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| Arapahoe Basin Ski Area |
| Old Area Trail Maps: |
| Sunshine and great snow are A-Basin's norm. |
| Resort History: |
In 1945, the Winter Sports Committee of Denver sent Laurence "Larry"
Jump and Frederick "Sandy" Schauffler out to locate a potential ski area
in the Front Range of Colorado. After surveying land, a site was
discovered on the western side of Loveland Pass. The duo hired Richard
Durrance to join in the development of the new ski area. Initial estimates
for the construction of the area ranged at about $150,000. This included
two lifts, a rope tow and trails. An application was submitted to the
Forest Service the following year. After approval, forest ranger Wilfred
David, designed the trail system.
Later that year, the developers of Arapahoe Basin met a local resident
Max Dercum. Dercum came from Pennsylvania where he was a
professor of forestry. This background became useful with the
construction of the area. The ski area opened for the 1946-47 season
with solely a tow, which ran from mid-mountain to the summit. Skiers
were then transported to the tow location using four wheel drive vehicles.
Tickets that season ran at three dollars per day.
For the 1947-48 season, a single chair was installed, which used metal
parts. This was rare for this time period, as World War II was just
ending. According to the area, the lift was the first metal chair installed in
post-war times. The area was powered by a 100 kilowatt generator.
Skier visits topped more than 13,000 people, a huge increase over the
previous year.
When Sandy Schauffler decided to leave the area in 1949, the operations
were left to Larry. He ran the area until the mid-1960's when Joe
Jankowsky, a patrolman took over. Joe managed the ski resort until he
purchased it in 1972 for $850,000.
Big changes took place at Arapahoe Basin when Ralston-Purina bought
the area in 1978. The lift company, Lift Engineering (Yan), installed one
triple chair and three doubles. This eliminated all surface lifts and single
chairs. Skier numbers increased to 250,000 people per season by this
time.
Ownership stayed with Ralcorp for the next two decades until Vail
Resorts announced their plans to purchase the ski operations from them.
Ralcorp's Summit County areas consisted of Keystone, Breckenridge and
Arapahoe Basin. In 1997, the Department of Justice ruled that the
ownership of Keystone, Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, Vail, and Beaver
Creek controls the ski market in the Summit County area. Vail Resorts
then decided to sell Arapahoe Basin to Dundee Reality Corporation of
Canada.
Improvements to A-Basin began after Dundee took control of the ski
area. In 2001, Poma replaced the old Lenewee lift with a new triple
chair. Following the lift install, the ski area won approval to install a
snowmaking system. This allowed A-Basin to compete with Loveland to
be the first ski area to open, typically in mid October. Their new system
covers three trails, two off of Exhibition and another on Lenewee.
During the summer of 2005, the area constructed a new equipment rental
facility. This building was the first new addition to the base area in many
years. Also that year, Arapahoe Basin actively sought approval for their
Montezuma Bowl expansion. This incorporated a new lift on the backside
of the mountain and various intermediate and expert trails. The Forest
Service approved their request in 2006.
A new mid mountain lodge opened at the summit of the Exhibition lift
during March of 2007. The lodge increases the ski area's cafeteria seating
capacity by about three hundred. During July of 2007, construction on
the new Zuma Quad built by Leitner-Poma began. The new lift opened
during January of 2008.
Jump and Frederick "Sandy" Schauffler out to locate a potential ski area
in the Front Range of Colorado. After surveying land, a site was
discovered on the western side of Loveland Pass. The duo hired Richard
Durrance to join in the development of the new ski area. Initial estimates
for the construction of the area ranged at about $150,000. This included
two lifts, a rope tow and trails. An application was submitted to the
Forest Service the following year. After approval, forest ranger Wilfred
David, designed the trail system.
Later that year, the developers of Arapahoe Basin met a local resident
Max Dercum. Dercum came from Pennsylvania where he was a
professor of forestry. This background became useful with the
construction of the area. The ski area opened for the 1946-47 season
with solely a tow, which ran from mid-mountain to the summit. Skiers
were then transported to the tow location using four wheel drive vehicles.
Tickets that season ran at three dollars per day.
For the 1947-48 season, a single chair was installed, which used metal
parts. This was rare for this time period, as World War II was just
ending. According to the area, the lift was the first metal chair installed in
post-war times. The area was powered by a 100 kilowatt generator.
Skier visits topped more than 13,000 people, a huge increase over the
previous year.
When Sandy Schauffler decided to leave the area in 1949, the operations
were left to Larry. He ran the area until the mid-1960's when Joe
Jankowsky, a patrolman took over. Joe managed the ski resort until he
purchased it in 1972 for $850,000.
Big changes took place at Arapahoe Basin when Ralston-Purina bought
the area in 1978. The lift company, Lift Engineering (Yan), installed one
triple chair and three doubles. This eliminated all surface lifts and single
chairs. Skier numbers increased to 250,000 people per season by this
time.
Ownership stayed with Ralcorp for the next two decades until Vail
Resorts announced their plans to purchase the ski operations from them.
