Winter Park, Colorado — Following a 2023-24 season full of transformative changes for Winter Park, a smorgasbord of improvements could be coming in the years ahead.
Last week, the Colorado ski resort announced Winter Park Unlocked. This plan detailed projects from its previous 2022 Master Development Plan, its 2025 project proposals submitted to the U.S. Forest Service, the plans to redevelop its base village, and the potential to modernize the local public transportation infrastructure.
These changes would make the already massive mountain into the third-largest ski resort in Colorado. If everything in this plan is implemented, 358 skiable acres could be added. The new master plan includes a gondola that connects the town to the resort, expanding onto Vasquez Mountain, lift replacements, summer attractions, six hundred acres of additional snowmaking coverage, new and expanded lodges, and more.
Here’s a breakdown of what could be coming to Winter Park Resort:
Base Area Redevelopment: Winter Park is already home to a base village, but they aim to revitalize the area with several improvements.
One of the major announcements from this Unlocked plan was that they submitted a Base Area Preliminary Development Plan (PDP) to the town of Winter Park in April. For parking, Winter Park is aiming to update the parking lots and arrival areas to make it quicker and easier to reach the slopes. They plan to create distinct neighborhoods in the village with many hangout spots. New green spaces are planned to create a network of new trails for hikers and bikers. For tourists, new lodging and dining options are also being proposed. The Fraser River will become the central point of the village and the ski resort as they aim to intensify preservation efforts.
Discovery Park:Â One of the core projects that Winter Park highlighted in its proposal to the Forest Service to implement various projects was adding many new lifts in the Discovery Park area.
Discovery Park is the next level for beginner skiers and riders after they use the magic carpets around Sorenson Peak. In the future, they intend to make it a one-stop shop for learning.
First, Winter Park plans to replace the Gemini Express, a high-speed quad chairlift, with a 10-passenger gondola. This gondola would have a capacity of 3600 people per hour. It would allow beginners to avoid putting on their skis for what can be a challenging introduction to lifts. In addition, this could help reduce lift lines that tend to accumulate at The Gondola. It could eventually include additional stages that connect to the proposed Town Gondola.
In addition, they plan to add three conveyors (magic carpet) lifts for first-timers. They envision replacing the Endeavor chairlift with a detachable high-speed quad chairlift. Currently, it is a fixed-grip triple chairlift, and this replacement would increase the capacity from 1,540 to 2,400 people per hour. The Discovery double chairlift would be replaced by a fixed-grip quad chairlift. This would increase the capacity from 1,120 to 1,600 people per hour. The following lifts would be removed: Spirit, Meteor, and Comet.
Also, a new 16,000-square-foot facility would house Winter Park’s ski school in this area.
Cooper Creek: A new terrain pod that appeals to beginner and intermediate skiers and riders could soon be constructed between the new Wild Spur chairlift and the Looking Glass chairlift.
Six trails, being of easy and low-intermediate difficulty, would give novices another place to ski near Discovery Park. This terrain pod would be serviced by a new detachable high-speed six-pack chairlift. Snowmaking would be added to these trails, along with the Tin Horn and Whistlestop runs. As part of this expansion, the Looking Glass chairlift would be removed. This was part of the 2025 project proposal, so this could be happening in the not-too-distant future.
Vasquez Ridge Restaurant: Located above the Wild Spur Express, there’s a small restaurant called the Sundance Chili Hut. While the food there is very bomb, this is a small space without much seating inside. Winter Park plans to build a much larger venue for guests. The 10,000-square-foot facility would include a restaurant, restrooms, a 3000-square-foot deck, and utilities. This was part of the 2025 proposals, meaning it could be a priority.
Town Gondola: The most exciting project in the master plan involves a gondola that starts in the town of Winter Park. First announced in the 2022 MDP, Winter Park is aiming to eventually build a ten-person detachable gondola that would travel over 1200 vertical feet and carry 3600 passengers per hour. The base terminal would be near the in-town parking garage and end at the new Cooper Creek expansion.
