Among the most popular and famous US ski resorts, Aspen is celebrating its 50th anniversary this 2017/2018 winter season. To celebrate Aspen Snowmass holding such high esteem in the ski industry, the ski resort has plenty to offer: $6.50 single-day lift tickets, fireworks, a retro party, and several other events await its guests. Moreover, the Breathtaker Coaster provides for your adrenaline fix, and in January 2018, Aspen Snowmass will be part of the Grand Prix's resorts lineup with athlethes competing to get their tickets to the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. Besides, constructions of both the Limelight Hotel Snowmass and Snowmass Base Village have begun.
Snowmass marks 50 years with $6.50 single-day lift tickets
The upcoming 2017/2018 winter season holds a special place in the hearts of both Aspen locals and visitors. The Colorado ski resort Aspen Snowmass is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a gift for all skiers and snowboaders: To celebrate Snowmass holding such high esteem in the ski industry, festivities will begin on Friday, December 15 with $6.50 single-day lift tickets. That is the same price how much it cost to ski back in 1967 when the resort opened on December 17, and it really is a bargain price, as tickets to hit the slopes at Aspen can run upwards of $155. So, on Friday, you are free to ski or ride a full day at Snowmass Mountain without breaking the bank. You can purchase the lift tickets online to make use of that once-in-50-years-deal.
Still, this lift ticket special is not the only offer that marks Aspen Snowmass' 50-year-anniversary. Snowmass is capping the day off with a retro party that will be held at Elk Camp restaurant and fireworks shot over Fanny Hill later in the evening. On Saturday, December 16 there will be a 50th Anniversary Golden Gala and a film premiere of “Snowmass: 50 Years of Mountain Spirit“.
Moreover, the upcoming ski season boasts some vintage skiing and riding with a real blast-from-the-past. Golden signs delineating the original twenty-five runs were hung and are to be left up all season. Snowmass-at-Aspen, as it was called back then, opened with five chairlifts and 50 miles of trails. Today it is part of a couple of resorts that include Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, and Aspen Highlands. Heads up to everyone who is not able to attend the festivities: The celebration continues throughout the season, with specials at bars and restaurants and monthly fireworks over Fanny Hill. Get ready to party like it's 1967!
Get your adrenaline fix at Breathtaker Coaster
Scheduled to open in December 2017, the new Breathtaker Coaster will definitely live up to its name. Featuring a 5,700 foot-long track with a ride time of seven to nine minutes, it will drop you more than 400 vertical feet. The rider can control the speed on its own, yet, there will be a special technology allowing for a tandem option for smaller children, thus providing a thrilling ride for all ages and abilities. The Coaster will be open all year round winding through the trees between Gunner's View and Sandy Park ski trails.
Olympic qualifying events: Toyota U.S. Snowboard & Freeski Grand Prix
Aspen Snowmass will host one stop on this season's tour of the U.S. Snowboard Team and U.S. Freeski Team athletes competing to get their tickets to the Olympic Winter Games 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Along with Copper Mountain and Mammoth Mountain, Aspen Snowmass will be part of the Grand Prix's resorts lineup, hosting five qualification events between January 10, 2018 and January 14, 2018. The resort hosted already a snowboarding exhibition event in 1998, and a halfpipe snowboarding Olympic qualification event.
Limelight Hotel Snowmass & Snowmass Base Village
In the spring of 2017, constructions on the new Limelight Hotel Snowmass began, which are scheduled to finish in November 2018. The hotel will be located adjacent to Snowmass Mountain's Elk Camp Gondola providing the perfect ski-in/ski-out access. Besides, construction on the Snowmass Base Village mountain resort has begun. Snowmass Base Village is the largest ski resort development underway in North America totaling $600 million dollars with a future residential condominium building, a Four Mountain Sports Store, an Ice Age Discovery Center, and a central public events plaza with an ice-skating rink planned at the base of Snowmass.
Aspen Snowmass' World-Class Skiing
Located at the foot of Aspen Mountain, or Mount Ajax, Aspen is well-known for its history of being Goldilocks of silver mining towns. Reigned as the Silver Queen, it is also famous for its elegant Victorian houses and history, its cosmopolitan atmosphere, legendary nightlife and of course its champagne powder. Thanks to its local airport, Aspen is quite easy to get to for guests from Europe or elsewhere, who are to enjoy plenty of bars, galleries, international cuisines, and shopping hot spots.
In fact, there are four Aspen ski areas known jointly as Aspen Snowmass. Three of them, Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, and Aspen Buttermilk are in the Roaring Fork Valley, while the fourth, being Snowmass itself, is located close by and bigger than the other three put together. The most adventurous mountain is Aspen Highlands, Highland Bowl in particular. However, Snowmass got so much terrain to explore that it has plenty for everyone, no matter what their skill level. For instance, Buttermilk is a true beginners' mountain and your mountain of choice when looking for ungroomed terrain. Besides, Aspen Mountain is one of the best ski resorts for tree skiing, offering tons of double black diamond runs.
