Industry News
Yesterday, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Colorado, announced plans to implement paid parking and a reservation system for the 2024-25 winter season. Following the news of season pass sales, this development addresses the challenge of managing parking capacity on peak days.
From mid-December 2024 through early May 2025, Arapahoe Basin will require paid parking and reservations on weekends, holidays, and other peak days. Visitors will need to secure a general parking reservation, priced at $20 per car, for any of the resort’s four lots: Early Riser, High Noon, Last Chance, and Upper Last Chance.
However, parking reservations will not be necessary after 1 p.m. on weekends or holidays, and weekdays will remain free of charge. For the convenience of guests, A-Basin will offer a limited number of season parking passes priced at $150, covering all general parking costs throughout the season.
“Parking has always been our pinch point for controlling busy days. In an effort to further focus on a quality guest experience, we will be implementing an online parking reservation system for the 2024-25 season. This has nothing to do with Alterra or the Ikon Pass. We are doing this to take care of the guest experience at Arapahoe Basin. Limiting season pass sales, ticket sales and Ikon Pass access has mostly worked well to control daily skier numbers. We will continue to do those things, but as many of you have noticed, the skier numbers are creeping up again. Following what is going on in other places, we now think implementing a parking reservation system is the best and most logical next step. With parking reservations we will physically limit the number of vehicles here at The Basin and reduce Highway 6 congestion around The Basin.
Reservations will be required weekends, holidays and other peak days until 1 PM from mid-December until early May. General parking reservations will be available for $20 per vehicle. While a daily reservation is required for every vehicle, a limited number of parking season passes will be available for $150 to cover fees for the entire season. For carpoolers, vehicles with four or more people are still required to have a reservation, but the reservation will be free.”
– Alan Henceroth, A-Basin COO
The ski area also plans to continue its carpooling program, albeit with a revised requirement of four passengers per vehicle instead of three. Carpoolers will be eligible for free parking but must still reserve their spots in advance.
Chief Operating Officer Alan Henceroth emphasized that the decision to implement the parking reservation system was made independently, irrespective of the impending sale to Alterra Mountain Company. The move comes in response to the increasing number of visitors to the ski area, particularly on busy days, which has led to parking lot capacity challenges as early as 10 a.m. on some occasions.
Henceroth reassured guests that the quality of the ski experience remains a top priority and believes the reservation system is a logical step to preserve it. While some guests have expressed concerns about potential impacts on spontaneity, Henceroth emphasized ensuring a high-quality experience for all visitors.
“I have discussed the parking reservation concepts with several A-Basin skiers and riders. Responses from guests have varied from skepticism to immediate embracement. There is no doubt that requiring reservations will take away some of the spontaneity of skiing. That spontaneity, however, can be a major contributor to parking problems, especially on powder days. Some told me they would be in favor of reservations knowing that when they got to The Basin, they would have a parking spot. They thought reservations would reduce stress and eliminate the frantic rush to get here.”
– Alan Henceroth
As A-Basin progresses with implementing the reservation plan, details about the online reservation system, including booking procedures and impacts on uphill access, will be released in the coming months.
Regarding the 2024-25 season and Ikon Pass access, Henceroth clarified that no decisions have been made yet, pending the completion of the sale to Alterra Mountain Company. Despite uncertainties, Arapahoe Basin remains committed to informing guests promptly once the deal is finalized and providing updated information on pass access.
Ha-Ha right on Jeff! LOL. What a coincidence Alterra just happened to be buying it and the ski area hasn’t charged for parking in the almost 80 years prior to that 🙂
I also find it amusing that say they are “reducing the stress” by charging us more and requiring a reservation. Apparently, they don’t understand that their customer base does not have unlimited money to spend and plan their ski trips a year out. I’ll take my “stressful” free non-reserved parking any day over this.
Sure. The sale to Alterra had nothing to do with the proposed paid parking. ;-(