Pub and watch the action in the terrain park.
On the backside of the mountain is Dante’s just off lift 5 which has a food court with an array of choices. The bar upstairs features really spectacular views.
Brown-baggers can sit out the front of Purgy’s on a deck chair and watch the action coming down the mountain, or there are picnic tables dotted around key spots on the backside.