Winter Park Resort
Encyclopedia
Winter Park Resort is an alpine
ski resort
in Winter Park, Colorado
in the Rocky Mountains
. Located just off U.S. Highway 40, the resort is about an hour and a half's drive from Denver, Colorado
.
The mountain opened for the 1939–1940 season as Winter Park Ski Area and was owned and operated by the city and county of Denver until 2002, when Denver entered into a partnership with Intrawest ULC
, a Canadian corporation headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, which has operated the resort since then. For nearly 70 years a popular way for Denver residents — many of whom have learned to ski
or snowboard
at Winter Park over the years — to get there was via the Ski Train
, which arrived at the resort's base area though the Moffat Tunnel
. (The Ski Train was terminated by the railroad in spring 2009.) It is home to one of the world's largest and oldest disabled skiing
programs, the National Sports Center for the Disabled.
The resort consists of three interconnected mountain peaks — Winter Park, Mary Jane, and Vasquez Ridge — which share a common lift ticket
. Mary Jane, opened in 1975, has a separate base area and is known for its moguls
, tree skiing, hidden huts and generally more difficult terrain. It encompasses the above-tree line terrain of Parsenn Bowl. Vasquez Ridge, opened in 1986, offers intermediate terrain and mogul runs. In 1997, 435 acres (176 ha) of backcountry
terrain in Vasquez Cirque were opened to skiing, although access required hiking from the top of Mary Jane; the 2006 relocation of the former Outrigger triple chairlift
to the Cirque provides lift access to much of that terrain.
Since taking over operation of the resort, Intrawest has made several changes to the mountain's infrastructure, renovating the food services in the West Portal base lodge, opening new lifts in 2005 and 2006, and publicly announcing plans for a new base village to include hundreds of new condominiums, a parking structure, a "Village Pond," and a "family swim center," all accessible via a new open-air gondola
to be known as "The Village Cabriolet." However, while this change has been great for the economic development of the town and the resort, it has also been a threat to the existing historic resort base. The historic Balcony House remains under constant threat of demolition. This historic building was designed in the Googie style of architecture, which was a popular style in the 1940s to the 1960s. This building is a standing memory to the original history of Winter Park.
In an attempt to make Winter Park into a year-round resort
, Intrawest operates the lifts during the summer months for mountain biking
. The Arrow chairlift also services an alpine slide
in the summer, and the base area features miniature golf
, a climbing wall
, and other diversions. While the Winter Park area is also a popular destination for golf
, there are no golf courses located at, or operated by, the resort itself.
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
in Winter Park, Colorado
Winter Park, Colorado
Winter Park is a Home Rule Municipality in Grand County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 662 at the 2000 census, although tourists and seasonal workers significantly increase the population....
in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
. Located just off U.S. Highway 40, the resort is about an hour and a half's drive from Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
The mountain opened for the 1939–1940 season as Winter Park Ski Area and was owned and operated by the city and county of Denver until 2002, when Denver entered into a partnership with Intrawest ULC
Intrawest
Intrawest ULC is a developer and operator of destination resorts and a luxury adventure travel company. The company was founded in 1976 as a privately funded real estate development company...
, a Canadian corporation headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, which has operated the resort since then. For nearly 70 years a popular way for Denver residents — many of whom have learned to ski
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
or snowboard
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
at Winter Park over the years — to get there was via the Ski Train
Ski Train
The Ski Train was a seasonal passenger railroad operated by Rio Grande Scenic Railroad in the period 1940-2009. Starting in 1988, the train was operated by the Ansco Investment Company, which had in turn purchased the Ski Train franchise from the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad in that...
, which arrived at the resort's base area though the Moffat Tunnel
Moffat Tunnel
The Moffat Tunnel is a railroad and water tunnel that cuts through the Continental Divide in north-central Colorado. Named after Colorado railroad pioneer David Moffat, the tunnel's first railroad traffic passed through in February 1928....
. (The Ski Train was terminated by the railroad in spring 2009.) It is home to one of the world's largest and oldest disabled skiing
Paralympic alpine skiing
Paralympic alpine skiing is an adaptation of alpine skiing for athletes with a disability. Paralympic alpine skiing is one of the sports in the Paralympic Winter Games...
programs, the National Sports Center for the Disabled.
The resort consists of three interconnected mountain peaks — Winter Park, Mary Jane, and Vasquez Ridge — which share a common lift ticket
Lift ticket
A Lift ticket is an identifier usually attached to a skier's outerwear that indicates they have paid and can ride on the ski lift up a mountain to ski....
. Mary Jane, opened in 1975, has a separate base area and is known for its moguls
Mogul skiing
Mogul skiing is a type of freestyle skiing where skiers ski terrain characterized by a large number of different bumps, or moguls.-Moguls:...
