After being shuttered by the former owners in 2021, it appears the Chief Theater will begin a new chapter after owner Trace Adams submitted development plans to the city on Thursday.

“It’s not just about creating a great venue — it’s about preserving the spirit of Steamboat,” Adams wrote in a news release. “For locals, we’ll offer fair prices, happy hours, local music nights, and a space that truly feels like home. For visitors, we want the Chief to be an iconic destination that also captures everything Steamboat stands for. Too many resort towns have lost their soul to growth. Our goal at the Chief is to make sure Steamboat never does.”

Adams envisions an entertainment and event space large enough to attract major acts while preserving the intimate, small-show atmosphere that makes live music so special. He has brought together a team that has designed and built some of the nation’s top venues including spaces that regularly host A-list performers. The Chief will also offer an event program that includes weddings, corporate gatherings and family celebrations in the heart of downtown.

The plans lay out the transformation of the historic building into a three-story structure that will include a ground-floor bar and entry lounge, a central performance hall, a second-level VIP floor, and a third-floor event bar with an open-air rooftop patio that overlooks the Yampa Valley. The renovation will blend mountain-modern aesthetics with rustic Western charm that includes exposed brick, warm timber beams, ambient lighting and a state-of-the-art music venue built to host everything from intimate acoustic sets to full-scale touring acts.

In the past, the space was home to Steamboat Springs’ longest-running movie theater and, more recently, the home of a community-based performing-arts center that closed in 2021.

To maintain the building’s historic character the development worked with the Historic Preservation Commission prior to submitting plans to the Steamboat Springs Planning Department for review. Adams said he hopes to break ground on the project in spring 2026, and he is optimistic that the Chief will celebrate its opening in time for the 2027 holiday season.

Caitlin Berube-Smith, city historic preservation planner, said submission of the development plans, which include a full set of architectural and structural drawings, is the next step in the process. The plans will then go through staff reviews and public hearings with the Historic Preservation Commission, Steamboat Springs Planning Commission and Steamboat Springs City Council.

“It’s not just about creating a great venue. It’s about preserving the spirit of Steamboat,” wrote Adams, whose family has called Steamboat Springs home since the early 1960s.

“My grandfather, Bob Adams, and father, John Adams, both played very meaningful roles in shaping this community from operating the local coal mine that once powered much of the region’s economy, to helping improve the Howelsen Hill ski jumps and building the Alpine slide through Winter Sports Club fundraising, to constructing the Bob Adams Airport and the donation of beloved places such as Fish Creek Falls,” Adams continued in the release. “Their efforts helped shape this valley for the better — and I hope to continue that legacy with my vision for The Chief.”

When construction is completed, the space will feature a landmark bar that is designed as a welcoming sports lounge during the day and a dynamic performance bar at night, as well as the rooftop deck that will be open half the year and available for private parties and public events.

“Upstairs, a rooftop deck will provide panoramic views of downtown Steamboat, Howelsen Hill, the Sleeping Giant, and Mount Werner — a rare vantage point to watch the sunset, celebrate a wedding, or simply raise a glass under the stars,” Adams wrote.

The new owner said the Chief will not serve food but instead will invite guests to order off menus from nearby restaurants and offer a delivery service to bring in their meals, creating a shared ecosystem that boosts surrounding businesses. 

“Our goal is to collaborate with every part of the community,” Adams wrote. “The Chief will be open 360 days a year, welcoming businesses, public schools, local arts groups and nonprofits to use its stage and (as a) venue for concerts, choirs and plays — rekindling its original spirit as a gathering place for all.”

The theater was built in the 1920s by “Chief” Harry Gordon, a descendant of the Miami Tribe, who opened a motion picture house in the building in 1927. Adams purchased the 7,026-square-foot commercial building on Sept. 30 from SBS Century Real Estate Holdings LLC/McClurg Century Investments for $2.1 million. Adams said he chose to purchase the property because he wanted to bring new life to the iconic downtown landmark.

“Our goal is to restore the building to its original appearance and timeless character,” Adams explained. “Materials used for the addition will pay homage to Steamboat’s roots, while sleek metal panels, efficient windows, and modern design details reflect the evolution of the town itself.”

Berube-Smith said she has been working with Adams and Tom Davis, project architect for ESA Architecture, on maintaining the character of the iconic Chief Theater through the renovation. She said the group presented initial concept review to the Historic Preservation Commission in the spring asking for objective feedback.

“They’ve absolutely taken the right steps in terms of reaching out to planning staff well ahead of time, and then kind of going the extra mile to meet with historic preservation planning staff,” Berube-Smith said. “I’ve worked with them on not just the broader concept, but also the replacement and enhancement of the marquee and what that second story will look like … This is a significant project for one of our commercial historic buildings.”

Berube-Smith said the Chief is on the Steamboat Springs Register of Historic Places and will need to follow local design guidelines, as well as the national Secretary of the Interior’s standards for rehabilitation. She said change is nothing new for the Chief building, which has seen changes once every decade, sometimes twice in a decade, since being built. She said the new facade and marquee will represent that history.

“It’s a really unique project,” Berube-Smith said. “I believe the reason why they’re doing a development plan is they do have some variances that they’re requesting, but I think overall the biggest takeaway is that the owner wants to honor the history, not only from an architectural standpoint, but also from a use standpoint.”

Adams said he still recalls the experiences he had at the Chief while growing up. His memories include movie nights with friends, first dates and the excitement he felt every time a new film arrived at the hometown movie theater. Adams said anyone who has questions about the project can reach out to info@chiefsteamboat.com.

 “I want this to be the kind of spot where visitors feel like locals, where old friends bump into each other on a Friday night and where the music never really stops,” Adams wrote. “It will feature live concerts, game nights, dance nights and rooftop events. The building will hum with life year-round — it’s always been part of Steamboat’s heartbeat, and I want to bring that magic back to life and set the stage for a new generation of stories to unfold.”