Skyway Station summertime 2026 update
Its been a busy summer season finishing up all of the final touches on the building and we are almost done. The landscaping and Forest Service-mandated reclamation work for the land surrounding the building is done, with the help of a volunteer crew. Other work completed this summer includes:
•Cleaning up any construction debris that got buried in the snow
- Looking at how the drainage actually worked this past winter and reworking it to better suit how the snow fell off the roof and melted
- Adding more gravel/road base to multiple sides of the building
- added more to the front porch so it is gradual ramp up
- added more gravel both above and below the operations area stairwell
- created and added a small “driveway” on the west side of the building if we need to access the ops area with a car when it is muddy outside
- Lined the entire front apron of the parking lot with boulders to prevent cars from driving up to the building
- Digging big “pockets” with heavy equipment on both the east and west side of the hillside to help with drainage and expected dirt movement
- Within 5 years we are expecting the ground to be “smooth” and the pocket marks to settle in
- Seeding the entire building area including the gravel building apron with a Forest Service approved seed mix
- A code required fence around the solar array is nearly complete
As we mentioned in our annual report email it turns out that we have a small fundraising gap to close. When we held our Grand Opening in April, we were on target to complete the project with a couple thousand dollars to spare. Unfortunately, passing the various code requirements incurred additional, unexpected expenses of $35,000 (two percent of the total budget). Since that last email we still have $25,000 left to go. We are looking to raise this amount by the beginning of the season and are asking for your help.
Our Enterprise Zone designation allows us to continue accepting donations for the project through the end of 2029, and these donations are eligible for the 25 percent Colorado state tax credit, which can be used over five years. Continued contributions to the project will help us cover the small overage as well as future and ongoing maintenance and possible upgrades to the building going forward. You can donate online here or by check, sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
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April 12 Update 
Skyway Station is nearly complete! (We have a little bit of exterior landscaping to complete once the ground is dry and warm.) Thanks to everyone who joined us for the Grand Opening Party on April 11.
It’s not too late to be part of it!
Until project completion this summer, cash donations over $250 qualify for a 25% state tax credit and in-kind donations qualify for a 12.5% state tax credit through our designated Enterprise Zone Contribution Project. Any funds raised beyond construction and outfitting costs will go toward the building’s future operating budget and improvements.
Donate online here or by check to: GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502
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March 24 2026 Update
Come help us celebrate the Grand Opening of Skyway Station!
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Place: Skyway Trailhead on Grand Mesa
Announcements and ribbon cutting at 10am, tours ongoing until 2pm. Light refreshments served.
Come tour Skyway Station and get a taste of how the new gathering space, operations basement and snowcat garage will serve our ski community.
This event is a celebration of the GMNC community, whose generous support allowed us to reach this important milestone. More than 300 foundations, businesses and individuals gave to Skyway Station, allowing us to complete all construction in one season. We are also grateful to the U.S. Forest Service and our community partners for their ongoing support for the project.
We will continue toaccept donations to Skyway Station until the final touches (landscaping, etc.) are completed this summer. Until this time, donors who give $250 or more, are eligible for Colorado Enterprise Zone tax credits worth 25 percent of the donation (with five years to use the credit).
This event is also our end of the season party. Hope to see you there!
NOTE:
As we get closer to opening, we’re looking to community-source a few items to fully outfit the space. We’ve already had some great wins — including Fire King file cabinets donated by United Business Bank in Paonia and full funding for some custom-made picnic tables for the community space. Now we need a little more help!
If you have any of the following available, would like to donate funds to purchase them, or know someone who might — we’d love to connect:
Flammable Fire Safety Cabinet — Must be UL/ULC, OSHA, NFPA, and ANSI compliant. Max size: 4ft wide x 2ft deep, though other sizes are welcome. Example here.
Workbench — Ideally L-shaped to fit a space that runs 94″ along one wall and 83″ along the other, but we can work with most configurations. Example here.
Rolling Toolbox — To store tools for our operations team. Example here.
If we had standard work bench instead of a L shaped one a taller upright toolbox would work as well.
Wall Lockers — We have space for up to 3 individual lockers. Size limit: no wider than 55″ total and no taller than 78″. Example here.
Rolling Workbench (for community space events) — Would be used for serving hot chocolate, information tables, and similar needs, then stored in a closet when not in use. Example here.
