The morning of Monday, February 5, was a gorgeous morning at Arapahoe Basin. The sun was shining bright, the snow, though most of this past weekend’s snow had already been skied off, was soft, and the vibes were high. Lift lines were minuscule, people were having a good time.
At 10:30am, Chief Operating Officer Alan Henceroth announced via his blog that Alterra Mountain Company had signed a contract to purchase Arapahoe Basin. Season pass structure and Ikon Pass access will remain unchanged throughout the rest of the 2023-24 ski season, and employees will continue to work for the current owner, Dream Unlimited Corp., in the meantime, but the deal is expected to close later this year.
“Until the closing, all of us at The Basin still work for Dream and our primary objective is to deliver the same incredible A-Basin experiences that you have come to expect. Alterra has asked me to continue in my role at The Basin and I have said yes.” – Alan Henceroth
Arapahoe Basin was founded by Colorado Ski Hall of Famer Larry Jump in 1946, making it one of Colorado’s original ski resorts. The resort was sold to general manager Joe Jankowsky in 1972, then sold to Ralston Purina six years later. In 1997, the mountain was sold to Dundee Realty, later becoming Dream. Dream’s tenure of ownership has lasted 27 years, making it the longest in the history of the resort.
Though the news seemed to have spread across the mountain rather quickly, the energy remained high. One lifty, who had apparently found out about the accusation earlier in the morning, reacted to the change with what seemed like cautious optimism. “We’ll see” was his simple response.
“Despite missing my friends at Dream, I think this is a good time for change. There will be hundreds, if not thousands, of questions to be answered. We will not know most of these answers until the closing occurs. It will take patience for all of us to get through the awkward and uncertain months between contract signing and closing.” – Alan Henceroth
Alterra Mountain Company owns Ikon Pass, Ski Butlers, 17 ski and snowboard destinations including Steamboat and Winter Park, and more. Arapahoe Basin has been a limited access ski area on the Ikon Pass since 2019, when it left Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass.
“Arapahoe Basin is considered legendary for a reason. From its unparalleled terrain, to its commitment to sustainability, A-Basin has a team that has a passion and commitment for this unique place and its traditions, making it an ideal fit for the Alterra Mountain Company family. A-Basin was a key addition to the Ikon Pass in 2019 and we have since then worked alongside their dedicated team and look forward to continuing our shared goals and values.” – President & CEO, Alterra Mountain Company Jared Smith
Related: Jackson Hole Officially Sold To New Ownership
Image Credit: Nolan Deck