As snowflakes drift across Colorado’s slopes this February, I’m reminded of the groundbreaking achievements of Black skiers who helped shape our state’s winter recreation culture. While many know about Colorado’s ski history, fewer are familiar with Lincoln Hills, a remarkable piece of Black history nestled in the Rocky Mountains that opened in 1922. Today, as I watched diverse groups of skiers and snowboarders descend Copper Mountain’s runs, I couldn’t help but reflect on how far we’ve come – and how far we still have to go.
In the 1920s, when racial segregation limited access to outdoor recreation, Lincoln Hills stood as a beacon of hope. Located near present-day Pinecliffe, about 40 miles west of Denver, it was one of the only Black-owned mountain resorts in the United States. The resort offered African Americans a rare opportunity to experience the Colorado mountains during an era when most recreational facilities were closed to them.
The story of Lincoln Hills isn’t just about skiing – it’s about creating access to outdoor winter recreation for all. Winks Lodge, a centerpiece of Lincoln Hills, hosted luminaries like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Zora Neale Hurston. Meanwhile, Camp Nizhoni provided outdoor experiences for Black girls through the YWCA, making it one of the first programs of its kind in the country.
Fast forward to 1946, when Ben Finley and Art Clay founded the National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS) at a time when many ski resorts were still segregated. Their vision wasn’t just about getting more Black Americans on the slopes – it was about creating a community and support system for African American winter sports enthusiasts. Today, the NBS continues to promote diversity in winter sports and supports athletes of color in competitive skiing and snowboarding.
These pioneers’ efforts laid the groundwork for organizations like my former nonprofit, which focused on making outdoor recreation more accessible to underserved communities. Their story reminds us that creating change often starts with creating space – both physical and social – for people to experience the transformative power of outdoor recreation.
Walking through the snow-covered remains of Lincoln Hills today (which you can visit via snowshoe tours organized by local historical societies), you can still feel the echo of laughter and joy that once filled these grounds. The resort’s legacy lives on in programs like the National Brotherhood of Skiers’ Olympic Scholarship Fund and various initiatives working to make winter sports more inclusive.
The timing of this history feels particularly poignant in February. As we celebrate Black History Month, Colorado’s slopes are at their peak winter conditions. Modern ski resorts across the state are now implementing diversity initiatives, with many partnering with organizations like Winter Feels Good and Share Winter Foundation to provide accessible entry points to winter sports for underrepresented communities.
Yet challenges remain. The cost of equipment, lift tickets, and transportation still creates barriers for many potential winter sports enthusiasts. As someone who has worked in outdoor education, I’ve seen firsthand how these barriers particularly impact communities of color and low-income families – the very communities Lincoln Hills originally served.
Looking ahead, we must ask ourselves: How can we honor the legacy of Lincoln Hills and the early Black ski pioneers? How can we ensure that Colorado’s winter recreation spaces are truly accessible to all? The answers might lie in combining the community-building approach of Lincoln Hills with modern innovations in equipment sharing, transportation solutions, and inclusive programming.
