TELLURIDE CHARACTERS
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ee Zeller and her late husband, Dennis, were fresh out of college in Ashland, Ore., when they heard about the skiing in Telluride. Says Zeller, “A friend told us, ‘If you like the skiing in Ashland, but want something twice as big, go to Telluride’.” But when they arrived in town in 1978, the couple faced the same problem that many newcomers face: a shortage of housing. “Even back then,” Zeller says, “there weren’t many houses to
sipping gin and tonics. Idarado, the operators of the mine, refused to sell it.” Like most longtime Telluride residents, Zeller worked many jobs before starting, in 2004, the property management company that she still owns and runs today, Accommodations in Telluride. “My jobs evolved with the town. I worked in ski shops, Lannings and Pacific Street Skis; the Roma, Sofio’s Mexican Restaurant and the Buck; and was advertising manager for the Telluride
munity. All you have to do is find your pocket of people to call it home.” And, Zeller says, she is always amazed by how Telluride’s influence spans the globe and by how many people maintain a bond with this place. The town’s popularity has even translated into her approach with her children and their friends, who are now in their twenties. “Wherever I go, I invariably bump into someone who knows and loves Telluride,” she explains.
A LONGTIME LOVE FOR TELLURIDE Lee Zeller reflects on 40-plus years in her favorite place By Emily Sh of f
Melissa Plantz
be found. The mine had closed, opening up the Times under Catherine Otto miners’ cabins at the end of the valley, but housing and Rudy Davidson.” was still really tight.” Eventually she and Dennis Eventually, the Zellers heard of a place for built a house Down Valley and rent out by the mine in the east end of the box had two children. “I already canyon. When they called the owner, longtime loved this town, but having chillocal George Cappis, he explained that there was dren bumped it up to a whole someone coming by to inquire other level. This about the house at 8:30 the folis without a doubt ZELLER’S JOBS lowing morning. Determined one of the best EVOLVED WITH to beat out the other potential places on earth renters, Zeller showed up at to raise kids.” THE TOWN 8:15, checkbook in hand: Reflecting “I ended up paying him several months’ rent, just on her favorite things about so we’d have something through the winter.” Telluride, Zeller confesses that She adds, referencing a well-known group of her list isn’t surprising. “After colorful local skiers, “We beat the Flying Epoxy all these years, I still love the Sisters by 15 minutes to get that house.” skiing in the winter and the That began the next 14 years of their life out hiking in the summer. And when it’s all said and by the mine, before they had to leave because of done, a drink with friends at Oak.” impending mitigation work. “We lived there until Zeller has a hard time listening to people gripe the town forced us out. I tried to buy the plot about the changes that have come to Telluride. of land where we’d lived. I loved it out there — To her, those changes don’t undermine what she the views, the sound of the wind, watching the still loves best about the town: its people. “There avalanches in the spring with neighbors, while are so many layers to this town and to this com-
“Of course, I give a little advice when any of the Telluride kids head to some place new. Before they leave, I always remind them that they’re only a phone call away from Telluride. It’s the truth. You could be in Istanbul and there’s bound to be someone who knows Telluride, in case they get in a pinch. The town’s ripples run wide.” telluride.com | 855.421.4360
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