Copper Mountain Announces Largest Single Year Investment in Over 10-Years

Copper Mountain has recently announced several new upgrades that will debut for the 2023-24 winter ski season, giving guests much to anticipate. These enhancements constitute the most substantial investment in the resort in over a decade, providing guests with an even better experience.The upgrades are happening both on and off the mountain, with the most significant being the Aerie, a new mid-mountain lodge that will revolutionize the dining experience at Copper Mountain. Other improvements on the slopes include new mountain bike and hiking trails, upgraded ski trails, snowmaking installations, and new snowcats. In addition, a new childcare facility will open in Copper's Center Village for employees and the community, along with heated sidewalks. Other updates include the expansion of the Far East parking lot, the addition of two new buses to the COBUS fleet, and the installation of additional EV charging stations in various resort lots.Copper Mountain works closely with the United States Forest Service on all projects located in the White River National Forest. This partnership is critical in ensuring that projects are planned, environmentally analyzed, implemented, and constructed to provide guests with the best possible experience.

The interior of Aerie Lodge. Credit: Copper Mountain Resort The AerieCopper Mountain is taking its on-mountain dining experiences to the next level with the addition of a new lodge, the Aerie. The Aerie, a two-story building covering 25,000 square feet, will be located at the top of the American Eagle lift. Guests arriving on foot or via gondola will experience a seamless transition as the gondola unloads on the second-floor deck.The Aerie will introduce a new full-service on-mountain restaurant, "Forage and Feast," featuring distinctive Colorado cuisine, which will be available during both the summer and winter months. Guests will enjoy an elevated dining experience in the restaurant's full-service bar and lounge, private dining area for events, and cafeteria, all while taking in breathtaking 270-degree views of the Gore and Ten Mile Ranges.This project will further improve the year-round mountain experience at Copper by enhancing on-mountain dining, and guests will enjoy an unparalleled dining experience at the resort.New Snowmaking, New Snow Cats, and New Trail Improvements Copper Mountain is set to improve its snow surface quality in the early season through snowmaking enhancements across the mountain. The project involves upgrading and replacing existing snowmaking infrastructure, including installing new automated tower snow guns in the resort's Central Park terrain park area and new installations on the west side of the mountain. These new installations will particularly enhance the western territory, with a focus on trails like Soliloquy, enabling the resort to open that area of the mountain earlier in the season.Additionally, the resort is welcoming five new snowcats to its fleet, which will enable it to better maintain its groomed terrain. Several trail upgrades will also take place this summer, including the widening of the upper Carefree trail, improvements to the Lower Enchanted traverse, and glading near Lyman Lane. These improvements aim to provide guests with a better overall skiing and snowboarding experience at Copper Mountain.

The base village in summmer. Credit: Copper Mountain Resort Base Village Upgrades Copper Mountain Resort Association (CMRA) is leading the development of a new childcare facility, set to open in the 2023 winter season. The facility will cater to the needs of the Copper community members and employees, offering more than 45 childcare spots. Located within Snowbridge Square in Copper's Center Village, the proposed building will have designated areas for infants, toddlers, and preschool children, ensuring small group sizes for maximum care. The facility will feature a 1,800-square-foot outdoor area, a full-service kitchen providing breakfast and lunch for children, a washer and dryer, a state-of-the-art security system, and a check-in station. Additionally, Copper Mountain will expand its snowmelt system this summer, extending it up to Ten Mile Circle on both sides of Mountain Plaza, facilitating more efficient maintenance and easy travel for guests during the winter months.Summer Upgrades – Bike, Hike, and GolfCopper Mountain is committed to improving summer recreation opportunities by upgrading its mountain bike trails, hiking trails, and golf course. The resort will continue construction on its multi-year project, which aims to introduce 22 miles of new mountain biking trails designed to increase flow and cater to a range of rider abilities. This summer, two continuous gravity flow trails down the mountain will be completed, with the upper section establishing a connection between the top of the American Eagle Lift and the top of the Woodward Express Lift. The lower section will extend Gopher-It, a previously established trail, down from the top of the Woodward Express.Furthermore, a new hiking trail located above the top of the American Eagle Lift and the Aerie is being built, providing a complete hiking loop for guests to enjoy. Down in the Village, the Copper Creek Golf Course is expanding its current 9-hole course to 14 holes, offering more time on the links and additional stunning views. The resort plans to add more holes to make it a full 18-hole course during the 2024 summer season. These upgrades are part of Copper Mountain's ongoing efforts to enhance summer recreation experiences for its guests.

Mountain Biking is one of the many summer activities at Copper Mountain. Credit: Copper Mountain Resort Parking Lot Infrastructure and New Buses Copper Mountain is not leaving any stone unturned as it aims to improve guests' experiences on the mountain. The resort is set to upgrade its parking lots and transportation fleet to enhance traffic flow in and out of the resort. The Far East lot will undergo expansion to provide ample parking space for visitors, necessitating slight reroutes of the Colorado trail. As part of the project, parts of the Colorado Trail will also undergo realignment and improvements for users' benefit. In addition, two new buses will be added to Copper's COBUS fleet, boosting transportation frequency and quality between the parking lots and villages, thus reducing wait times for guests. Furthermore, the resort is committed to supporting eco-friendly initiatives, and 30 new EV charging stations will be installed in the Alpine Lot, while Tesla superchargers will be installed at the Conoco service station to aid the resort's Play Forever initiatives.New Lifts in the FutureCopper Mountain is focused on enhancing the skiing and riding experience on the west side of the mountain, and the resort is making plans for lift upgrades. The Forest Service has approved the replacement of both the Timberline and Lumberjack lifts, which will not begin until at least the summer of 2024. Copper Mountain has been in talks with Leitner Poma and Doppelmayr to partner on the project, and further details will be announced in due course.

Copper Mountain upper mountain zone. Credit: Copper Mountain Resort Copper Mountain Season PassCopper Mountain has started selling season passes for the 2023-24 winter season. The pass options include the Copper Mountain Season Pass with Kids Ski Free, Four Pack plus Bonus Day, Fast Tracks Season Pass, and a new Four Pack Fast Tracks pass designed to maximize skiing and riding time on the mountain. The Fast Tracks Four Pack can be combined with a Copper season pass, Copper Four Pack, Ikon season pass, or Session pass. For the 2023-24 season, Fast Tracks daily upgrades will be available for all lift ticket and pass holders.The Copper Mountain Season Pass provides additional benefits such as unlimited scenic chairlift rides during summer 2023, discounted lift tickets for friends and family, savings on dining, retail, and rentals, and three free days of skiing and riding at Monarch Mountain. Skiers and riders can secure the best pricing on 2023-24 season passes and receive a Bonus Day with their Four Pack or Four Pack Fast Tracks pass if purchased before May 9. To learn more about Copper Mountain’s 2023-24 pass options, please visit CopperColorado.com.