, tree skiing, hidden huts and generally more difficult terrain. It encompasses the above-tree line terrain of Parsenn Bowl. Vasquez Ridge, opened in 1986, offers intermediate terrain and mogul runs. In 1997, 435 acres (176 ha) of backcountry
Backcountry
A backcountry area in general terms is a geographical region that is:* isolated* remote* undeveloped* difficult to accessThe term may apply to various regions that are reasonably close to urban areas but are:* not immediately accessible by car...
terrain in Vasquez Cirque were opened to skiing, although access required hiking from the top of Mary Jane; the 2006 relocation of the former Outrigger triple chairlift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
to the Cirque provides lift access to much of that terrain.
Since taking over operation of the resort, Intrawest has made several changes to the mountain's infrastructure, renovating the food services in the West Portal base lodge, opening new lifts in 2005 and 2006, and publicly announcing plans for a new base village to include hundreds of new condominiums, a parking structure, a "Village Pond," and a "family swim center," all accessible via a new open-air gondola
Gondola lift
A gondola lift is a type of aerial lift, normally called a cable car, which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel cable that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate supporting towers. The cable is driven by a bullwheel in a terminal,...
to be known as "The Village Cabriolet." However, while this change has been great for the economic development of the town and the resort, it has also been a threat to the existing historic resort base. The historic Balcony House remains under constant threat of demolition. This historic building was designed in the Googie style of architecture, which was a popular style in the 1940s to the 1960s. This building is a standing memory to the original history of Winter Park.
In an attempt to make Winter Park into a year-round resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
, Intrawest operates the lifts during the summer months for mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
. The Arrow chairlift also services an alpine slide
Alpine slide
An alpine slide is a long chute on the side of a hill, usually built by ski resorts to supplement summer income. A wheeled cart is used to navigate the slide. The ride is similar to a bobsled ride, except that it rolls over a smooth track—generally cement, stainless steel, or fiberglass—rather...
in the summer, and the base area features miniature golf
Miniature golf
Miniature golf, or minigolf, is a miniature version of the sport of golf. While the international sports organization World Minigolf Sport Federation prefers to use the name "minigolf", the general public in different countries has also many other names for the game: miniature golf, mini-golf,...
, a climbing wall
Climbing wall
A climbing wall is an artificially constructed wall with grips for hands and feet, usually used for indoor climbing, but sometimes located outdoors as well. Some are brick or wooden constructions, but on most modern walls, the material most often used is a thick multiplex board with holes drilled...
, and other diversions. While the Winter Park area is also a popular destination for golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, there are no golf courses located at, or operated by, the resort itself.
Elevation
- Base: 9000 ft (2,743 m)
- Summit: 12060 ft (3,676 m)
- Vertical rise: 3060 ft (933 m)
Trails
- Skiable area: 3060 acres (1,238 ha)
- Trails: 143 total (9% beginner, 34% intermediate, 57% advanced/expert)
- Average annual snowfall: 365 in (927 cm)
Lifts
25 total (manufacturer, year installed)- 1 high speed eight person cabriolet gondola
- Village Cabriolet (Leitner-Poma, 2008)
- 2 high-speed detachableDetachable chairliftA detachable chairlift or high-speed chairlift is a type of passenger aerial lift, which, like a fixed-grip chairlift, consists of numerous chairs attached to a constantly moving wire rope that is strung between two terminals over intermediate towers. They are now commonplace at all but the...
six-passenger chairliftChairliftAn elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
:- Super Gauge Express (@Mary Jane) (Leitner-Poma, 2005) Photo
- Panoramic Express (@Mary Jane) (Leitner-Poma, 2007)
- 7 high-speed detachableDetachable chairliftA detachable chairlift or high-speed chairlift is a type of passenger aerial lift, which, like a fixed-grip chairlift, consists of numerous chairs attached to a constantly moving wire rope that is strung between two terminals over intermediate towers. They are now commonplace at all but the...
quad chairlifts:- Eskimo Express (Poma, 1999)
- Gemini Express (Poma, 1993)
- High Lonesome Express (Poma, 1991)
- Olympia Express (Poma, 1996)
- Pioneer Express (@Vasquez Ridge) (Poma, 1986)
- Prospector Express (Poma, 1994)
- Zephyr Express (Poma, 1990)
- 4 triple chairlifts:
- Arrow (Yan, 1977)
- Eagle Wind (Yan, installed 2006; former Outrigger chair)
- Endeavour (Poma, 1993)
- Sunnyside (@Mary Jane) (CTEC, 1989)
- 7 double chairlifts
- Challenger (@Mary Jane) (Heron-Poma, 1975) Photo
- Discovery (Heron-Poma, 1984)
- Galloping Goose (@Mary Jane) (Heron-Poma, 1975)
- Iron Horse (@Mary Jane) (Heron-Poma, 1975)
- Looking Glass (Riblet, 1965)
- Pony Express (@Mary Jane) (Heron-Poma, 1975)
- 3 surface lifts:
- Apollo
- Lariat handle tow (Poma, 2002)
- Spirit platter pull (Poma, 2004)
- 3 conveyor lifts:
- Children's Center magic carpetMagic carpet (ski lift)A magic carpet is a type of surface lift installed at ski areas to transport skiers and snowboarders up the hill...