A reminder on donations: Until project completion this summer, cash donations over $250 qualify for a 25% state tax credit and in-kind donations qualify for a 12.5% state tax credit through our designated Enterprise Zone Contribution Project. Any funds raised beyond construction and outfitting costs will go toward the building’s future operating budget and improvements.
Donate online here or by check to: GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502
March 8 update from Project Manager Dan Tille
Holy update Batman! We have completed A LOT of work in the past couple of weeks.
The flooring is in but still needs a bit of adjustments but you can see what the finished space is going to look like. The exterior metal work has a little more work to be done on it and has been rusted so you can also see what that finished look is. IT was up last week getting their install done so we should have limited wifi available when we open the building. Some of our storage shelving has been installed in the community space storage room with storage shelving for ops happening this week. Big thanks to the crew at Cristee-Meade for staying on top of everything to cross the finish line by the end of the season
The crew at Monarch Heating and AC have been working on getting the HVAC system up and running and Zion Security should be done with the security and alarm system sometime this week. Almost everything is ready to be powered up but we still have a little work to do to turn the power and furnace on.
The operations stairwell was installed on Thursday and looks fantastic. Big thanks to Ira Houseweart and his crew for all their metal work on the building. We have a couple more things that Ira is working on for us that we are very excited to show you.
We are still shooting to have the building completed by the end of this season but we have a lot of inspections on tap so keep your fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly in the next couple of weeks.
Thank you for giving our workers space and keeping out of the construction zone. We have security cameras up to keep an eye on things but please well away from the front of the building and please stay behind the fence and away from the building!
Every contribution strengthens this project and GMNC’s future. If you’ve been considering a gift, now is still a wonderful time to be a part of Skyway Station’s success story. Donations over $250 are eligible to receive a 25% state tax credit for this designated Enterprise Zone Contribution Project. You can give now or pledge any amount until the project is complete sometime this summer for the 2026 tax year. Any extra funds raised beyond construction and outfitting costs will go toward the building’s future operating budget and any future improvements towards the building. You can donate online by clicking the “donate” button here: https://gmnc.org/join/future/ or by check, sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
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February 12, 2026
A lot has happened in the past 2 weeks that has really transformed the building.
The siding on the front of the building is finally finished and man it looks great! As one of the Cristee-Meade workers said he doesn’t think that there isn’t a piece of metal on the front that didn’t require at least 6 cuts so kudos to them on a fantastic job. The rust color on the front is what the building will look like when it fully finished.
The benches in the community space are done. Some of the exterior lighting and electrical outlets are also being installed this week. Flooring is on tap by the end of the month
Lots of progress on the lower level as well with the full battery and inverter install, the exterior siding being finished up and the start of the generator enclosure.
We are still shooting to have the building completed by the end of this season so keep your fingers crossed for no more delays! We should have another update for you at the end of the month.
Thank you for giving our workers space and keeping out of the construction zone. We have security cameras up to keep an eye on things but please well away from the front of the building and please stay behind the fence and away from the building!
Every contribution strengthens this project and GMNC’s future. If you’ve been considering a gift, now is still a wonderful time to be a part of Skyway Station’s success story. Donations over $250 are eligible to receive a 25% state tax credit for this designated Enterprise Zone Contribution Project. You can give now or pledge any amount until the project is complete sometime this summer for the 2026 tax year. Any extra funds raised beyond construction and outfitting costs will go toward the building’s future operating budget and any future improvements towards the building. You can donate online by clicking the “donate” button here: https://gmnc.org/join/future/ or by check, sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
February 3, 2026 Update
It has been a while since our last update, and we have made quite a bit of progress since the beginning of January.
Siding for the front has been a little slow going due to some delays with the front doors but as you can see in the pictures, we are getting close to being done with that. The rust color you see on these pieces that are installed is what the rest of the building will look like when it is finished. All of the security shutters are installed and almost ready to go.
The community space is getting closer and closer to being finished. The tongue and groove ceiling is fully installed and finished, the walls are fully painted, the doors for the dressing rooms and the storage room are in, and the benches along the east and west walls should be in this week. You can see Aaron from Cristee-Meade working on one of the bench bases in one of the pictures. We start on flooring in the next couple of weeks.
For the ops basement, we passed all of our battery room drywall inspections, everything is painted and finished so all of the batteries and inverters are starting to be installed this week. HVAC should be installed sometime this month.
We are still shooting to have the building completed by the end of this season so keep your fingers crossed for no more delays!
