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| Beaver Creek Resort |
| Old Beaver Creek Trail Maps: |
| 1980-81 |
| 1987-88 |
| The Larkspur Bowl with the main mountain on the right |
| 1988-89 |
| 1992-93 |
| Resort History: |
| The Drink of Water lift serves as an excellent beginner area. |
| Spring Skiing at Arrowhead |
| The new Larkspur Express |
| Bachelor Gulch |
| The Birds of Prey Express. |
| Strawberry Park |
| Looking down at mid-mountain |
| Current Resort Stats: * |
| Arrowhead Ski Area |
| Pros and Cons to Skiing Here: |
| Overlooking Lower B.C. |
|
| Great beginner terrain is located off of the Cinch Express at the summit of the mountain. |
| Beaver Creek operates during the summer months with the Centennial Express. Activities include biking, hiking and base area games. |
| Copyright © coloradoskihistory.com All Rights Reserved. *Resort Stats Current for 2009-10 Sources: The Colorado Ski Museum Picture Credits: Brad C. |
| Insider Tips to Skiing Here: |
| Grouse Mountain |
| 1982-83 |
The idea of building a new ski resort in the Beaver and McCoy Creek areas
came about in 1956, when Earl Eaton and John Burke discussed future
possibilities. At this time, Vail was about five years from opening.Talks for a
ski area on this site became more plausible when Denver won the bid for the
1976 Winter Olympics. Alternative sites to host Olympic events included
Mount Sniktau near Loveland Valley and Copper Mountain.
The Forest Service conducted a land use analysis in 1972 to determine if the
Beaver Creek drainage could host a ski area. The report, overseen by Ed
Browning, the District Ranger, concluded that the area was "good to
outstanding" for skiing potential. By February of the same year, the Olympic
Committee decided that Beaver Creek would hold the alpine events. This
prompted Vail Associates to file for a new ski area permit with the Forest
Service.
To the world's surprise, Denver voters turned down their successful bid by a
margin of 3 to 2 with ballot "Initiative #8." The movement against the Winter
Games was lead by State Representatives Dick Lamm (who would become
governor in 1975) and Bob Jackson. Their stance was against development
of the Front Range, which they thought would be inevitable if the Olympics
came to town. A Denver newspaper said Vail Associates were, "Up the
creek without a permit." Having the Olympics skip town was almost fatal to
the development of this resort. After a few years of persistence, Vail was
awarded a special use permit on March 22, 1976.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Beaver Creek was released
and approved by the U.S. Forest Service later that year. It did not go
unnoticed. Statements from local people read, "We're getting another ski
area and we're getting it with the blessing of Colorado's biggest and most
ruthless land developer, the U.S. Forest Service."
Colorado's political environment at the time also did not favor the resort. Just
hours before leaving office, Governor Vanderhoof signed the state approval
documents allowing the development of Beaver Creek to begin. As
Governor Lamm entered the position he stated he would block all
development even if approved by the U.S. Forest Service. This measure
was also supported by the Sierra Club.
After reviewing the concerns of the governor, the Forest Service (F.S.)
decided there were no grounds for delaying construction of the resort. The
special use permit granted by the F.S. allowed 2,775 acres of public land
with 2,200 acres for private land for the resort. On July 28, 1977, the
ground breaking ceremonies began. Former President Gerald Ford and Vail
Associates president Jack Marshall attended the celebrations. Having
construction work begin was a large obstacle because no ski area had been
challenged as aggressively as Beaver Creek to date.
Initial plans for the resort included a 2.5 mile access road from Interstate 70,
6 chairlifts, and a base village. The area was meant to serve around 3,000
skiers per day, with final development of about 15 lifts serving 7,500 skiers
each day.
Beaver Creek opened on December 15, 1980 with new 6 Doppelmayr
chairlifts and a temporary base lodge. Costs for development ranged in the
neighborhood of about 300 million dollars.
The decade of the 1980's led to much growth for the resort. The following
ski season the Larkspur Bowl opened, providing skiers with expert mogul
runs as well as wide open intermediate terrain. Beaver Creek invested in the
new high-speed lift technology the same year as Vail. In 1986, they
purchased a new Doppelmayr lift and named it the Centennial Express. This
vastly improved access from the village to mid mountain. During 1989, the
World Ski Championship came to Beaver Creek. This was the first time the
resort attracted a major racing event since its loss of the Olympic bid in the
1970's.