- Comet magic carpetMagic carpet (ski lift)A magic carpet is a type of surface lift installed at ski areas to transport skiers and snowboarders up the hill...
- Meteor magic carpetMagic carpet (ski lift)A magic carpet is a type of surface lift installed at ski areas to transport skiers and snowboarders up the hill...
- Children's Center magic carpet
Former lifts
- High-speed detachableDetachable chairliftA detachable chairlift or high-speed chairlift is a type of passenger aerial lift, which, like a fixed-grip chairlift, consists of numerous chairs attached to a constantly moving wire rope that is strung between two terminals over intermediate towers. They are now commonplace at all but the...
quad chairlifts:- Summit Express (Poma, 1986; replaced with Super Gauge Express high-speed six-pack in 2005). This lift now runs at the Mission Ridge Ski AreaMission Ridge Ski AreaMission Ridge Ski Area is a ski area located near Wenatchee, Washington. The base elevation is at 4570 feet with the peak at 6820 feet .Mission Ridge receives an average of of snow per year with over 300 sunny days.- Alpine Skiing :...
in Washington State.
- Summit Express (Poma, 1986; replaced with Super Gauge Express high-speed six-pack in 2005). This lift now runs at the Mission Ridge Ski Area
- Quad chairlifts:
- High Lonesome (Poma, 1986; converted into High Lonesome Express high-speed quad in 1991)
- Triple chairlifts:
- Outrigger (Yan, 1977; moved to Vasquez Cirque in 2006 and renamed Eagle Wind)
- Zephyr (Yan, 1983; moved to replace the Eskimo double in 1990; replaced with Zephyr Express high-speed quad). This lift is now the Sweetwater triple chairlift at Jackson Hole Mountain ResortJackson Hole Mountain ResortThe Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is a ski resort at Teton Village, Wyoming. Located northwest of Jackson and due south of Grand Teton National Park in Teton County, it is named after the historically significant Jackson Hole valley. The region is served by the Jackson Hole Airport.-Ski area...
in WyomingWyomingWyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
.
- Double chairlifts:
- Apollo (Riblet, 1969; replaced with Eskimo triple chairlift by Eskimo Express high speed quad in 1999)
- Eskimo (Riblet, 1963; replaced with Yan triple chair (former Zephyr) in 1990 and then Eskimo Express high-speed quad in 1999). When removed, this lift underwent several controlled destructive lift tests, such as a motor room fire, a rollback, a tree falling on the line, and a tower pull.
- Gemini (Miner-Denver, 1969; replaced with Gemini Express high-speed quad in 1993).
- Hughes - (Riblet, 1961; removed in early '90s)
- Olympia - (Riblet, 1971; replaced with Olympia Express high-speed quad in 1996)
- Prospector (Riblet, 1963; replaced with Prospector Express high-speed quad in 1994)
- Timberline - (Poma, 1992; replaced with Panoramic Express high-speed six-pack in 2007). This lift was built in 1972 at an abandoned ski area near Steamboat Springs, ColoradoSteamboat Springs, ColoradoThe city of Steamboat Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Routt County, Colorado, United States. The city is also known as "Steamboat," "The Boat," or "Ski Town USA". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,088.The city is an...
, was relocated to SolVista near Granby during the 1980s, and then relocated to Winter Park in 1992.
- Surface lifts:
- J-bar (1939 – ?)
- 2 rope tows (1945 – ?)
- Comet T-bar (1957; replaced with Arrow triple in 1977)
- Meteor T-bar (1957–1977)replaced with Outrigger triple
- Bob Woods T-bar (1940s; replaced with Apollo double in 1969)
Historic Trails
During Winter Park's 70-year history, many individuals have made significant contributions to the development and image of the ski area. Several ski trails have been identified on the resort's website as "historical trails," and even more exist on the mountain. A commemorative sign, with a brief narrative about the individual's contribution to the ski area, has been installed along each historical trail. Listed are both the run and in parentheses the lift that reaches them:- Hughes (Zephyr Express or Eskimo Express)
- Cranmer (Eskimo Express or Zephyr Express)
- Allan Phipps (Zephyr Express, Eskimo Express or Prospector Express)
- Bradley's Bash (Eskimo Express or Zephyr Express)
- Mulligan's Mile (Zephyr Express or Eskimo Express)
- Jack Kendrick (Prospector Express or Looking Glass)
- Mt. Maury (learning slope with carpet)
- Retta's Run (Eskimo Express lift line)
- Engeldive (Prospector Express and Looking Glass)
- Balch (Zephyr Express and Eskimo Express)
- Wilson's Way (Discovery learning double)
- Mary Jane Trail (reached from Super Gauge Express, Olympia Express or High Lonesome Express)
- Over N' Underwood (Prospector Express or Looking Glass) (not listed on website)
- Butch's Breezeway (Prospector Express or Looking Glass) (not listed on website)