Keystone, Colorado — Yesterday, Arapahoe Basin became the first ski resort in North America to open for the 2026-27 season, but it seemed to be looking over its shoulder a bit. This included a quick announcement on Wednesday morning, and then they opened the lifts around 20 minutes earlier than initially announced. Luckily for them, Keystone wasn’t ready quite yet.
Several hours following Arapahoe Basin’s opening on Wednesday, Keystone Resort announced that it also plans to open for the season this week. Daily operations will begin on Friday, with the lifts spinning from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests will ride up and down the River Run Gondola to get laps off the Montezuma Express chairlift.
Because of the terrain length, Keystone will offer more skiing than Arapahoe Basin, which is a solid consolation prize. Keystone, which is known for its park, will also have a hike-to park with a few features.
There will also be some festivities, with a live DJ, donuts and coffee for the first chair crowd, and lunch specials at Summit House.
“We’re thrilled to kick off our ski season,” said Shannon Buhler, Vice President and COO of Keystone Resort. “Opening in October is a huge testament to the tireless and innovative work of our team. Being one of the earliest resorts to open means so much to our employees and guests, and we can’t wait to share the first turns of the season with all of them.”
Keystone is also seeing some upgrades this winter. At the River Run Village, the Kindred Resort made its debut this past summer, providing new accommodations for guests. Keystone’s also planning dog K9S and wagons for carrying gear. They’re also seeing food quality improvements as part of Vail’s Epic Experience initiative.
For now, it’s looking like Keystone will be the second Colorado and North American ski resort to open for the 2026-27 season.
Image/Video Credits: Keystone Resort