Thank you for giving our workers space and keeping out of the construction zone. We have security cameras up to keep an eye on things but please stay behind the fence and away from the building.
Every contribution strengthens this project and GMNC’s future. If you’ve been considering a gift, now is still a wonderful time to be a part of Skyway Station’s success story. Donations over $250 are eligible to receive a 25% state tax credit for this designated Enterprise Zone Contribution Project. You can give now or pledge any amount until the project is complete sometime this summer for the 2026 tax year. Any extra funds raised beyond construction and outfitting costs will go toward the building’s future operating budget and any future improvements towards the building. You can donate online by clicking the “donate” button here: https://gmnc.org/join/future/ or by check, sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
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Jan 9, 2026 update from Project Manager Dan Tille
Boy this community space is already warm with just the sun shining on it and it looks even warmer now that our pellet stove is installed. It was installed last week and they test fired it so we will be ready to go once we open up. The tongue and groove ceiling was delivered and should be installed in the next week. We passed another inspection for the battery room so one more to go until we can start mudding, taping, and painting and finishing off both the battery room and the ops basement.
We finally have the front doors which means we have to say good bye to the big red barn vibe we had going on! Siding on the front and the last little bit on the east side should completed over the next 2 weeks.
Thank you for giving our workers space and keeping out of the construction zone. We have fencing and security cameras up to keep an eye on things so please stay behind the fence and away from the building!
Every contribution strengthens this project and GMNC’s future. If you’ve been considering a gift, now is still a wonderful time to be a part of Skyway Station’s success story. Donations over $250 are eligible to receive a 25% state tax credit for this designated Enterprise Zone Contribution Project. You can give now or pledge any amount for the 2026 tax year. Any extra funds raised beyond construction and outfitting costs will go toward the building’s future operating budget and any future improvements towards the building. You can donate online by clicking the “donate” button here: https://gmnc.org/join/future/ or by check, sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
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January 6, 2026 Update
We Have Doors!
The Skyway Station project continues to proceed on schedule. Front doors were installed today, and so was the pellet stove. The tongue and groove ceiling will be put up in the coming days, and interior paint isn’t too far behind.
Thank you for giving our workers space and keeping out of the construction zone. We have fencing and security cameras up to keep an eye on things so please stay behind the fence and away from the building!
Every contribution strengthens this project and GMNC’s future. If you’ve been considering a gift, now is still a wonderful time to be a part of Skyway Station’s success story. Donations over $250 are eligible to receive a 25% state tax credit for this designated Enterprise Zone Contribution Project. You can give now or pledge any amount in separate payments in the 2025 or 2026 tax years. Any extra funds raised beyond construction and outfitting costs will go toward the building’s future operating budget and any future improvements towards the building. You can donate online by clicking the “donate” button here: https://gmnc.org/join/future/ or by check, sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
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December 30 Update from project manager Dan Tille
We hope everyone had a great holiday and keep up those snow dances! The Cristee-Meade crew is still at it. The community space and the operations space (outside of the battery room) should be completely mudded and taped by the end of this week. We have progressed through a couple more drywall inspections for the battery room with a couple more to go before we can start installing everything. The outside is also moving along. The snow cat shed siding is almost done, we just need to finish the generator space. We are still waiting on the front doors to come in to finish the siding on the front. Next week the crew starts on the community space ceiling, perimeter benches, and setting the fireplace.
We need to continue to ask, PLEASE stay out of the building and away from all sides of the building. We know you’re curious, but this an active construction zone and we also have snow sliding off the roof. We have fencing up and a couple of security cameras up to keep an eye on things so please stay behind the fence and away from the building!
Every contribution strengthens this project and GMNC’s future. If you’ve been considering a gift, now is still a wonderful time to be a part of Skyway Station’s success story. Donations over $250 are eligible to receive a 25% state tax credit for this designated Enterprise Zone Contribution Project. You can give now or pledge any amount in separate payments in the 2025 or 2026 tax years. Any extra funds raised beyond construction and outfitting costs will go toward the building’s future operating budget and any future improvements towards the building. You can donate online by clicking the “donate” button here: https://gmnc.org/join/future/ or by check, sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
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December 17 Update from project manager Dan Tille
It’s drywall week!
The drywall crew got all the drywall in the community space up and ready for taping and mudding. What a difference in how it looks! It is going to be a warm cozy space for the community. Taping and mudding should happen next week before Christmas, setting us up nicely for the new year.
