The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Dedicated to all locals who must work this holiday season. I don’t have space to list all of you but a super big thank-you to:

Taxi and shuttle drivers, housekeepers, concierges, front desk clerks, property managers, wait staff, newspaper staff, ski patrol, cashiers, UPS & Fed EX drivers, and, most of all, snow shovelers.

Every tourist

Coming to Steamboat

Liked Christmas a lot…

But the Grinch,

Living just north of Oak Creek,

Did NOT!

The Grinch hated Christmas! He hated it all

He hated the skiing, he hated the snow

He shivered and shook when it reached ten below

He hated the joy, the merry and mirth

He hated the idea of great peace on earth

The season was cold and heartless and mean

Wrapped in ribbons and bows he hated the scene

Tourists complained when things went awry

And greed seemed to glaze over every child’s eye

For tourists there was pleasure, rapture, and joy

A smile and chocolate for each girl and boy

But down in the town where locals resided

Were stores to be tended and tours to be guided

The Grinch knew they worked with never a frown

For tourists, they said, must not be let down

So they gave up their Christmas Day

To bring in the dough

So others could frolic and roll in the snow

He wanted to be happy, he wanted to relax

He wanted to have someone bringing HIM snacks

Christmas is coming, it should be a cinch

But he’d run out of time and his bank balance was pinched!

To top it all off, he was sick, sick, sick

His head was all stuffy and he didn’t give a flick

The tourists fly in and bring in the flu

That makes everyone in town go, “Achoo!”

His fingers were frozen and so were his toes

It’s hard to stay warm when ol’ Doc Winter blows

The snow coming down upon Christmas boughs

Kept Grinch at work with a shovel and plow

So into the night he worked and he slaved

Til pop went his back!

And both his knees caved

As he lay there curled up and moaning his pain

His boss came to him and said, “Shovel again!”

“No!” said the Grinch, “This really bites!”

“I’ve slipped in the snow and my back is in spasm

I wish I could fly far from this Christmas chasm!”

A family of tourists spied the old Grinch

They said very sweetly, “You’re in quite a pinch.”

“So sweet Mr. Grinchy,” they said with a grin,

“Come warm yourself, Dear, at our little Inn.”

“Merry Christmas,” they said, “And to you a good night,”

“We’re happy to save you from such a cold plight.”

The Grinch, he then melted

And his eyes sparkled bright

And his heart grew two sizes larger that night

He resolved that moment before his situation worsened

That he would become a Christmas person

He called down to room service

“Bring me a feast!”

I’m ready to start this holiday season

And carve my roast beast!