Aspen Snowmass Celebrates 75th Anniversary on January 11

Photo Credit: Sam Ferguson, Aspen Snowmass

Celebrations include a Ski Parade and a Commemoration Ceremony at Aspen Mountain’s Historic Lift 1

To honor its historic milestone 75th anniversary, on January 11, 2022, Aspen Snowmass will mark the occasion with a day of community-wide celebrations on Aspen Mountain.  

The festivities are open to all and will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a ski parade beginning at the summit of Aspen Mountain and ending the base of Aspen’s original Lift 1 in Willoughby Park. Skiers who are strong intermediate level or above are invited to join the parade. 

At 12:00 p.m., in conjunction with the daily noon siren, Aspen Snowmass will host a lift dedication reenactment and celebration in Willoughby Park at the former base of the original Lift 1. The ceremony will feature a reenactment of the 1947 “champagne smash” and special guest speakers, including Aspen Snowmass President and CEO, Mike Kaplan, and Scott Fitzwilliams of the White River National Forest. A complimentary champagne toast will also be served to those in attendance to mark the occasion.

The 75th Anniversary celebration shows with Pop-Up Magazine at the Wheeler Opera House have been rescheduled to March 11 & 12, 2022.  The two-night-only run of shows will feature mixed-media storytelling emphasizing Aspen Snowmass’ people, places, and ski town passion in a “live magazine” format.

Other anniversary activations include toasting to the 75th with a specialty Aspen 75 cocktail, a spin-off of the original French 75, available for $7.50 in all on-mountain restaurants with bar service. The Aspen 75 will also be available in The Little Nell and the Limelight Hotels. 

Fans of Aspen Snowmass can celebrate virtually by following @AspenSnowmass on social media for a 75-day countdown of definitive events and moments that have contributed to the foundation of the brand. The countdown, which began on October 28, will culminate on January 11 to align with the celebration at Lift 1. Visit the Aspen Snowmass social media pages to track the countdown and join in the celebration.