Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series

The rodeo was a part of Steamboat Springs’ culture even before the town was incorporated over 100 years ago, and it’s a tradition that is alive and well today.

No one knows for sure when Steamboat Springs hosted its first organized rodeo competition, but mentions of competitive rodeo events in the local newspaper, the Steamboat Pilot, date back to at least 1898. Looking through historical files, it seems that no local event was complete without some type of rodeo competition.

A clipping from the July 6th, 1898, Steamboat Pilot writes about The Hot Time celebration of 1898. This event included an orchestra, literary exercises, a dance, running races, and, of course, bronco riding. The article included descriptions of riders being thrown from Broncos and said, “This feature was far more interesting than had been anticipated.” In September 1899, the paper wrote about Game Day, reporting that the multi-day event drew about 3,000 people to Steamboat Springs to watch rough riding, steer roping, pony racing, shooting contests, running races and dances.