The operations basement should be completed by the end of this week. The battery passed its first inspection only a couple more inspections to go before we do a final air leakage test and get that room kitted out with the buildings power infrastructure.
Unfortunately we are dealing with a delay on the front doors so that is preventing us from finishing the front. Both doors need to be installed and the trim work around them needs to be completed before the front siding can be put up. Fingers crossed the delay is short! Meanwhile the Cristee-Meade crew is finishing up all the siding a trim work on the east side of the building.
We need to continue to ask, PLEASE stay out of the building and away from all sides of the building. We know you’re curious, but this an active construction zone and we also have snow sliding off the roof. We have fencing up and a couple of security cameras but we are still seeing unauthorized people walking around and into the building while the construction crew is working as well people trying to enter the building doors after the construction crews have left — please don’t do this!
We anticipate moving into the building before the end of the ski season, but we will still have some small construction projects on the building to finish up in the summer of 2026. It is not too late to donate as we get ready to wrap up our fundraising drive for Skyway Station. You can give now or pledge any amount in separate payments in the 2025 or 2026 tax years. Any extra funds raised beyond construction and outfitting costs will go toward the building’s future operating budget. You can donate online by clicking the “donate” button here: https://gmnc.org/join/future/ or by check, sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
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December 11 update from project manager Dan Tille
We need to ask EVERYONE to stay out of the building and stay away from all sides of the building, it is both an active construction zone as well as roof slide avalanche zone! We have a trail camera up there and can see unauthorized folks walking around the building. Our construction crew has reported that they have had to ask people to exit the building.
We recently installed some ski area fencing around the front and back of the building that we will be using as a permanent barrier to keep folks from entering the operations area. Please stay behind that fencing.
We know everyone is curious and wants to see what is going on but it is dangerous to enter the construction zone. Please reach out if you have something specific you want to see and we can do our best to take photos for you. We would really like the building to be done now, but we all need to be patient.
As of December 11th we are very close to funding the entire project. Will you consider making a donation to help us cross the finish line? You can give now or pledge any amount in separate payments in the 2025 or 2026 tax years.
You can donate online by clicking the “donate” button here: https://gmnc.org/join/future/ or by check, sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
December 5, 2025 Update from project manager Dan Tille:
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November 21 Update
Thank you to everyone who came up for building tours this past weekend. I hope we answered all your questions and that everyone can really see the vision for the facility. With the snow we got, the building looks quite a bit different than last Saturday.
November 6, 2025 Update
Skyway Station Update October 30, 2025
We are getting closer to the ski season and Skyway Station is moving right along.
Skyway Station Update October 22, 2025
From project manager Dan Tille: Another week of really great progress on Skyway Station. Cristee-Meade our builder is absolutely killing it with all of this forward momentum.
You can really start to see the inside of the building taking shape. The dressing rooms and storage closet in the community space are framed out. The pellet stove and stone base were picked out and will be installed in the next couple of weeks. The battery room and HVAC room in the garage are also framed in.
As of October 17, we’ve got roughly $40,000 left to raise to fund the entire project. You heard that right we are in within 2.5% of our funding goal!
Will you consider making a donation to help us cross the finish line? You can give now or pledge any amount in separate payments in the 2025 or 2026 tax years.
You can donate online (https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/mUF5SUyvoxTfkss4wCjFcQ) or by check, sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
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Skyway Station Update October 17, 2025
This is such an exciting update! The walls are up and the roof is almost done! With the final concrete pour for the solar panel piers and the solar trench filled back in last week, all the concrete and excavation work beat the weather window and is fully done! Whew!
Check out the those double stud walls that are going to provide warmth for the community space and those double roof trusses to withstand our snow loads in the winter!
Roof sheeting will be done by the weekend and underlayment and metal roof should happen in the next week. Some of the siding is in (the rest should be here shortly) and the windows and doors are expected in the next couple of weeks.
We are on time with our schedule and we are within our estimated budget.
Now time for some really exciting news, as of October 17, we’ve got roughly $40,000 left to raise to fund the entire project. You heard that right we are in within 2.5% of our funding goal!
Will you consider making a donation to help us cross the finish line? You can give now or pledge any amount in separate payments in the 2025 or 2026 tax years.
You can donate online (https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/mUF5SUyvoxTfkss4wCjFcQ) or by check, sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
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Skyway Station Update Oct 7, 2025
The walls are coming up, and the infrastructure for the solar power system is under construction. The project continues to tick along, on budget and on schedule. Can you see how excited Catmadness is about the snowcat garage? This is going to be a game-changer for our operations crew.
