Founder reflects on 50 years of Snowmass Rodeo | News

“What comes to mind is that this is the only thing I started with that lasted. It went through three marriages.”

That’s Doug McLain’s humble, tongue-in-cheek reflection on the Snowmass Rodeo, which will celebrate the kickoff of its 50th season tonight and recognize some of its legacy.

McLain recalled founding the rodeo in 1973 when he ran the Snowmass Stables. The city was skeptical, but knew it could be successful with the area’s strong ranching culture. He put down $1,200 to build the arena – and quickly made his money back.

“I’m proud of it. I’m proud that it’s still around, but I don’t take credit for its success in any way,” said McLain. “There have been a lot of good people who have helped. … (SWHA board chairman) Jim Snyder and (SWHA executive director) Darce Vold and there are some good volunteers. Some of the volunteers in Snowmass have been there for years.”

As the Snowmass Rodeo begins its 50th season tonight, we hope McLain – who will turn 85 at the end of June – can participate, riding his 30-year-old horse Stoney. Recent back surgery may keep him from riding, but he plans to be there when the golden anniversary begins.

Vold said he, Billie Cowden, Kent Edwards and Robb Van Pelt will complete a lap as pioneers of the event. Another “founder” of the Snowmass Rodeo, Twirp Anderson, would also have received an honor, but died in November after a battle with cancer.

Van Pelt recalled that small towns across the country had rodeos at the time, but Snowmass had not yet held one, despite its much deeper agricultural culture.

“All of a sudden we got a rodeo and everyone loved it. It was fantastic,” said Van Pelt, a partner at Snowmass Creek Outfitters and participant in the original Snowmass Rodeo. “Especially participants, we had participants from Grand Junction, Meeker, Craig. … (McLain) if it was really organized, he’s not bragging about himself enough here. It went really well.”

There will be other 50th anniversary celebrations throughout the 10-event season, including several contract acts throughout the season. The July 3 event is the big show of the season, Vold said.

McLain said he got the inspiration for a rodeo in Snowmass from a trip to Cody, Wyoming. The town of Snowmass Village lacked something for kids to do in the summer, he said.

This year the rodeo grounds have been renovated: a new grandstand that can accommodate up to 2,000 spectators stands above a renovated arena.

“He’s been great,” Vold said of McLain. “He is one of the founders and over the years he has been a participant and that is what his capacity is now. He got it going and it’s going very well.”

In fifty years of horseplay, McLain and Van Pelt have plenty of stories, most of which aren’t fit for a newspaper, they said. They recalled a particularly vulgar guest visit to the announcer’s booth while McLain was performing; the times bulls found their way onto the golf course or forced a tennis player to climb a fence to safety; when McLain enlisted his daughters to run concessions, selling out the product within minutes of the event starting; and when he was temporarily banned from attending and participating in the event in the early 2000s after a falling out with the then organizer.

Even during the bumpy years of harsh weather and political disputes between the owners and the city, the rodeo succeeded every year with the exception of the pandemic-canceled 2020 season. That makes 2024 the 50th go-around, despite the first season being 1973 used to be.

The 50th anniversary season runs every Wednesday through August 21, rain or shine. Tickets are available at SnowmassRodeo.org. Capacity is limited to 2,000, so it is recommended to purchase tickets in advance. Tickets cost $10 for children and $25 for adults. The barbecues start at 5pm and the rodeo starts at 7pm

McLain said he hopes to ride again – and even compete – in the Snowmass Rodeo if he can recover from his back problems, but that he is also pleased with his career in the arena – and beyond.

“I think I accomplished about everything I wanted to in rodeo and about as much as I could expect of myself,” McLain said. “(The Snowmass Rodeo is) something the valley needed and it left its mark on the valley. I’m glad I did it.”