A new ski trail would be constructed to allow skiers to travel back down to the town of Winter Park. Eventually, an eight-person gondola could extend past Cooper Creek and connect to the new Gemini Express and Discovery Park Learning Center.
Vasquez Mountain Terrain Expansion: The brand new Vasquez Mountain Zone would be set in between the Wild Spur Express, Eagle Wind chairlift, and the Cirque. This pod would feature mostly intermediate terrain, but there are some advanced runs in the proposal.
Three lifts are part of the plans for this pod. Two of these would be six-pack detachable chairlifts that access the new runs. The third lift would be another detachable six-pack, bringing skiers and riders up to the terrain pod from the bottom of the Wild Spur Express, with a ride time of around three minutes. A 16,000-square-foot lodge is also part of the plans and could have different food and beverage options, warming space, restrooms, and an office for Ski Patrol. Snowmaking would be added to seven trails.
An additional lift would give access to the Cirque, which has been one of the mountain’s most challenging parts to reach due to it being a long hike. A t-bar is being proposed from the top of the new Vasquez Mountain lifts.
Mary Jane: Over at Mary Jane, a 77-acre snowmaking expansion is envisioned for the near-term future. Adding Snowmaking coverage is planned for the Lower Arrowhead, Mary Jane Face, Mary Jane Trail, Olympia Spur, Shoo Fly, Sidetrack, Upper Sleeper, Sober Englishman, Upper Whistlestop, and Corridor runs. This would include 31,900 feet of new snowmaking pipeline. Other plans include the construction of three valve blockhouses and a new snowmaking pumphouse.
Long-distance projects include replacements over at Mary Jane. Two lifts remain from the initial opening of Mary Jane: Iron Horse and Pony Express. A six-person detachable chairlift would replace it and could have a mid-station unload terminal that services the trails currently accessed by the Pony Express.
Winter Park Snowmaking Expansion: In the Winter Park area, a 57-acre snowmaking expansion would add coverage to Bill Wilson’s Way, Dormouse, Lower Whistlestop, March Hare, Marmot Flats, Turnpike, Lower Village Way, Upper White Rabbit, Upper Jabberwocky, and Mock Turtle. Other plans include replacing or adding snowmaking lines for around 34,000 feet of trench. This was part of the 2025 projects, so it is likely a near-future project.
New Summer Additions: The Trestle Bike Park has one of the largest trail systems in North America. Following the completion of Phase Two in 2022, there are now over forty miles of gravity-fed trails.
The 2022 Master Development Plan proposed 34 miles of new biking trails. These trails would be added to Cooper Creek, Vasquez Mountain Zone, and near the top of Wild Spur and Olympia Express.
With only nine active hiking trails, Winter Park is looking to expand their trail network.
According to the 2022 MDP, some new trails would “take guests from Sunspot up to Lunch Rock and further into Parsenn Bowl and around the Vasquez Cirque.” Additional trails could be set below the new town gondola. The hikes would be sculpted away from Trestle Bike Park to avoid collisions. Additional activities proposed include ziplines and aerial rope courses.
Transportation Improvements: One of the core problems with Colorado’s ski industry is that it’s really tricky to reach the mountains during peak periods. Winter Park stands out from many ski resorts, though there are various ways to reach the mountain, including via Amtrak train.
Expanded rail service is a core part of these plans. A mountain passenger rail expansion is planned thanks to a new law signed by Colorado Governor Jared Polis earlier this year. More service from Denver to Winter Park is proposed, along with connecting guests to Steamboat and Craig via train.
As previously referenced, the Town Gondola is a core component of this public infrastructure plan. It would facilitate easier access for those staying in town and reduce the amount of traffic from people who would’ve parked at the ski resort.
Click here to learn more about Winter Park Unlocked. The 2022 MDP and 2025 proposals submitted to the U.S. Forest Service can be viewed via the attached links.
Image Credits: Winter Park Resort
