Chris will love the reporting in this Denver Post story today.
Telluride wants to chuck Chuck
Yes, the Denver Post is accurate, but I think it goes after Chuck (Telluride owner) a bit too personally & focuses on more recent issues, rather than looking at a 20-year neglectful ownership cycle.
However, the following is true—and stands out even more in a town with many colorful characters.
Horning’s behavior over the years, meanwhile, has become legendary in its own right. It appears that everyone in town has a Chuck Horning story: The time he was booed out of an upscale restaurant. The time he engaged in a fist fight with his son or traded blows with his chief executive. The time he carried a riding crop everywhere he went.
But Telluriders should consider casting the 'first stone' at their own personal behavior. It's a town of misfits from all walks of life. Quite a few friends had to retreat to the Caribbean/Central America to wait out the Statute of Limitations for drug trade via Mexico-SW USA in the 1980s.
Many of these stories are open secrets in Telluride but have never been publicized until now.
I try to document the insanity.
This is interesting to me:
Aside from his unique dealmaking tactics, Horning’s personal exploits around Telluride have long been fodder for the town’s active rumor mill.
A former Telski employee told The Post that they witnessed the ski operator bring prostitutes into the office. Horning did not respond to requests that he confirm or deny this. Greenspan said Horning used to drink hard alcohol during meetings. Then there were the publicly witnessed physical fights with his son, Chad, and at least one of his chief executives. Horning also did not respond to requests that he confirm or deny the fights.
Horning’s girlfriend, Parisa Golafshan, has twice been arrested by Mountain Village police on suspicion of domestic violence charges. In one 2018 incident, police found Horning with dried blood around his neck, a laceration on his head, a torn shirt and bruising around his left eye and temple, according to a police report. Horning told authorities that he and Golafshan had gotten into an argument and she struck him with an ornament.
Prosecutors dismissed the charges after Golafshan completed a diversion program, court records show. Golafshan did not respond to requests for comment, and Horning did not answer questions about the incidents.
WTH? So Chuck and his girlfriend are smacking the hell out of each other?!
So much drama. Horning and his girlfriend are in an abusive, likely co-dependent relationship.
Yes, Chuck Horning is not an advocate for women. But there are many women - that I have observed - more than happy at the Sheridan Bar on Main Street/Colorado Avenue - who like doing shots with Chuck with the shot glass nested in their cleavage.
Gossip aside:
Chuck Hornig does have some rightful grievances against the Town of Telluride and Mountain Village. They have converted every mid-priced hotel and condo into local housing. Next, they have heavily restricted Airbnb's. There is not enough of a lodging base to sustain a significant investment in the Telluride Ski Resort. Jackson has a core town that was summer-oriented towards National Parks - Telluride does not.
Telluride is still serviced by two 50+ year old, slow double chairs from town (one original, one repositioned), and an aging Gondola. Red River, NM, has a better infrastructure servicing its town/slopes.
After my tech career comes to an end, I would like to open a mid-priced lodging alternative in Telluride, so other generations can see the magic that is still there. I would consider applying for not-for-profit status, specifically 501 (c) status, which could potentially contribute to the Town of Telluride.
