It was a great idea. Buy a ski resort and bring new tourism into the community. The previous resort owners were not interested in having people stop in town, they wanted to keep them on the mountain to spend all their money on the mountain. Locals often complained about the traffic because many businesses didn’t feel they got business from the skiers. So a new plan was made and after half a dozen years of meetings, the deal came together and, “congratulations, you own a ski resort.”

In anticipation of the resort purchase the Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) met with the Nederland Downtown Development District (NDDA), the City of Boulder and Boulder County, to solidify a traffic plan. Many ideas were discussed, studies were completed, public meetings were held, advertisements were put out and online surveys were collected and analyzed. 

At first, a second lane was deliberated on, but the reality is there is no space to put in another lane through downtown along the existing highway. The next idea was to reroute traffic through Old Town, by simply removing 40 houses from the Hop Inn up to the alley that leads to the school road. Of course, that would create an issue with affordable housing in town, so it was quickly turned down. A third alternative was to route traffic through Big Springs after bringing it up below the dam. The town determined the route was too steep for city folks that can barely drive on a flat road.

Finally, Joe Nimby, a fifty-seven year local, came up with a different plan that was quickly grasped onto. “Why not build a skybridge,” he said? “We can call it the Sky High Bridge, with a nod back to the golden days of Nederland’s hippy culture.”

He further advised, “The money can be sourced through Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), with a preservation grant to keep downtown Nederland unique, accessible, and most of all keep traffic from clogging up the parking lots.”

“Fantastic idea,” said Mayor Fred. “Let’s make it so.” 

The work took four years to complete, but the new Sky High Bridge is open for traffic. At the top of Boulder Canyon, take a slight right onto the onramp. You’ll zip right over the top of town, straight up to Eldora. There, you’ll be able to enjoy the new indoor ski resort and outdoor bike park. Or play some tennis on the new tennis courts. You can get in a game of pickleball on the new pickleball courts. Or simply take a leisurely swim in the indoor swimming pool at the west Boulder Rec Center. There is also a roller coaster and full amusement park, a full day of fun for the whole family. The resort also boasts 11 new restaurants, a brewery, distillery and winery. 

As you leave the mountain, hop on the eastbound lane and skip right back over the top of town. No need to stop through town, you’ll pop right back over Barker Reservoir and catch Boulder Canyon back down the hill.