Home

Susan Shoemaker can do anything.

That’s the opinion of longtime friend and local Barb Shipley, who refers to Susan as a one-of-a-kind Renaissance woman.

Susan was known for years as the face of Rocky Mountain Airways, when it ran commercial flights out of Steamboat Springs Airport. She also loves agriculture, 4-H, photography, cooking, traveling and volunteering, Shipley said.

“She has an unbelievable love for this valley,” Shipley said. “She’s been around the world and been to every exotic, wild place you can think of, and she always circles back to Steamboat because this is her home and she loves this community.”

Susan is from Illinois and moved to Steamboat Springs in 1970 after attending school in Boulder. She had a variety of jobs — though she said she came not to be a ski bum but because of the valley’s beauty and the town’s appeal — before starting with Rocky Mountain Airways in 1975. She was the welcoming face people saw upon arrival at the airport, Shipley said.

Susan has vivid memories of de-icing planes, checking in passengers and sometimes driving luggage to Denver.

She stayed with the airline, which was taken over by Continental Airlines, until 1993. Susan still takes advantage of her lifetime benefits, having recently visited China, Uruguay and Chile.

“I consider it my duty to get out of town at least once a year on my passes,” she said.

She now devotes most of her time to running her 105-acre Harmony Ranch outside Steamboat, where she raises sheep, chickens, ducks and a few horses. Susan also is thrilled with her current volunteer gig, teaching exercise and Tai Chi for the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association’s Aging Well program.

Susan is a passionate local, neighbor and friend. She was instrumental in the land deal that resulted in public access to Emerald Mountain, friend Jim Ficke said.

Susan said she has loved staying in and growing with the valley.

“For all the places I’ve been — and people have heard me say this a thousand times — I’m always glad to come home.”