The Silverhorn Ski Area near here has lost money the last four years, and city officials are considering cutting off city financial support.
"We are going to take a hard look at operating Silverhorn next year," Mayor Merv Hill said. "Right now it doesn't look good."Last season, the ski area ran $20,000 in the red on a $266,000 budget. Hill said it's possible things won't improve, as long as snow conditions are poor and and the road to Silverhorn is considered treacherous.
The future of Silverhorn's support from the city will be discussed at the next City Council meeting, the mayor said.
If Silverhorn closes, that also could jeopardize community plans for a gondola facility, potentially a major tourist attraction.
In 1984, more than 22,000 skiers visited Silverhorn, but that dropped off to 12,000 last season.
"The city never really wanted to be in the ski business," Hill said.