Industry News
Major capital improvements showcase Aspen One’s ongoing commitment and long-term investment in the world-class Aspen Snowmass experience.
Aspen Snowmass, Colorado, is set to break ground this month on nearly $80 million of on-mountain improvements at Snowmass, including two new high-speed chairlifts, a complete reconstruction of one of the resort’s most beloved on-mountain restaurants, and more. These investments are part of an intentional effort by Aspen One to upgrade on-mountain infrastructure more rapidly in the coming years to remain North America’s premier mountain resort destination.
“We have a huge summer ahead for on-mountain developments here at Aspen Snowmass. These projects represent Aspen One’s commitment to ongoing investment in delivering the most exceptional guest experience possible. They support the continued longevity of our business and our legacy of delivering world-class adventures. I’d like to extend my gratitude to our dedicated teams and partners for their hard work and collaboration to see these projects through to completion,” said Geoff Buchheister, CEO of Aspen Skiing Company.
Chairlift Upgrades
New Elk Camp 6-Pack Lift: The existing Elk Camp quad chair will be replaced by a new state-of-the-art, high-speed lift that services popular terrain. This lift will reduce ski season wait times and efficiently upload more bikes to the Snowmass Bike Park in the summer months. This lift represents a significant investment in the Snowmass Bike Park operations as it will almost double the capacity of bike haul, which was a major driving factor in the project.
New Cirque T-Bar: This new T-Bar lift will replace the existing platter lift, reducing wait times at one of the highest lifts in North America. This lift accesses some of Snowmass’ best extreme high alpine terrain. This replacement will effectively double the capacity of this lift, going from a single-rider to a double-rider capacity.
This is the first time in nearly two decades that Snowmass has added two new lifts in one season. These upgrades join other major on-mountain investment projects across Aspen Snowmass’ mountains in recent years, including The Cabin and Coney Express upgrades at Snowmass this past winter, the Hero’s terrain expansion at Aspen Mountain, and the Buttermilk base area renovation, both completed in 2023.
As construction for these on-mountain developments occurs, some closures and operational impacts will occur throughout the summer. In the coming months, Aspen Snowmass will share this information locally and in-resort, and guests can stay up to date with the Aspen Snowmass app and website.
“The areas of terrain served by these lifts are some of the most popular on our mountain. These updates allow for guests to more smoothly access Snowmass’ classic wide-open slopes and sweeping vistas at Elk Camp, and the incredible variety of high-alpine terrain we have off The Cirque. I am proud that we continue to invest in making this mountain the best that it can be, and having high-speed, higher capacity lifts is critical to the Snowmass experience,” said Susan Cross, Mountain Manager at Snowmass.
Major On-Mountain Dining Upgrades
Ullrhof, the beloved mid-mountain restaurant on Snowmass, will undergo a complete rebuild and is set to re-open for the 2026-27 winter season. The 56-year-old building will be dismantled and completely transformed into a brand-new, state-of-the-art building with a modern mountain design that celebrates its storied history and reflects the surrounding natural environment. The new Ullrhof will double its original occupancy to boast more than 500 seats, an expanded upstairs bar and lounge, an updated menu, and significant upgrades for operational efficiencies.
Importantly, the new Ullrhof building will be Aspen Snowmass’ first all-electric on-mountain restaurant, reflective of Aspen One’s dedication to sustainable building design and operations as part of its larger industry-leading approach to sustainability.
Elk Camp restaurant will also see upgrades this summer (pending approval from the Town of Snowmass Village). 120 seats will expand the outdoor deck footprint, adding a covered umbrella area similar to The Cabin. This will allow guests to enjoy shade in the summer and a heated outdoor space in the winter.
These projects are part of a multi-year effort to elevate guest dining experiences at Snowmass and add available restaurant seating across the mountain.
Snowmaking Upgrades
Aspen Snowmass will continue to improve its snowmaking infrastructure across Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk to ensure top-quality snow coverage, regardless of weather conditions. These upgrades include additional investments in automation and new technologies to make snowmaking more energy efficient and expand snowmaking coverage in mid- and upper-mountain areas to ensure skiable terrain during early- and late-season periods.
Forest Health Projects
Critical forest health and safety projects are also planned across all four mountains, focusing on improving wildlife habitats, reducing wildfire risks, and maintaining healthy ecosystems. These glading projects are critical for creating healthier forests and providing a better and safer skiing experience on Aspen Snowmass’ diverse range of tree terrain. These projects will take place on roughly 40 acres in various locations, including Alpine Springs at Snowmass, Temerity on Highlands, and Hero’s on Aspen Mountain, where glading will be completed after three seasons of work on the new terrain expansion.
Aspen Skiing Company has and will continue to work closely with White River National Forest on the review and construction process for each of these developments. The company thanks the U.S. Forest Service teams for their vital partnership as it implements continued on-mountain improvements in 2025 and beyond.
“It is impressive to see this level of investment at Snowmass. I believe visitors will genuinely benefit from these improvements for decades to come,” said Monte Lutterman, Mountain Resorts & Recreation Special Uses Supervisor for Aspen – Sopris Ranger District.
