A-Basin first Colorado ski resort to announce limited reopening
After having the ski season cut short in March by the coronavirus pandemic, Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin is planning on a limited reopening Wednesday.
Lift tickets will only be sold to existing pass holders, including A-Basin, Ikon, Mountain Collective and Any Day passes.
Although it’s known as the ski area with “The Beach,” which is an area of several parking spaces where skiers typically tailgate, Arapahoe Basin will have a different vibe when it opens Wednesday.
In an online post Sunday, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area’s chief operating officer, Al Henceroth, said, “This is going to be very different.”
The reopening rules are as follows:
1. Reservations are required.
2. Physical distancing will be enforced and guests must wear face coverings in designated areas.
3. Tailgating and other gatherings will not be allowed.
“We have been given an extraordinary opportunity. We need to take this very seriously and we need to respect the guidance given by our Summit County and State of Colorado health officials,” Henceroth wrote. “We have to open in a responsible way. We need everyone to help.”
Several Colorado counties had their health order variance requests approved to begin reopening dine-in services this week, but Arapahoe Basin’s announcement is the first Colorado ski area to reopen.
Gov. Jared Polis ordered Colorado ski resorts to close on March 14 amid an outbreak of the disease in Aspen and other ski resorts traced to vacationers from Australia and other countries.
Read all the details at arapahoebasin.com/may27-reopening
Credit: Arapahoe Basin / Ian Zinner
A snowboarder kicks up a trail of water as he skims over a large puddle in theSaturday near the top of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. Though only the Black Mountain Express Lift and the Lenawee Mountain Lift are open, 2 inches of fresh snow and warm weather brought out a large crowd of skiers and snowboarders to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Saturday. Many were dressed in shorts and T-shirts, and some even had on swimsuits. The warm weather created four long puddles near the top of the mountain that created a fun challenge for those that decided to give it a try. On Thursday, Arapahoe Basin posted on their Facebook that they have extended their season until at least June 30. With more snow expected in the forecast their closing date may be pushed back even farther.A-Basin is extending its season until at least June 30.
Though only the Black Mountain Express Lift and the Lenawee Mountain Lift are open, 2 inches of fresh snow and warm weather brought out a large crowd of skiers and snowboarders to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Saturday. Many were dressed in shorts and T-shirts, and some even had on swimsuits. The warm weather created four long puddles near the top of the mountain that created a fun challenge for those that decided to give it a try. On Thursday, Arapahoe Basin posted on their Facebook that they have extended their season until at least June 30. With more snow expected in the forecast their closing date may be pushed back even farther.A-Basin is extending its season until at least June 30. On Saturday people snowboarded, skied, barbecued in the parking lot and listened to live music by Frisco Funk.