Cuchara Foundation, Inc.

Background Statement

The Cuchara Foundation was founded in 2013 with the purpose of enhancing our community. The first major event it sponsored was the successful Cuchara Country Music Fest, which went for four years before outgrowing the venue and morphing into a county-wide festival.

In 2017, the Cuchara Foundation raised the money so Huerfano County could purchase the bottom 50 acres of the old ski area, the Cuchara Mountain Resort, which had closed in 2000.

Through grant-writing and donations, the Cuchara Foundation has improved the Parker-Fitzgerald Cuchara Mountain Park with vault toilets, a disc golf course, a mini golf course, a bike pump track for kids, benches, natural playground equipment, a bat house, an outdoor pavilion, and signage.

Now the Foundation is concentrating its efforts on creating a Cuchara Welcome Center of history, education, and information. Monies raised will go toward purchasing a kiosk, two iPads, and money to archive digital photos, videos, and artifacts unique to the Cuchara Valley.

The Cuchara Foundation has also begun sponsoring Dark Skies programming, in partnership with San Luis Valley Great Outdoors (SLVGO!) that include star parties and moonlight snowshoe hikes. We hope to build a dark sky viewing platform and provide telescopes to serve as a local observatory.

Cuchara Mountain Park is a major draw for the area, which helps generate revenue for local businesses and improves the lives of Cuchara Valley residents. Your donation to the CF will have ripple effects for years to come.