Resort officials announced that Purgatory Resort will kick off its winter ski season on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, opening prior to Thanksgiving for the second consecutive year. Purgatorys mountain teams have been busy gearing up for another great winter!
Several projects to improve the skier experience are currently underway. The Columbine beginner area is being expanded and re-graded to improve the area where beginners learn to ski and snowboard. The Snow Coaster Tubing Hill is being relocated, redesigned, and enhanced for a better user experience. A hazard tree mitigation project is in progress, which will vastly improve the health of the forest, as well as enhance tree skiing at the resort. Purgatorys snowmaking system is being enhanced with additional snow guns and upgraded nozzles, making snowmaking efforts more productive and efficient. Snowmaking may begin as early as October, weather permitting.
New for this winter, Purgatory Resort is installing a new surface lift that will transport skiers on the backside of the mountain. The new T-3 surface lift will provide access to skiers heading west to the Legends Lift 8 high-speed detachable-quad chairlift which debuted last winter. The T-3 lift will also connect a new trail to the Legends Lift 8. The Legends Bypass, which opened last winter as an alternative way down to Lift 8 for intermediate skiers, will be widened and re-graded. These improvements will offer skiers a more gradual and user-friendly trail that provides access to Lift 8. Work on the new lift, new trail and the Bypass will begin in September.
This fall, Purgatory is opening a new convenient retail, rental and repair services shop in Durango. Purgatory Resort recently purchased the former Hassle Free Sports building at 2615 Main Avenue, Durango. Purgatory is remodeling the building to provide a new storefront for outdoor recreation apparel, gear, rentals, repair services, ticket/pass purchases, as well as the resorts reservation center. The location will also serve as corporate headquarters for all four resorts owned by James Coleman: Purgatory Resort, Arizona Snowbowl, Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort, and Pajarito Mountain.
New Pass Partners Offer More Great Skiing Opportunities!
The Power Passhas added partner ski resorts that to add tounlimited skiing and snowboarding at Purgatory Resort, Pajarito Mountain, Arizona Snowbowl, and Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort. New this season, the Power Pass now includes skiing privileges in Spain at Masella Ski Resort, three free days at Eldora Mountain Resort in Coloradoandfree days at 17 other partner resorts. Passholders visiting Colorados Front Range nowhave three resorts to choose from this winter: Eldora, Copper Mountain, and Loveland. The Power Pass is available at a reduced rate through Friday, Aug. 5, and features a new interest-free payment plan.
