Tucked away on the edge of town in Carbondale, Colo., is a goldmine of ski history, memorabilia, and sick vintage gear. The warehouse is challenging to find, even when you know where it is. But follow the signs toward Vintage Ski World to an innocuous warehouse door, and beyond it youll find Richard Allen, 73, and his unbelievable collection of ski gear, spanning decades and even centuries into the sports past.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) For GearJunkies, skiers, and anyone generally interested in history, its basically a candy store. The shelves and walls are packed with colorful vintage skis, posters, and racing bibs from famous athletes. Glass displays are filled with military patches, pins, and stickers. Clothing racks are stuffed with the coolest one-piece suits, wind shirts, and jackets youve ever seen.

　　In the back, lined against one wall, are antique skis over 100 years old.

　　And its all for sale. As Allen describes it, Vintage Ski World is part museum, part retail store, and part wholesaler.

　　Ive been collecting vintage skis and memorabilia since I moved to Snowmass in 1956, Allen told GearJunkie when we visited him at the store.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Its been a lifelong passion of his, but the business didnt start until 2002. Since then, Vintage Ski World has operated out of garages, business spaces, and even on the road. Allen used to travel with vintage ski gear to events, themed parties, and races.

　　Youve probably seen some of his collection and dont even know it. Vintage Ski World supplied the filmHot Tub Time Machinewith all of its vintage ski gear and costumes.

　　Now, 23 years into this journey, Allan is ready to pass the torch. He and his partner are in the process of putting the entire Vintage Ski World collection up for sale. So, whether youre looking for that perfect Gaper Day outfit, a unique gift for the skier in your life, or an entire collection of gear and memorabilia, Vintage Ski World has what you need.

　　Vintage Ski World: An Authentic Museum Collection

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) The first pieces in Allens collection belonged to his family. He found his parents and grandparents old ski gear in their Snowmass home. Then he began buying more of it when he returned to Minnesota. But the moment his casual collecting turned serious was when he got a tip about a store in Portland, Ore., called Pacific Hardwear Sports.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) They had a whole basement full of brand new old stock,' Allen recalls. There were boxes of 50-year-old outfits with the tags still on, unmounted skis, sweaters, jackets, and more. I was the first one he let in his basement in a long time. He kind of liked me, and I ended up doing three trips out there.

　　It felt like finding treasure, he said.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) From there, the collection started to snowball. People knew Allen was seeking out old ski gear, so they started bringing it to him. Then he bought another collection from a 10th Mountain Division veteran in Colorado.

　　Nowadays, he has a picker who scours garage sales, estate sales, and antique stores for him, looking for vintage wooden skis —the kind in the way back that are hand-carved and mounted with leather beartrap bindings.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Allen says some of those really old skis still work. When he used to host vintage ski races at resorts like Steamboat and Aspen, people would use those wooden planks to compete with one another. Some certainly skied better than others, Allen said with a chuckle.

　　Collection Up for Sale

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) If you visit the Vintage Ski World website, only a small percentage of the stores inventory is listed online. In fact, the warehouse Vintage Ski World operates out of isnt even the entire collection. Allen said he has an additional full locker with apparel and another with skis that just dont fit inside the store space.

　　Thats why its taken him and his partner so long to inventory the entire collection for appraisal and hopefully for purchase, he said. He has accumulated an immense amount of vintage gear, which he hopes will attract — not deter — a buyer.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Allen said he wont be sad to part with the collection when they finally do find someone. But there are a few items that he wont be letting go of.

　　His familys skis are the first ones he points to. Then there is an ancient ski discovered on Aspens Richmond Hill that he wont part with, either. He has a set of Klaus Obermeyers old skis, which the legend recently stopped by to sign for Allen, Spider Sabichs signature sweater, and Dick Durhams signature Crosswalk skis.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) None of those are for sale, he said.

　　The rest of it — from the beautiful antique toboggans and snowshoes to the one-of-a-kind pins and patches, unmounted vintage skis, ski posters, photos, hats, sunglasses, one-piece snow suits, and more — is all up for grabs.

　　If you find yourself in the Aspen Valley, Vintage Ski World is one of the most interesting stores youll find. If you can find it. Follow the signs to 1676 County Road 100, Unit N-2, Carbondale, and explore the history that Allen has been collecting for over 60 years.

　　Inside REI's 'Living Archive' Vintage Gear MuseumGearJunkie got to peek inside REI's living archive — a museum of vintage gear, apparel, documents, and more — that the brand uses for R&D, inspiration, and as a collection of brand stories. Read more