Industry News
At a recent meeting of Summit County, CO, ski leaders, Arapahoe Basin Chief Operating Officer Alan Henceroth teased details of the resort’s unreleased future master plan.
“We’re proposing a couple of parking lots, maybe up to 350 cars, and we are talking about a pedestrian bridge that crosses the highway up above the ski area.”
– Alan Henceroth, COO of Arapahoe Basin
As reported by the Summit Daily, the focus of the plan is the “arrival experience at the resort’s base area,” and Henceroth specifically highlighted the below improvements:
1. Improved Arrival Experience: The resort plans to revamp the entrance experience at its base area.
2. New Parking Facilities: Proposals are in place for creating parking lots that can accommodate up to 350 cars.
3. Pedestrian Bridge: There’s a plan to introduce a pedestrian bridge over U.S. Highway 6, improving access to the ski area.
4. Pulse Gondola Installation: To connect the parking lot to the base area, a “pulse gondola” is being proposed. This aims to phase out the current shuttle program.
5. Beginners Program Overhaul: The resort is keen on improving its beginner ski program. The focus is on the upper Wrangler area, recognized as the resort’s most teachable terrain. Given that their green runs are notably more advanced than most in the state, enhancing the beginner’s program is a priority.
6. Additional Lifts: The upper Wrangler area, being part of the new beginner’s program, will be made accessible via a proposed gondola. There’s also consideration for a smaller lift in this area, enhancing ski terrain access.
7. Facility Expansion: The master plan includes the addition of a multifunctional facility offering:
- Equipment rentals
- A snow sports school
- Food and beverage services
- Retail space
- Additionally, there are plans to increase spaces for employees.
8. Snowmaking System Upgrade: A significant enhancement to the resort’s snowmaking system is on the horizon.
9. Summer Trails: New summer trails are set to be introduced, diversifying the resort’s offerings.
10. Avalanche Control Systems: The resort is exploring the introduction of remote avalanche control systems for enhanced safety.
11. Eco-friendly Initiative: In a significant move towards sustainability, the resort now proudly sources 100% of its electricity from renewable means.
Arapahoe Basin began snowmaking in September as it hopes to reclaim its title of the first resort to open. This is not uncommon, as A-Basin will usually start snowmaking in late September in preparation for a mid-October opening. In 2007, they even opened on October 10th. As always, they face competition from neighboring Loveland and nearby Keystone, as well as a couple of midwest resorts that have got in on the #RaceToOpen in the last couple of years.
These are the winners of the #RaceToOpen from the last 10 years or so:
- 22/23: Wild Mountain, Minnesota – October 18th
- 21/22: Wolf Creek, Colorado – October 16th
- 20/21: Wild Mountain, Minnesota – October 19th
- 19/20: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 11th
- 18/19: Wolf Creek, Colorado – October 13th
- 17/18: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 13th
- 16/17: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 21st
- 15/16: Killington, Vermont – October 18th
- 14/15: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 17th
- 13/14: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 13th
- 12/13: Wild Mountain, Minnesota – October 18th
- 11/12: Wolf Creek, Colorado – October 11th
- 10/11: Sunday River, Maine – October 23rd
- 09/10: Loveland, Colorado – October 6th
- 08/09: Loveland, Colorado – October 7th
