No Pain, No Jane: Celebrating 50 Years of Skiing + Riding Winter Park's "Wild Side"
I’m a firm believer that every day in the mountains is worth celebrating. I never want to take for granted the alpenglow over snow-capped peaks, the view from the top of a summit, the ability to hop on trails right out my back door, or the slower pace of life. But this year, there's even more to celebrate here in Winter Park: Mary Jane’s 50th birthday!
Winter Park Resort’s Mary Jane territory ( “the Jane side”) is known for its steep, deep, and raw terrain. Largely ungroomed, the trails on the Jane develop some of the best moguls around. Couple those bumps with the steep pitch and it’s easy to see why the “No Pain, No Jane” slogan rings true. And if you spend a day running laps on the C-Chair, your legs will definitely agree.
Mary Jane has developed somewhat of a cult following over the years. Devoted Jane skiers and riders share a deep appreciation and passion for the art, thrill, and challenge that come with skiing "the Jane." People love that it’s relatively untamed, ungroomed, and not quite as “shiny” as other resort areas - hence the sticker you’ve likely seen around town: “Don’t Groom Mary Jane. - God.”
And in honor of Mary Jane’s golden anniversary, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the history of the area and how we got to where we are today.
THE NAME
The land that makes up today’s Mary Jane ski area had some of its first year-round inhabitants in the 1800s. Surrounded by mining hamlets, logging camps, and railroad settlements along the Fraser River, the property had a sheepherder's trail running through it for decades. One of the small towns in the area was Arrow, where a woman known as Mary Jane lived and worked in the late 1800s. While the details are a little loose and not wholly confirmed, Mary Jane is widely believed to have been a well-known madam with a sharp business sense and knack for acquiring land from miners and railroad workers in exchange for her services.
While it’s impossible to know how closely the real Mary Jane matched the stories passed down over generations, historical records confirm that Mary Jane eventually came to own a mining claim known as the Mary Jane Placer. That land was located right where the base of the Mary Jane ski area sits today. Even after the property was sold and eventually transitioned into the ski area we know and love today, the name lived on.
THE HISTORY
While the Mary Jane side officially opened five decades ago, its roots stretch back even further (well before Winter Park Resort opened in 1940). In 1933, a small and hearty group of skiers from the Colorado Arlberg Club (founded to spread a love of skiing and access to the sport) purchased the Mary Jane Placer and hand cleared the first trail on the mountain. The original Mary Jane Trail was about a mile and a half long with 1,500 feet of vertical drop, and members definitely earned their turns, hiking up and skiing down and hoping to get in two solid runs a day. The effort paid off: the trail became the first official downhill ski trail in the western United States. (Side note: if earning your turns is on your radar, learn all about modern day uphill skiing at Winter Park Resort here.)
Years later, Winter Park Resort was looking toward the area for potential expansion, leasing the land from the Arlberg Club and beginning development for resort use. The Mary Jane side officially opened on January 10, 1976, increasing Winter Park’s skiable terrain by 80% with 350 new acres and 18 trails. But opening day came with a few “bumps.” An overnight snowstorm dumped so much snow that equipment couldn’t even access the mountain, so locals were called in to help side-step down the runs to make them safe for skiers. Some of those original side-steppers are still living in the Fraser Valley today!
THE CHANGES
Over the years, Mary Jane has quietly grown and evolved, but in a way that stayed true to its roots. By the mid-80s, more than 20 trails and 200 acres had been added (including the Chutes) and the 90s brought expanded snowmaking and the Sunnyside lift to help open up the backside of the mountain. The mid-2000s was a win with the Eagle Wind lift and, soon after, the Panoramic lift ( “The Pano,” as locals call it) replacing the famously rickety (and well-loved) Timberline two-seater. Now the continent's highest six-pack chair, The Pano gave access to new gladed terrain in Parsenn Bowl, easier access to Vazquez Cirque, and jaw-dropping views that don't stop. In 2014, Lunch Rock (at the top of the Super Gauge, Sunnyside, and High Lonesome lifts) got a refresh, too. Rebuilt on the historic site long known for its natural spring and a perfect place to picnic (well before skiing came on the scene), the new 16,000 square foot lodge is a perfect pit stop. Through it all, Mary Jane has stayed true to its roots: no hotels, no village full of shops and restaurants - just a laid-back, untamed vibe that keeps the focus on skiing.
You can still grab a bite to eat at the base - Club Car is full service restaurant, Mary Jane Market serves up cafeteria-style eats, and Pepperoni's is always a favorite place to grab a slice and a drink between runs. But all with the most unpretentious feel. You can even live on-mountain at Bridger's Cache, a community of single-family homes tucked right off the cat track between Mary Jane and Winter Park and accessed from the Jane Road, but you would never know it's there as you cruise down the Corridor.
THE CELEBRATION
While the official birthday party took place on January 10 (after opening day on January 9th) with a live DJ, photo booth, vendor pop ups, an ice luge, cupcakes + a champagne toast on the Club Car deck, and a concert and fireworks in town, Winter Park Resort will be celebrating the golden anniversary all season long. The Club Car at the base of the Jane will celebrate every Saturday. From 1:30-4:30, you can catch live music in January and February followed by weekly DJs in March. And of course there will be plenty of food and drink specials. So get ready to pull up a chair on the Club Car deck and stay awhile!
Winter Park Resort even put out a line of 5oth anniversary t-shirts, hoodies, and hats you can snag at the Jane shop.
Local businesses are celebrating, too! Uptripping Art Gallery in downtown Winter Park's Cooper Creek Square unveiled its Mary Jane art collection during the 70s Après ski party on Friday. With stickers, hats, and even an original piece (paying homage to the retro vibes of the C-Lot ) by Topher Strauss.
Upslope's Mary Jane Ale even got a little glow up for the occasion, with the 50th anniversary logo and Mary Jane's "Line Less Taken" slogan appearing on the cans for the season.
THE GOOD LIFE
Whether you’re skinning up Sleeper, running laps on a powder day, or enjoying après on the deck at the Club Car or the tailgate of your truck in the C-lot, the energy on the Jane side is undeniable. There’s something about the rugged, no-frills vibe of the place that reminds you there’s no question we’re out here living the good life. It’s community, grit, playing outside, and a workout like no other all at its very best. If you live in town or are visiting and need a pass, feel free to reach out! West and Main proudly supports the Grand Foundation and has two Grand Passes that give you full access to the mountain for a day, and I'd love to share them with you!
And if you’re hoping to make the good life a way of living, let’s connect. I’d love to learn more about your real estate goals and support you in finding your dream mountain property!
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