New generation headed to Aspen

One of the world’s most popular winter wonderlands is spending more than $US25 million in attracting an entire new generation of skiers and snowboarders to the destination.

The opening of the Treehouse Adventure Centre at Snowmass Mountain (20 minutes from the town of Aspen) will revolutionise how the ski industry welcomes families.

The $US17 million Adventure Centre will open in November, at the beginning of the 2007/08 season and will feature a 25,000 square foot family-friendly facility catering for babies as young as eight weeks right through to teenagers. The facility will be open year round.

Aspen/Snowmass Director of Public Relations Kristin Rust says this is the largest capital project in Aspen Skiing Company history.

“he Treehouse will be the hub for families in Aspen/Snowmass.” “It will offer non-skiing programmes for children under the age of four as well as snow/outdoor programmes for children aged two and half upwards.”

“There will be seven interactive rooms, each designed for a specific age group and all bringing the outdoors inside.” “With names like Butterfly Meadow, Fox Den, Trout Haven, Beaver Lodge, Alpine Climbing Room, Bear Den and Eagle Peak.”

“The Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Centre in Snowmass is the centrepiece of the renaissance of Snowmass and will take the family experience to an entirely new level,” said Kristin.

“This interactive facility will combine the award winning Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen/Snowmass with a children’s museum-like playground, giving kids a one-of-a-kind journey while offering parents convenience and ease.”

The Treehouse will be easily accessible from anywhere in Snowmass, with underground parking, free shuttle buses, ski-in/ski-out access, gondola connection, ski and snowboard school check-in, rentals, retail and even family apres entertainment, all consolidated under one roof.

“The Treehouse is linked to a system of seven new lifts, including kid-friendly gondolas and magic carpets, to provide a seamless learning experience for people of all ages and levels,” said Kristin.

Other new initiatives for the season include the opening of a brand new beginners area on Snowmass.

“The Elk Meadows Beginner Area is located in a dedicated area at the top of the Elk Camp gondola, giving beginners a true alpine experience.” “There’s no learning at the bottom of the mountain here! New trail alignments mean that there is no cross traffic in this area, making the ultimate learning environment,” said Kristin.

For the extreme sports lovers, the Snowmass Park will be relocated and improved in time for the upcoming season. The new Snow Park Technologies layout will allow for a longer continuous line with no cross traffic. A new bridge has been built over Lunchline allowing park users the unique experience of riding over the skiers and snowboarders below.

Special Offer:
Book an Aspen/Snowmass holiday before December one receive 6 or 8 days of free skiing and snowboarding on any of the resort’s four mountains: Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk.

The “Buy 8 or more/Get 6 Extra Days Free and the new Buy 12 or more/Get 8 Extra Days Free” offers are available through any authorized Aspen/Snowmass international tour operator when a vacation package is booked prior to December 1, 2007.

The “Buy 8/Get 6 Days Free and Buy 12/Get 8 Days Free” lift tickets are valid between January and April 2008 and may be used on all 5,000-plus acres of diverse terrain found on the four mountains in the Aspen/Snowmass area.

This offer is available through any Aspen/Snowmass international tour operator.

Contact details are online at www.aspensnowmass.com/touroperators.cfm  

ABOUT SNOWMASS:

FACT: Snowmass is the second largest ski area in the USA—36 Disneylands could fit within the ski-area boundaries.

FACT: With a vertical rise of 4,406 feet, Snowmass has the highest vertical rise of any ski area in the USA—higher than three Sears Towers or four Eiffel Towers.

Season: 22 November 2007 until 13 April 2008

Terrain: 3,132 acres/1,267 hectares

Trails: easiest: 6%, more difficult: 50%, most difficult: 12%, expert: 32%

Pipes and Parks: Three terrain parks, one superpipe and one beginner pipe

Best-kept secret: Dine for lunch at the rustic Lynn Britt Cabin located mid-mountain. The daily “Noon Groom,” a freshly groomed run that reopens at noon. Take the short hike to the Long Shot trail where intermediate skiers and snowboarders can get a backcountry experience while in-bounds.

Report by The Mole