Telluride Museum & Peaks host "Ski Into History" with Stevens

25 Dec Telluride Museum & Peaks host "Ski Into History" with Stevens

[click “Play” to listen to Susan’s conversation with Johnnie Stevens]

The Telluride Historical Museum is anything but a sleepy repository of dusty old memories. Quite the contrary: at the Telluride Historical Museum, “history” is an active verb. Case in point: the Museum’s latest new program, “Ski Into History,” featuring life-long Telluride local and Colorado Hall of Famer, Johnnie Stevens.

To put on this unique event –  every Monday throughout the winter season 2011, starting December 27, 10 a.m.  – the Telluride Historical Museum worked diligently with The Peaks Resort & Spa. The Telluride Foundation and Telluride Ski & Golf Company also helped make “Ski Into History” a reality.

“Having worked with him at the Ski Area for most of my life, there is no one better to deliver the “Telluride” story than Johnnie Stevens,” said The Peaks’ director, marketing and real estate services, Mike Hess. “Johnnie and I came up with the idea last year, but it took the tenacity and focus of someone like Beth Roberts, the Museum’s assistant director, to wrangle us dreamers in and get the event up and running. Otherwise, Johnnie and I might still be sitting on bar stools telling tall tales.”

Johnnie Stevens, a Colorado native, was born on May 5, 1946. He lived in Ouray the first six years of his life until his father became mill superintendent of the Idarado Mine and the family moved over the hill to Telluride. Johnnie and the town kids first learned to ski on a small rope tow local miners had constructed. At that time, the Telluride ski resort as we know it was just a dream in the minds of a very few visionaries.

Johnnie worked directly with Senior Mahoney to build the ski area. Telluride opened for business December 1972 with just five lifts in operation. Over the years, Johnnie climbed the organizational ladder to become Chief Operating Officer. During his long tenure with the mountain, there is scarcely a position he did not hold: Ski Patrol Director, Mountain Manager, head of the Skier Services Operation, and Senior VP of Mountain Operations and Environmental Affairs.

Johnnie, not surprisingly, is a major history buff. He is also a high level amateur photographer.

Ski Into History is for intermediate skiers, families, locals and guests, anyone with a pass or valid ticket.To reserve your place, call Beth @ 970-728-3344, ext #2,

To learn more about the man and preview “Ski Into History,” click the “play” button and listen to Johnnie Stevens’ interview.