Colorado Archives - Dante Today

Depths of Dante Novel, Kevin Cady (2021)

March 27, 2022 By Harrison Betz, FSU '25

“In his new book, Depths of Dante, Colorado Springs author Kevin Cady invites readers to explore one man’s journey into the darkest regions of the human condition.

“The book follows Dante Trakas on his journey to an unimaginable world. What begins as a search for a lost ship, the Cursed Nomad, turns into a down-the-rabbit-hole adventure where Dante explores not only the furthest reaches of himself but of humankind.

“Trakas descends into the world of eternal punishment, where he explores the furthest reaches of himself, pushed by the devil’s deceitful questions. While in hell, Trakas encounters a wall of bodies, grotesque-looking beasts that defy imagination and psychological warfare on the journey to the devil’s castle.” [. . .] –William Dagendesh, North Springs Edition, October 19, 2021 (retrieved March 27, 2022)

Depths of Dante was originally published on October 13, 2021.

Purgatory Resort Ski Lodge in Durango, Colorado

November 10, 2021 By Harrison Betz, FSU '25

“Purgatory Resort is located in Durango, CO. It is a ski lodge that is themed around Dante and his Divine Comedy. There are different ski routes and terrain parks named based on difficulty related to hell. For example, there is a route named Limbo and one named Pandemonium. Limbo is a difficult route, but Pandemonium is one the most difficult routes. There is also a called Divinity, which is one of the lightest routes. The most interesting part of Purgatory Resort is its self-pace coaster. It is called the Inferno Mountain Coaster. It is known for the beautiful views it provides and the quick descents. It is a self-pace coaster, so you are able to descend through the Inferno as quickly or as slowly as you would like.” –Contributor Honey Okuneye

See our previous post about the ski lodge in Durango – one of our first on Dante Today – here.

See also the Purgatory trail map (which includes multiple references to Dante) here.

Contributed by Honey Okuneye (University of Arkansas, ’24)

Dante’s New Pop Up: The Snow Lodge in Aspen

February 24, 2021 By Laura Chatellier, FSU '23

“New York City-based bar and restaurant Dante has taken over The Snow Lodge in Aspen for the winter season. Located at the base of Ajax Mountain, Dante at The Snow Lodge delivers the ultimate après-ski experience, featuring a chic, retro ski-designed restaurant and outdoor patio with scenic seating and fire pits, as well as live music, shops and wellness programming. ‘You couldn’t ask for a better spot when you come off the mountain for a cocktail,’ says Dante’s co-owner Linden Pride. Breakfast and lunch and an après-ski cocktail hour menu mirrors the offerings at their downtown two New York City locations, with all available for take-out and delivery through the Dante App. ‘We developed a dedicated menu of hot cocktails for outdoor dining with drinks such as our Hot Smoked Toddy, Hot Buttered Rum, Spiked Coffee and more,’ says Pride. ‘We’ve also brought over our most popular dishes like our pappardelle all’ragu with wild boar, which is perfect after a big day of skiing.'” [. . .] –Natasha Wolff, Dujour.

Fort Lewis College Theater, “Dante’s Inferno” (2008)

December 3, 2009 By Professor Arielle Saiber

“Written by Dante Alighieri.
Adapted for Stage by Desiree Henderson & Kurt Lancaster.
Directed by Kathryn Moller.
Winter 2008: Throughout history, poets and philosophers have struggled to define true love. In the Phaedrus, Socrates explains that love is not simply the act of being caught passionately by a beautiful body or face, but by the eternal form of beauty itself. In Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, Romeo describes love as, “too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.” And even today, pop stars, authors and actors struggle to define and relate this elusive emotion in a tangible way. Dante Alighieri embarked on a similar quest. In this contemporary stage adaptation of Dante’s Inferno, Dante journeys into the pits of hell searching for the beauty of love which touched him for only an instant. Each circle of hell reveals tragic, and sometimes violent exchanges between people who are damned to repeat their sins again and again.” —Fort Lewis Theatre

Contributed by Katherine Avery

Purgatory Ski Resort (now Durango Mountain Resort), Colorado

September 15, 2006 By Professor Arielle Saiber

“Formerly known as Purgatory, many of the run names at Durango Mountain Resort were inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy, such as Demon, Hades, Styx, and Limbo. With 300 days of sunshine and 260 inches of snow annually, however, Durango Mountain belies the imagery created by its run names.” —Go-Colorado (retrieved on September 15, 2006)

Contributed by Travis Arnold (Bowdoin, ’01); Patrick Molloy

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