Are you ready to hit your favorite Colorado slopes? They have been preparing for you, too. Here's a list of what's new at the soon-to-be snowy resorts. And here's when each one opens for the 2018-2019 season.
Name: Arapahoe Basin Ski & Snowboard Area in Keystone
Address: 28194 U.S. Highway 6, Keystone, CO 80435
What’s new: Arapahoe Basin has introduced 486 new acres of terrain that will include high-alpine bowl skiing, tree skiing, rolling groomed runs and steep, rocky chutes. A new four-person lift, called The Beaver Lift, will be completed in this area. There’s new aspects off the slopes too — guests can enjoy an elevated European-style bistro at the summit, serving similar food to what one would find in the Alps.
Name: Aspen Snowmass Buttermilk
Address: 120 Carriage Way, Snowmass Village, CO
What’s new: The Aspen Snowmass App not only provides an easy way for guests to learn about slope conditions, lessons and activities, but this year, it will also provide rewards and enhanced functioning of year-over-year stats and tracking. Rewards include free food and beverage credits, discounts at Four Mountain Sports stores and a credit to use toward a Ski and Snowboard School lesson. The app also has improved tracking this year that will now include year-over-year statistics for vertical feet and Highland Bowl laps. The Limelight Hotel Aspen, Limelight Hotel Ketchum, The Little Nell and all Aspen Snowmass food and beverage outlets are going straw free this year (if one is needed, a paper or compostable straw will be provided). As far as construction, the Aspen Skiing Company is well underway on the new Limelight Hotel Snowmass. The hotel is scheduled to be completed in November, and will feature 99 hotel rooms, 11 condominiums, a restaurant, a children’s game area and a five-story climbing wall that will be open to the public and the largest of its kind in the state. And if you’re feeling extra fancy, you can check out the Snowmass Mountain Club, a new exclusive 230-member private club with member parking, lockers and lounge space right at the base of the mountain. The mountain-contemporary building was designed by Oz Architecture.
Name: Beaver Creek Resort in Beaver Creek
Address: Multiple parking locations
What’s new: One of the most exciting additions to Beaver Creek Resort this season is the new mountain safety dog, Willy.
We're 75 days from Opening! 75 days from skiing, snowboarding, and of course - meeting Willy, our first ever mountain safety dog.
Video shot on @GoPro by Andrew Taylor pic.twitter.com/vNujXEyiGK
— Beaver Creek Resort (@beavercreekmtn) September 7, 2018
Willy is the resort’s first-ever mountain safety dog.
Beaver Creek Resort is also expanding its beginner and intermediate learning areas, with a re-imagined Haymeadow Park that is complete with an on-mountain, old-fashioned ice cream parlor. The resort has a proposal to expand skiing into McCoy Park.
Name: Breckenridge Ski Resort in Breckenridge
Address: Multiple parking locations
What’s new: In preparation for the 2018-19 winter season, Breckenridge replaced more than 50 snow guns on Peak 9 with new ones that are able to make more snow faster using less energy. Visitors are invited to experience Breck's expansive High Alpine terrain in a whole new way with Breck Guides. The resort will open Nov. 9.
Name: Copper Mountain in Frisco
Address: Multiple parking locations
What’s new: This year, Copper is introducing a new six-person chair with bubble enclosures to replace the American Flyer, plus a new lift with six- and eight-person gondola cabins called the New American Eagle. The mountain resort also will welcome visitors with a new sign and base-area lighting. Getting around will be easier this year — and eco-friendly — with new Cobuses. New parking is available at Copper this season, as well as Downhill Duke’s, a dog-friendly eatery with snacks and drinks for both human and pup. Copper’s opening day is Nov. 16.
Name: Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Crested Butte
Address: Multiple parking locations
What’s new: While Crested Butte doesn’t have any new capital expenditures planned for the upcoming ski season, it is pending the sale of Triple Peaks, LLC, which includes Crested Butte Mountain Resort to Vail Resorts. The anticipated opening date at Crested Butte is Nov. 21.
