Lifts Start Turning: Winter Park & Granby Ranch Opening Days
With temperatures dropping and the snow starting to fly, it's time to trade out our bike racks for ski racks. As we dust off our skis, boards, and boots and dig around for our gloves and helmets, snow builds up on the snow stake. Grand County's two downhill ski resorts, Winter Park and Granby Ranch, have been prepping for months to welcome skiers and riders for their respective opening days. The energy and enthusiasm in town is palpable-we're all excited to spend more days on the snow and are grateful to live in a place where we can hop on a lift and take few runs on any given day. It never gets old, and we never take it for granted.
WINTER PARK RESORT: OPENED OCTOBER 31st
Initially slated to open mid-November, Winter Park Resort celebrated its earliest opening day EVER on Monday, October 31st! One of only three Colorado resorts to start spinning its lifts in October, Winter Park took advantage of a couple early season storms and their top-of-the-line snowmaking to surprise Coloradans with its Halloween-day opening. In line behind A-Basin and Keystone, Winter Park welcomed guests almost three weeks earlier than anticipated.
Skiers and boarders donned costumes as they boarded the first chair at 9am on Monday, October 31st--the norm for opening day but even more special because it fell on Halloween, making dressing up for the occasion even more befitting. The Arrow, Meteor, Gemini, and Spirit lifts were all running with access to Village Way, Upper Parkway, Lower Parkway, and some mini-terrain park action in Sorenson Park. We're looking forward to even more terrain opening up as we anticipate some November storms!
The Park Side typically opens up well before Mary Jane as the Jane waits for most of its snow to come from Mother Nature, ensuring a solid base to welcome riders. Last season, with limited early-season snowfall, the Jane didn't open until mid-December. But, given the Park Side's early start this year, we're hopeful for an early Jane opening as well!
GRANBY RANCH: OPENING DECEMBER 10th
Granby Ranch is a family favorite. Skiing there tops out at an elevation of 9.200', offering quick laps and easy access that make it a local favorite. Typically opening mid-December, they utilizes snow-making to create a fun and accessible on-mountain experience well earlier than the snowfall typically allows. This year, they plan to open Saturday, December 10th, celebrating the ski season with base lodge updates and the continued fresh vision of new ownership. Their five lifts may not all be running on opening day, but history leads us to believe at least three will be! Granby Ranch loves to celebrate, so we have no doubt that opening day will be a party worth marking on your calendars.
Posted by Angela McDonough (Sandstrom) on
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