TL;DR
Winter Park Resort has invested $37 million in snowmaking upgrades, enabling earlier openings and later closings. The investment aims to extend the ski season, with the resort now boasting one of the longest seasons in Colorado.
Ski Resorts Invest in Snowmaking to Lengthen Seasons
Winter Park Resort has invested $37 million over the past two summers to upgrade its snowmaking system. The new system, replacing equipment from the 1970s, allows the resort to open well before Thanksgiving and remain operational deep into spring. Despite receiving over 330 inches of natural snow this season - the most in Colorado - Winter Park continues to benefit from its improved snowmaking capabilities.
The investment in snowmaking is not unique to Winter Park. Vail Resorts has spent over $100 million on snowmaking across its properties in the past decade. This includes significant upgrades at Vail Mountain, , and with the goal to provide more skiing days and consistent conditions for visitors.Aspen Skiing Company has also invested in snowmaking at the top of , with plans for similar upgrades at . These improvements allow for upper-mountain openings and closings during years with less natural snow. , a Front Range ski area, is seeking approval to expand its water storage for snowmaking, recognising the need to prepare for potential future climate variability.
