Mountain Village to Auction Off 10 Refurbished Gondola Cabins
Proceeds to benefit Mountain Munchkins, bids due Wednesday, September 30
A piece of Mountain Village history could soon be coming to a yard, garden, or outdoor space near you.
The Town of Mountain Village is auctioning 10 refurbished gondola cabins to the public, with suggested starting bids of $4,000 per cabin. Proceeds from the auction will benefit Mountain Munchkins, the Town-owned childcare facility serving 38 regional families with infant, toddler, and preschool childcare.
The cabins have an unusual history in the Mountain Village Center. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Town of Mountain Village and the Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association collaborated on the Cabins at Mountain Village project. The gondola cabins were installed throughout the plaza to create private outdoor dining spaces at a time when outdoor gathering and dining were particularly important.
In 2021, several of the cabins took on a second life as part of a public art installation created in partnership with Telluride Arts.
Now, 10 of the original 25 cabins are being offered for sale because they are no longer needed in the Mountain Village plaza. The auction includes six red cabins, two yellow cabins, and two blue cabins.
Specifications for the available cabins are available at bit.ly/MVCabinsAuction.
Why Is Mountain Village Selling the Cabins?
According to Public Works Director Scott Pittenger, the Town is selling the cabins in accordance with its procurement code while also making more efficient use of its storage space.
“The Town is auctioning these cabins off per our procurement code to help clear space in our storage area and offering these unique pieces to the public to purchase and enjoy in their yards or elsewhere,” said Pittenger.
The Town plans to retain the remaining cabins in its plazas for public enjoyment, while reducing the overall number of cabins throughout Mountain Village.
For buyers, that means an opportunity to own an unusual piece of Mountain Village and Telluride-area history—one that began as a creative response to the pandemic and later became part of the community’s public art landscape.
For buyers, that means an opportunity to own an unusual piece of Mountain Village and Telluride-area history—one that began as a creative response to the pandemic and later became part of the community’s public art landscape.
Auction Proceeds Will Support Mountain Munchkins
The auction also has a direct benefit for local families.
Mountain Munchkins currently serves 38 regional families with infant, toddler, and preschool childcare. Childcare Director Chambers Squier said the facility is currently the only provider of infant childcare on the east end of San Miguel County.
“Mountain Munchkins is the only provider of infant childcare on the east end of San Miguel County at this time, and funds raised will help us continue to provide sustainable, high-quality childcare for the region,” Squier said.
“Mountain Munchkins is the only provider of infant childcare on the east end of San Miguel County at this time, and funds raised will help us continue to provide sustainable, high-quality childcare for the region,” Squier said.
How to Bid on a Mountain Village Gondola Cabin
Interested buyers must submit their bids to the Town of Mountain Village Public Works Department by 5 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Bids can be submitted through the live auction site. Buyers are responsible for removing their purchased cabin, with all cabins required to be hauled away by November 1, 2026.
With only 10 cabins available, this auction offers a relatively rare opportunity to own one of the distinctive structures that have become part of the Mountain Village landscape over the past several years.
For those who live in, visit, or simply appreciate Mountain Village and the Telluride area, these colorful cabins represent a small but memorable piece of local history.