As of October 2, we’ve got roughly $75,000 left to raise to fund the entire project. Will you consider making a donation to help us cross the finish line? You can give now or pledge any amount in separate payments in the 2025 or 2026 tax years.
You can donate online (https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/mUF5SUyvoxTfkss4wCjFcQ) or by check, sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
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Skyway Station Update Oct 2, 2025
The subfloor and wall framing is up. The frame for the front of the building should be up by the end of this week. We are using double stud framing to keept the community space warm.
All the concrete for the building front porch and generator pad has been poured. Trenching for utilities on the parking lot side of the building was completed and filled in. Final grading on both side of the building should be finished by the end of this week.
Trenching for the solar array was done today and should be mostly filled in by the end of this week. Concrete for the solar array pillars should happen next 2 weeks.
Roof trusses are being delivered next week so we should hopefully have wood and underlayment on the roof in the next couple of weeks.
The construction crew is working really hard to get this building dried in by the end of this month.
As of October 2, we’ve got roughly $75,000 left to raise to fund the entire project. Will you consider making a donation to help us cross the finish line? You can give now or pledge any amount in separate payments in the 2025 or 2026 tax years.
You can donate online (https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/mUF5SUyvoxTfkss4wCjFcQ) or by check, sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
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9/19/2024 Skyway Station update:
Concrete floor was poured today!
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9/17/25 Skyway Station Update
Structural steel for the community space went in yesterday. The floor for the basement and cat shed is prepped and ready for rebar for the concrete floor. The floor should be poured at the end of this week or the beginning of next week. The front porch should be poured in the next 2 weeks. Final grading around the building should be close to complete by the end of this week. We are on schedule and within our budget.
As of September 17, we’ve got roughly $80,000 left to raise to fund the entire project. Will you consider making a donation to help us cross the finish line? You can give now, or pledge any amount in separate payments in the 2025 or 2026 tax years.
You can donate online (https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/mUF5SUyvoxTfkss4wCjFcQ) or by check, sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
September 11, 2025 Update
August 29 Update from Project Manager Dan Tille:
Skyway Station construction is coming along. Concrete forms for the buildings stem/foundation walls are halfway done. They will be finished at the beginning of next week and pouring concrete for the walls will be at the end of next week.
1st and 4th photos Exterior views of the concrete forms for the snowcat shed. 2nd photo is a view of the interior of the snowcat shed. 3rd and 5th photo view of the inside of the operations garage. The wood blocking on the far wall is the garage door and man door exit into the snowcat shed.
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Groundbreaking Celebration August 8… help us complete our fundraising!
Under a permit from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), work has begun on the Skyway Station project, and we’re having a groundbreaking celebration!
Our official ground-breaking ceremony will take place Friday, August 8 at noon at the building site at Skyway Trailhead.
As we previously shared, the USFS released a decision memo granting official permission for GMNC to construct the Skyway Station. This document allowed us to proceed with the Mesa County building code and permitting process and we’re working with Chamberlin Architects and Cristee Meade Building Company to finalize facility design and construction details.
We’ve raised $1.45 million to date, enough to construct the main building — the community space, operations basement, snowmobile storage area and the off-grid energy system.
We just secured a $100,000 grant from the Goodwin Foundation and several five-figure individual donations, leaving us with only $160,000 left to raise in order to cover the remaining cost of the snowcat garage.
Will you help us get there?
We intend to complete the entire project by the end of the 25/26 ski season. If we don’t raise the remaining funds by early fall, we will have to delay completion of the snowcat garage. We’re so close! Your donation will help us finish in one season.
More than 200 individuals, families, businesses and grantors have donated to this project, and we are grateful for this groundswell of support. Won’t you join us? Please consider making a gift to help complete this project on budget and on schedule.
Giving to this project is an opportunity to support GMNC while also lowering your tax burden. The Skyway Station campaign has Enterprise Zone status, which means that if you give $250 or more, you’re eligible to receive a Colorado tax credit worth 25 percent of your donation. You have five years to use the credit.
If you are 70 1/2 or older and have an IRA, you can withdraw up to $100,000 from that fund and donate it to GMNC, tax-free.
Skyway Station will protect our community and grooming equipment, helping to sustain our organization.
Donate online or by check sent to GMNC, P.O. Box 4034, Grand Junction, CO 81502.