Colorado Ski Country resorts are known around the world for having consistently good snow conditions, offering affordable travel packages, providing the highest standard in guest service and putting guest safety as a top priority. But what is not as well known, is that the ski resorts in Colorado hold many other distinctions that set them, and the state, apart from other ski and winter destinations. Below is a small sampling of resort claims to fame and fun facts about skiing in Colorado, ski country USA.
For the Record
North Americas highest wine bar: Tellurides Alpino Vino 11,996ft
Produced more Olympians than any other town in North America: Steamboat Springs 78 & counting
Only resort in the country served by Amtrak: Winter Park
Oldest ski area in continuous operation: Howelsen Hill Opened in 1914
Howelsen Hill BoatTow
Home of the Highest Valentines Day mass wedding: Loveland Ski Area 12,050ft hosted 143 couples in 2004
Highest Starbucks: Monarch 10,790ft
Oldest Winter Carnival west of the Mississippi: Steamboat Springs More than 100 years old
Largest Cat Skiing operation in United States: San Juan Untracked More than 35,000 ac
First in the country to open for daily skiing and riding for the season: Loveland or A-Basin
Longest magic carpet in the Rockies: Ski Cooper 770 ft
Location with most natural mineral springs: Steamboat Springs 150 and reason behind Steamboat Springs name
Highest 6-pack hi-speed lift in North America: Winter Parks Panoramic Express 12,060 ft
Highest Terrain Park in North America: Arapahoe Basins Treeline Terrain Park 11,500 ft
The only place on Earth to find Champagne Powder snow: Steamboat Coined in the early 1950s and trademarked by the resort
Longest mountain airport runway: Yampa Valley Regional Airport in Steamboat 10,000 ft
Home to the largest adaptive program: Winter Park National Sports Center of the Disabled (NSCD)
Fun Facts
Shortest Lift: Tied between Arapahoe Basins Molly Hogan lift and Winter Parks Mt. Maury Carpet both at 1 minute
Shortest Run: Crested Buttes Short Cut 50 feet
Only resort with scenic snowcat tours: Winter Park
Wolf Creek
Closest resort to Denver: Eldora 49 miles
Resort with most vertical rise: Telluride 4,425 ft
Highest 10-year average snowfall: Wolf Creek 430 inches
Highest peak: Silverton at 13,487
Highest base: Loveland 10,800
Did you Know?
Most popular place to ski trees at Steamboat? There are roughly 1,790 acres of tree terrain at the resort. Shadows and Closets are the two popular areas for great tree skiing and riding.
How many moguls on Winter Park/Mary Janes most popular bump run? Per resident Moguls expert, Dr. David Bahr of Regis University, approximately 1,000 moguls are on the famed run, Outhouse. Taking guests from the top of Winter Park Mountain to the bottom of Mary Jane are 2,450 feet of the best moguls in North America.
The most challenging run at Silverton? Pants Pooper. If you make it down the 55 degree tiny slot with big cliffs at the bottom without soiling your shorts, you win a prize.
Most popular lunch menu item at Wolf Creek? The Santa Fe style Green Chile stew served with a tortilla, your choice of sour cream, grated cheddar cheese, chopped red onions, chopped scallions, bacon bits, tomato or the works.
Most popular aprs spot at Crested Butte? Butte 66: The most popular aprs ski bar and eatery on the mountain offers live music, great lunches, and daily drink specials. For the aprs adventurer there is a four-person shot ski and six large screen TVs for sports fans. Order warm sammie melts, specialty topped hot dogs, and homemade chili or some tater tots for the little ones. Adult milkshakes are another popular item, giving the traditional roadhouse favorite a kick with a slash of alcohol. The expansive outdoor deck has amazing slope side mountain views, so grab a drink at the bar and step outside to lounge in the sun after a long day on the slopes or come in to watch the big game.
Pitch of the steepest run at Telluride? Tram Shot is the steepest pitch on the mountain, between 38 & 40 degrees.
Number of gallons of hot chocolate sold on an average Saturday at Eldora? 20 gallons
Most number of couples married simultaneously during Lovelands Valentines Day Mountain Top Matrimony? 150, coming from as far away as Australia.
Number of gallons of water used to make snow each season at Monarch? 0, Monarch does not make snow.
Top speed reached on the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center at Copper Mountain? More than 75 miles per hour has been achieved by athletes from around the world who train at the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center at Copper.
Terrain feature that no other Colorado resort has? Nordic ski jump at Howelsen Hill, which is year round.
Number of 10th Mountain Division soldiers trained at Camp Hale/Ski Cooper which operated between 1943 and 1945: 14,000.
Number of signature Bacon Bloody Marys sold in an average season at Arapahoe Basin? 10,000, or approximately 41 Bacon Bloody Marys a day. Add to that 334 extra bacon skewers.
Amount of childrens make-your-own smores served during Ski Granby Ranch aprs ski by the fire pit? 300 kits, which include graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows and a roasting stick.
