Seeing this map of Wolf Creek, Colorado’s expansion plan is very helpful for putting the plan in perspective.
The plan includes 1 low capacity tram, 5 new lifts, 1 lift upgrade and realignment, and 4 multi-use on mountain facilities.
New Lifts:
- Matchless Low Capacity Tram
- Pass Lift
- Storm Lift
- Elma Lift
- Meadow Lift
- Sunset Lift
- Upgrade to detachable & realignment of Bonanza Lift
New Buildings:
- Patrol facility at top of Matchless Tram
- Multi-use facility at base of Pass Lift
- Guest services and patrol facility at top of Sunset lift
- New guest services facility at top of existing Alberta Lift
“Today, the adroit Pitcher is ferrying his grandfather’s legacy for transportation development into the 21st century with a 1,000-acre, five-chairlift expansion plan that is both minimalist in its footprint and sweeping in its scope. The plan, which is still formative and has not been submitted to the National Forest Service for evaluation, is the largest proposed ski-area expansion in decades — larger than Vail’s Category III and even the 1989 China Bowl expansion.
He’s also promising to protect the high-altitude environment. His proposal would not add any parking but would use shuttles to ferry visitors to his mountaintop ski area. He’s not cutting new runs or building roads to install new lifts in the new terrain. He’s ensuring no summer use at his ski area. He’s ready to lock his sustainable plan into a sort of conservation easement for any future owners. And the plan is not dependent on any real estate development or significant increases in visitation.
Still, his plan comes asTexas billionaire Red McCombs is reigniting his decades-old push to develop a 1,711-unit village adjacent to the ski area.That plan — currently part of a land-swap proposal with the Forest Service — has galvanized vehement opposition from environmentalists.” – Denver Post