Several
resorts in Colorado have taken advantage of cold nighttime temperatures
to commence their winter operations over the past several weeks. Copper
Mountain began making
snow on the evening of Monday, September 29, and in addition to
Arapahoe Basin, Loveland Ski Area, Winter Park Resort, and Telluride Ski
Resort have made snow since then as well. Ideal snowmaking conditions
and recent natural snowfall at high elevation allowed
Arapahoe Basin to win the friendly Race to Open for the third
consecutive year.
Following
a record year for skier visits in Colorado, and a summer of major
upgrades and improvements at Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) member
resorts, Arapahoe Basin’s
opening has skiers and riders looking forward to the season ahead.
“Since the first high country snowstorms several weeks ago, snowmakers
and groomers have been working diligently to deliver a memorable Opening
Day, and we’re thrilled to see our guests enjoy
their first day of the season”, said CSCUSA President and CEO Melanie
Mills.
Colorado’s
ski areas are aiming to build on last year’s successful season with
capital improvements, program upgrades, and new technology. “As always,
Colorado
resorts are focused on delivering a great guest experience”, continued
Mills. “From innovative instructional programs and award-winning dining
facilities to groundbreaking smartphone apps and multi-mountain pass
products, our resorts’ ongoing dedication to
quality, safety, and value is what keeps visitors coming back to
Colorado season after season.”
The
race to host Opening Day is one of the highlights of the ski season, a
title often held by Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin or Loveland Ski Area. Both
resorts are perched atop
the Continental Divide, giving them higher elevations, earlier frosts,
and colder temperatures. This also allows them to stay open long into
the spring, giving Colorado one of the longest ski seasons in the
country.
Check out a current list of scheduled opening dates for CSCUSA member resorts* after the jump.
Listed By Resort Name:
Arapahoe Basin: Mid-October 2014 - Early June 2015
Aspen Highlands: December 14, 2013 - April 13, 2014
Aspen Mountain: November 27, 2014 - April 19, 2015
Buttermilk: December 13, 2014 - April 12, 2015
Copper Mountain: October 31, 2014 - April 19, 2015
Crested Butte: November 26, 2014 - April 5, 2015
Eldora: Mid-November, 2014 - Mid-April, 2015
Howelsen Hill: Late November 2014 - Mid March 2015
Loveland: Mid-October 2014 - Early May 2015
Monarch Mountain: November 26, 2014 - April 12, 2015
Powderhorn: December 11, 2014 - March 29, 2015
Purgatory: November 28, 2014 - Late March, 2015
Silverton: December 20, 2014 - April 12, 2015
Ski Cooper: December 13, 2014 - April 12, 2015
Ski Granby Ranch: Mid-December, 2014 - Early April, 2015
Snowmass: November 27, 2014 - April 12, 2015
Steamboat: November 27, 2014 - April 12, 2015
Sunlight: December 5, 2014 - April 5, 2015
Telluride: November 27, 2014 - April 15, 2015
Winter Park: November 12, 2014 - April 26, 2015
Wolf Creek:
November 7, 2014 - April 5, 2015
Listed By Open Date:
Mid October: Arapahoe Basin, Loveland
October 31: Copper Mountain
November 7: Wolf Creek
November 12: Winter Park
Mid-November: Eldora
November 26: Crested Butte, Monarch
November 27: Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Steamboat, Telluride
November 28: Purgatory
Late November: Howelsen Hill
December 5: Sunlight
December 11: Powderhorn
December 13 Buttermilk, Ski Cooper
December 14: Aspen Highlands,
Mid-December: Ski Granby Ranch
December 20: Silverton
*Dates are subject to change.