Nearly three months after the Eldora Ski Mountain went up for sale, the nearby town of Nederland may be putting its name in the hat as a potential owner.

Eldora has operated in unincorporated Boulder County, roughly 20 miles west of Boulder, since 1962. The resort boasts 680 acres of terrain for skiers, boarders and riders and is a shorter drive from town than many of the famous ski areas along the Interstate 70 corridor.

While no agreements or contracts have been made, Nederland officials say acquiring Eldora could help them expand local recreation and foster economic growth. If Nederland buys the ski area, the town could use the mountain area for concerts, summer events and other types of gatherings. The move could also attract hospitality and outdoor recreation businesses to the area while generating revenue for the town.

“We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead, and we recognize there is a lot to work through. We know we still have a lot of information to gather and review. We know we need to balance our current needs with the needs of our future. However, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Eldora represents a natural and cultural icon in our backyard, and if there is anyone who should take it under their care and nurture it, it’s us, who see ourselves as a town inside a park,” the Nederland Board of Trustees wrote on the town website.

The website lists a number of other ways town officials believe owning Eldora could benefit the community. Nederland could build workforce housing development into an acquisition deal with POWDR, the current owner of Eldora. The town could potentially also extend government employee benefits to people working at the ski resort.

In addition, having local control of Eldora would let Nederland officials ensure the ski area is environmentally sustainable, affordable and accessible to residents, the website states. The town would look into ways to operate the resort and make snow using more renewable energy sources as a way to combat climate change.

“Nederland’s ownership of Eldora Ski Mountain can differentiate it from the corporate ski areas by making Eldora a locally owned, community-centric ‘locals’ mountain that serves its broader community while welcoming visitors,” the website reads.

If the acquisition moves forward, Eldora would not be part of the town’s jurisdiction, so Nederland could not collect sales tax from it unless it annexed the Eldora property into town limits. The town would also hire a private company to manage resort operations.

It is not clear how much money POWDR is asking for the resort, but according to the town website, officials expect the cost to be around $100 to $200 million, based on figures from the sales of other mountains. The town would seek to finance an Eldora acquisition through various means, including grants, crowdfunding, sponsorships, donations and public-private partnerships.Acquiring the ski area would also not be without risks for Nederland. The town could lose money if the resort is not profitable, and officials plan to assess Eldora’s financial health before making any offer to buy it. There could also be legal and operational liabilities associated with running the ski area.

Stacey Hutchinson, vice president of communications and government affairs for POWDR, said in an email the company has no public updates to share regarding the purchase process or possible buyers for Eldora, but JP Morgan Chase Bank is handling the sale.

A spokesperson for Nederland could not immediately be reached for comment.

Currently, the town is assembling a coalition of investors and supporters interested in an acquisition deal. Potential investors are asked to contact Town Administrator Jon Cain at townadmin@nederlandco.org.

Community members are also invited to share feedback on the possible acquisition at the town Board of Trustees meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Attendees can go to the meeting in-person the Nederland Community Center, 750 Colo. 72, or watch online. More information and a virtual meeting link can be found at townofnederland.colorado.gov/board-of-trustees. Comments and questions can also be emailed to bot@nederlandco.org.

POWDR announced the ski area was up for sale in late August. The company owns numerous ski resorts, including Copper Mountain and Snowbird, Utah. In addition to Eldora, POWDR announced plans to sell the Killington Resort in Vermont, the SilverStar Mountain Resort in British Columbia and Mount Bachelor in Oregon.

In an emailed statement, Eldora President and General Manager Brent Tregaskis said the company decided to sell the resorts to “balance its ski business with new ventures in the National Parks sector and with its Woodward action-sports brand, in alignment with its founder’s and stakeholders’ goals.” POWDR acquired Eldora in 2016.

Tregaskis wrote that while the news might stir feelings of uncertainty, “there is no cause for alarm” and Eldora would open for business as usual this winter. The ski area opened for the season on Nov. 7.