New Water Source Structures & Fundraising Updates

December 2024 – This winter, you might notice some large concrete structures beside the trail from Dick’s Chalet to the Powder House. These are the concrete casts for our new water source!

As part of the Our Water Our Future project, we’ve obtained permits from the Army Corps of Engineers to excavate a new wet well at the confluence of the Uncompahgre and Canyon Creek.

With the funds raised to date, we were able to build seven concrete casts, weighing in at 13,500’ each, that will be installed downstream of the ice park when water levels allow in 2025.

We are working to raise the remaining $250k needed to see this project through to installation and ultimately, to connect this new water source to the existing plumbing throughout the park.

We know that you, the climbing community, give a LOT to make the Ouray Ice Park run each and every season. Between membership, donations, and standard operations, it takes a village to make the ice park transform into a winter climbing wonderland each year. Our first priority at this time of year is always *MEMBERSHIP* as membership fees quite literally allow our park to operate and our staff to get paid each season.

Our water project is more of an ongoing cause — you might not know that the Ouray Ice Park is a 100% donation-based organization. Despite being a city park, we don’t have significant recurring funding to support operating costs each year. We rely on your membership and donations to make this place a reality. So, whether you have the means to support or water project or not, we just want to say that we appreciate each of our members, our climbers, and our community partners. We couldn’t do it without you!