Sky-Hi News is reporting that Gov. Jared Polis has extended statewide ski area closure through May 23, but says there’s a chance ski areas could reopen for Memorial Day weekend.
Polis said Friday afternoon that he has spoken with managers of Colorado ski areas and “laid out the criteria” that would permit ski areas to reopen as soon as Memorial Day weekend.
“It’s not so much the exposure on the slopes. That’s a real thing. But if you keep related parties to a chairlift, that could be minimized. It’s really about whether our communities that are a host to the ski areas are really ready to receive visitors and tourism. And that’s up to them. That’s not up to me. We are going to honor that. If they are ready and the health situation allows it, we’re ready. But if they are not ready, we are going to do everything we can to make sure they will be there next year and be ready.”
Alan Henceroth, COO of Arapahoe Basin, recently took to his widely-read blog to share his thoughts on the reopening of the ski area.
“I want to have a candid discussion on the possibility of us re-opening. I am concerned a few of you may be getting the wrong message. A re-opening will not be happening soon. As a community we have more work to do battling COVID-19. Hospitalization and fatality rates need to continue to fall. We still need to follow all the social distancing recommendations. Culturally, to open we have to be comfortable travelling and driving again.
That said, you know when conditions are right, we will try and re-open. That time is at least a few weeks away. We are working on plans of HOW to open. There is still no plan for WHEN to open. There are no plans to open uphill access at this time.
Don’t be discouraged. This is a marathon and A-Basin is a marathon runner. What other area stays open from mid-October to July 4th? We all need to do the right things now if we want to get open again.”
