Colorado ski resort will pump $80 million into new lifts, restaurant
Snowmass improvements include a new lift in Elk Camp, a transformation of popular midmountain restaurant and upgraded snowmaking.
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Snowmass Mountain resort will undergo $80 million in improvements this summer including a new lift in Elk Camp, a transformation of popular midmountain restaurant and upgraded snowmaking.
The Elk Camp quad will be replaced by a high-speed six-person chairlift that will reduce wait times during ski season and increase mountain-bike haul capacity to the Snowmass Bike Park in the summer. In addition, a platter pull-style transport that has served the above-timberline terrain of The Cirque, which tops out at 12,530 feet, will be replaced by a T-bar, doubling its capacity and reducing ride time.
“The areas of terrain served by these lifts are some of the most popular on our mountain,” said Susan Cross, Snowmass mountain manager, in a news release. “These updates allow for guests to more smoothly access Snowmass’ classic wide-open slopes and sweeping vistas at Elk Camp, and the incredible variety of high-alpine terrain we have off The Cirque.”
The 56-year-old Ullrhof midmountain restaurant, located at the base of the Big Burn lift, will be dismantled and rebuilt. The new facility will double the capacity of the building to 500 seats. It is slated to open for the 2026-27 season.
Snowmass has more lifts and is larger than the other three Aspen-area ski mountains — Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk — put together. The Aspen Skiing Company is owned by the Crown family of Chicago, which was ranked 34th on the 2024 Forbes list of America’s richest families. It also is part owner of Denver-based Alterra Mountain Company, which owns Arapahoe Basin and Steamboat. and nine other resorts in five U.S. states and three Canadian provinces. Alterra also operates Winter Park, which is owned by the city and county of Denver.
