.png)
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Announces Closure and Demolition of Lake Pueblo Marina
Description: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Announced the Scheduled Demolition of the Lake Pueblo Marina ro Begin on July 1, 2025...
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Announces Closure and Demolition of Lake Pueblo Marina
PUEBLO, Colo. - Colorado Parks and Wildlife will be closing the North Shore Marina at Lake Pueblo State Park on April 1 after the current lease with The O'Neil Group ends. Pueblo Reservoir Unified Marina, LLC and CPW have collectively decided not to pursue further operations under a long-term concession agreement for the operation of North Shore Marina. After an in-depth evaluation of the marina, it has been determined that it is cost prohibitive to keep it open due to the extensive repairs needed. CPW will begin demolishing the structure on July 1, 2025. Please note, the North Boat Ramp will remain open and will continue to allow access for boaters to Pueblo Reservoir.
Notifications have been sent to the boat owners currently renting slips that they will need to move their boat from the marina by April 1. If slip renters are unable to remove their boats by the April 1 deadline, they should contact park staff at lake.pueblo.park@state.co.us.
“The extensive work required to rebuild is more expensive than either CPW or the O’Neil Group can take on,” said Lake Pueblo State Park Manager Joe Stadterman. “Unfortunately the enormous cost to rebuild the marina and damaged docks to ensure the property meets the appropriate standards for public safety makes demolition of the structure the only viable option.”
Background
In September 2022, CPW cut power to the marina after an independent electrician hired to review the marina’s wiring system discovered electrical service at the North Shore Marina at Lake Pueblo State Park was dangerously out of compliance with the National Electrical Code, which governs electrical wiring standards nationwide.
CPW took possession of the 700-slip marina on Nov. 1, 2022, after the operator surrendered their contract to the state. CPW invested more than $135,000 in its failing infrastructure, including repairs to wiring to protect patrons around the marina. A key public safety improvement was a repair to the electric wiring that allowed the operation of a bubbler system that prevents ice from forming in the marina and allows boats to remain docked all winter. The O’Neil Group also performed emergency repairs to marina sewage pumps and its anchor system.
CPW turned over operations to The O’Neil Group Co. on an interim basis in the hopes that a formal, long-term contract could be negotiated and signed.
“The O’Neil Group is grateful for the short-term concession contract to operate the state-owned infrastructure at North Shore Marina while we explored whether building a new marina was an option,” said Kevin O’Neil, owner of the The O’Neil Group. “After two years of planning and a million dollars spent on plans for a new marina, it is heartbreaking to see North Shore Marina close. I have enjoyed coming to the lake for over 50 years and North Shore Marina has been our landing platform," O'Neil said. "When decades-old assets are being renovated, environmental concerns can be exposed. Environmental risks - things like sunken boats, motors, steel cables, concrete blocks and the unknown of other hazards 100 feet below the surface - made the project unaffordable. We would like to thank Colorado Parks and Wildlife for attempting to save the marina."
Boat owners with questions should contact the park office at lake.pueblo.park@state.co.us.