Name: Echo Mountain Resort in Idaho Springs
Address: 19285 CO-103, Idaho Springs, CO
What’s new: Echo Mountain did not report any new updates to its slopes. Opening day is Dec. 12
Name: Eldora Mountain in Nederland
Address: 2861 Eldora Ski Road, Nederland, CO
What’s new: Eldora did not report any new updates to its slopes.
Name: Keystone Resort in Keystone
Address: Multiple parking locations
What’s new: Keystone will have improved snowmaking capabilities this year that will allow for more terrain to be open earlier in the season. The resort installed a new snowmaking pipe on the popular intermediate trail Paymaster, and also upgraded key snowmaking components to provide greater efficiency and coverage during snowmaking. Opening day is scheduled for Nov. 9.
Name: Loveland Ski Area in Dillon
Address: Click here for parking information
What’s new: This summer, Loveland replaced Lift 1 with its first high-speed lift and named it Chet’s Dream, after ski industry pioneer and Loveland patriarch Chester R. (Chet) Upham, Jr. This new lift reduces the ride time from eight minutes to three. This change is the single-largest capital investment project in Loveland’s 80-plus-year history. Also new this year is the season pass bonus days. Loveland Ski Area joined forces with Powder Alliance to offer season pass holders free bonus days at other member resorts. In addition, Loveland has partnered with other independent ski areas across the state and in the western United States to provide season pass holders a total of 96 free bonus days at 32 partner mountains for the 2018-2019 season.
Name: Purgatory Resort in Durango
Address: 1 Skier Place, Durango, CO 81301
What’s new: This season, Purgatory will offer a free Power Kids Season Pass to all children under the age of 10 — no purchase required. This pass offers direct-to-lifts access without blackout dates. Parents can sign up at on the resort's website and pick up the pass at the ticket office. In addition, Purgatory recently opened a new mountain coaster that will operate during the winter and summer seasons. The 4,000-foot-long ride, which offers views of the San Juan Mountains, includes nine switchbacks and one loop, plus a 300-foot drop.
Name: Powderhorn Mountain Resort in Mesa
Address: 48338 Powderhorn Rd, Mesa, CO 81643
What’s new: Powderhorn did not report any new updates to its slopes.
Name: Steamboat Resort in Steamboat Springs
Address: Multiple parking locations
What’s new: Steamboat did not report any new updates to its slopes. Opening day is Nov. 21.
Name: Telluride Ski Resort in Telluride
Address: Multiple parking locations
What’s new: This year, Telluride Ski Resort joined Epic Pass, an international ski pass that provides access to more than 60 resorts in several countries. The Meadows, Telluride's popular beginner area, was upgraded into a world-class learning space, complete with a newly installed 320-foot covered surface lift. Opening day is scheduled for Nov. 22.
Name: Vail Ski Resort in Vail
Address: Multiple parking locations
What’s new: Vail installed 10 large-capacity, low-energy fan guns on the Born Free Trail for the 2018-2019 winter season. In addition, through Vail’s commitment to Five Star Grooming and the resort's five pillars of grooming, the Back Bowls are now more accessible with a 30 percent increase in groomed terrain.
Name: Winter Park Resort in Winter Park
Address: Multiple parking locations
What’s new: Winter Park is investing more than $30 million in various mountain improvements, the most they've put in at one time in its 77-year history. The biggest improvement is a new 10-person gondola.
Name: Wolf Creek Ski Area in Pagosa Springs
Address: Multiple parking locations
What’s new: Wolf Creek Ski Area had a busy summer with the construction of its 10th lift — a Doppelmayr high-speed quad chairlift named the Charity Chairlift (previously named the Meadow Lift) after Charity Jane Pitcher, past owner of Wolf Creek Ski Area. The new Charity Lift will be the third chairlift in the spacious 900-acre Alberta Area. Wolf Creek is also launching a new point-of-sale system in the rental shops, sport shops and all restaurants mountain wide. The tentative opening date for the season is Nov. 2.
Max Calise contributed to this report.
