Quarter Horse to Purgatory Bicycle Tour
The Iron Horse Bicycle Race/Tour and Durango Mountain Resort will offer, starting in May 2009, a new bicycle tour addition to the schedule of bicycle events held annually Memorial Day weekend in Durango, Colorado. The Quarter Horse to Purgatory ride will begin in downtown Durango and conclude in the Purgatory alpine village main plaza next to the new Purgatory Lodge. The distance of approximately 25 miles includes a vertical rise of approximately 2,300 feet. Although shorter than the ride to Silverton, the Quarter Horse features its own “heart break hill” up the last half mile entrance road to the ski resort plaza. The Iron Horse festivities support Mercy Hospital as a primary beneficiary.
The Quarter Horse ride will start at the blast of the train whistle at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 23 following the same route out of town as that of the famed Iron Horse Durango to Silverton race and tour. The fee for the Quarter Horse ride will be $50 and finishers will receive awards that include a special Quarter Horse to Purgatory t-shirt. Durango Mountain Resort will sponsor a plaza welcome for cyclists as they complete their journey from Durango The Iron Horse will announce its 2009 schedule, including the Quarter Horse on Monday, December 1 via e-mail.DMR and the Iron Horse will issue a joint announcement about the new ride prior to that date.
Durango Mountain Resort is offering special Iron Horse/Quarter Horse weekend lodging pricing as follows:
- King & Studio units: $63 per night
- Deluxe Studio: $71 per night
- 1 Bedroom: $ 95 per night
- 2 Bedroom: $143 per night
Please call 800-525-0892 for more information and to make reservations.
Durango Mountain Resort is also offering a special Friday night, May 22 Pre-race Feast at the new Purgy's Restaurant at Purgatory Mountain. A “carbo load” feast of pasta, salad and dessert will be offered for only $18.
The Iron Horse also plans to move the road closure on Highway 550 closer to the Resort entrance so that Quarter Horse cyclists will not encounter traffic issues as they turn left into Durango Mountain Resort.