Ralcorp's Summit County areas consisted of Keystone, Breckenridge and
Arapahoe Basin. In 1997, the Department of Justice ruled that the
ownership of Keystone, Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, Vail, and Beaver
Creek controls the ski market in the Summit County area. Vail Resorts
then decided to sell Arapahoe Basin to Dundee Reality Corporation of
Canada.
Improvements to A-Basin began after Dundee took control of the ski
area. In 2001, Poma replaced the old Lenewee lift with a new triple
chair. Following the lift install, the ski area won approval to install a
snowmaking system. This allowed A-Basin to compete with Loveland to
be the first ski area to open, typically in mid October. Their new system
covers three trails, two off of Exhibition and another on Lenewee.
During the summer of 2005, the area constructed a new equipment rental
facility. This building was the first new addition to the base area in many
years. Also that year, Arapahoe Basin actively sought approval for their
Montezuma Bowl expansion. This incorporated a new lift on the backside
of the mountain and various intermediate and expert trails. The Forest
Service approved their request in 2006.
A new mid mountain lodge opened at the summit of the Exhibition lift
during March of 2007. The lodge increases the ski area's cafeteria seating
capacity by about three hundred. During July of 2007, construction on
the new Zuma Quad built by Leitner-Poma began. The new lift opened
during January of 2008.
| A-Basin's Spring Beach Scene |
| Pallavicinni's Face |
| The East Wall |
| Arapahoe Basin's A-Frame Lodge |
| Lenewee Face |
| Current Resort Stats: * |
* Elevations: Top: 13,050' Base: 10,780' Vertical Drop: 2,257'
* Ski Runs: 69; Beginner: 15% Intermediate: 45% Expert: 40%
* Skiable Acres: 490
* Lifts: 6 Total; Types: 1 Quad, 2 Triples, 2 Doubles, and 1 surface lift
* Lift Capacity: 8,700 people/hour
* Average Snowfall: 360"
* Hours of Operation: 9-4 pm Weekdays, 8:30-4 Weekends
* Typical Season Dates: Mid-October - Early July
* Snowmaking Acres: 125
* New This Season: The ski area is spending 1.2 million on expanded
parking and a underpass for skiers to cross US Highway 6.
* Resort Contact: Website: www.ArapahoeBasin.com
* Area Owner: Dundee Reality
* Ski Runs: 69; Beginner: 15% Intermediate: 45% Expert: 40%
* Skiable Acres: 490
* Lifts: 6 Total; Types: 1 Quad, 2 Triples, 2 Doubles, and 1 surface lift
* Lift Capacity: 8,700 people/hour
* Average Snowfall: 360"
* Hours of Operation: 9-4 pm Weekdays, 8:30-4 Weekends
* Typical Season Dates: Mid-October - Early July
* Snowmaking Acres: 125
* New This Season: The ski area is spending 1.2 million on expanded
parking and a underpass for skiers to cross US Highway 6.
* Resort Contact: Website: www.ArapahoeBasin.com
* Area Owner: Dundee Reality
| The Upper Mountain |
| Pros and Cons to Skiing Here: |
|
| Looking up the Pallavicini lift. |
| Copyright © coloradoskihistory.com All Rights Reserved. *Resort Stats Current for 2008-2009 Sources: Arapahoe Basin Ski Area The Colorado Ski Museum Picture Credits: Brad C. |
| Insider Tips to Skiing Here: |
Arapahoe Basin is known for its long ski seasons. With the addition of a
snowmaking system for the 2002-2003 season, the area now has the
capability to be one of the first areas open in the nation.
When arriving at the area, intermediate and beginner terrain is found off of
the Exhibition triple near the base lodge. From there, the two upper chairs
serve expert and upper intermediate bowl type skiing. Trails like the East
Wall and Falcon are great choices once the area has a sufficient base.
Pallavicini is A-Basin's trademark steep trail. During powder days, this is
the place for experts to ski and ride. The easiest way down the steeps is
to take Main Street, but experts enjoy the glades of Turbo, Rock Garden
and International. If you are visiting Summit County, Arapahoe Basin is
worth a day of exploration!
snowmaking system for the 2002-2003 season, the area now has the
capability to be one of the first areas open in the nation.
When arriving at the area, intermediate and beginner terrain is found off of
the Exhibition triple near the base lodge. From there, the two upper chairs
serve expert and upper intermediate bowl type skiing. Trails like the East
Wall and Falcon are great choices once the area has a sufficient base.
Pallavicini is A-Basin's trademark steep trail. During powder days, this is
the place for experts to ski and ride. The easiest way down the steeps is
to take Main Street, but experts enjoy the glades of Turbo, Rock Garden
and International. If you are visiting Summit County, Arapahoe Basin is
worth a day of exploration!
| Arapahoe Basin Historic Pictures: |
| The new Zuma Bowl |
| The New Black Mountain Lodge |
| Expert bowl terrain on Zuma |