During the 1990's Beaver Creek continued to upgrade lifts and expand new
terrain. Grouse Mountain opened in 1991 with the addition of a CTEC
high-speed quad chair. The Bachelor Gulch development, which included
another quad chair, new ski-in houses, and a hotel greeted skiers and riders
in 1997. During this year, Beaver Creek connected with the Arrowhead Ski
Area. It was originally purchased during the 1993 season. In 1999, Vail
and Beaver Creek hosted the World Alpine Ski Championships. They were
held on the newly completed Birds of Prey downhill course and on the Giant
Steps course at Vail.
Recently, Beaver Creek continued upgrading their facilities. During the
summer of 2003, a new Doppelmayr CTEC high-speed quad chair was
installed replacing the old Westfall lift. The new chair now provides better
access to the Birds of Prey downhill course. The following year, the Beaver
Creek Mountain lifts were installed to US Highway 6. For summer 2005,
the Larkspur lift was upgraded to a high-speed quad. This new lift now
provides better access to Strawberry Park and the Larkspur area. It is also
a Doppelmayr CTEC lift.
To provide better access to the new River Front hotel in Avon, the ski area
constructed a high-speed gondola during summer of 2007. ;This completes
the chairlift link to valley. A second gondola also replaced the original
Heymeadow double chair. The gondola is expected to improve beginner
skiers comfort levels on ski lifts.
came about in 1956, when Earl Eaton and John Burke discussed future
possibilities. At this time, Vail was about five years from opening.Talks for a
ski area on this site became more plausible when Denver won the bid for the
1976 Winter Olympics. Alternative sites to host Olympic events included
Mount Sniktau near Loveland Valley and Copper Mountain.
The Forest Service conducted a land use analysis in 1972 to determine if the
Beaver Creek drainage could host a ski area. The report, overseen by Ed
Browning, the District Ranger, concluded that the area was "good to
outstanding" for skiing potential. By February of the same year, the Olympic
Committee decided that Beaver Creek would hold the alpine events. This
prompted Vail Associates to file for a new ski area permit with the Forest
Service.
To the world's surprise, Denver voters turned down their successful bid by a
margin of 3 to 2 with ballot "Initiative #8." The movement against the Winter
Games was lead by State Representatives Dick Lamm (who would become
governor in 1975) and Bob Jackson. Their stance was against development
of the Front Range, which they thought would be inevitable if the Olympics
came to town. A Denver newspaper said Vail Associates were, "Up the
creek without a permit." Having the Olympics skip town was almost fatal to
the development of this resort. After a few years of persistence, Vail was
awarded a special use permit on March 22, 1976.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Beaver Creek was released
and approved by the U.S. Forest Service later that year. It did not go
unnoticed. Statements from local people read, "We're getting another ski
area and we're getting it with the blessing of Colorado's biggest and most
ruthless land developer, the U.S. Forest Service."
Colorado's political environment at the time also did not favor the resort. Just
hours before leaving office, Governor Vanderhoof signed the state approval
documents allowing the development of Beaver Creek to begin. As
Governor Lamm entered the position he stated he would block all
development even if approved by the U.S. Forest Service. This measure
was also supported by the Sierra Club.
After reviewing the concerns of the governor, the Forest Service (F.S.)
decided there were no grounds for delaying construction of the resort. The
special use permit granted by the F.S. allowed 2,775 acres of public land
with 2,200 acres for private land for the resort. On July 28, 1977, the
ground breaking ceremonies began. Former President Gerald Ford and Vail
Associates president Jack Marshall attended the celebrations. Having
construction work begin was a large obstacle because no ski area had been
challenged as aggressively as Beaver Creek to date.
Initial plans for the resort included a 2.5 mile access road from Interstate 70,
6 chairlifts, and a base village. The area was meant to serve around 3,000
skiers per day, with final development of about 15 lifts serving 7,500 skiers
each day.
Beaver Creek opened on December 15, 1980 with new 6 Doppelmayr
chairlifts and a temporary base lodge. Costs for development ranged in the
neighborhood of about 300 million dollars.
The decade of the 1980's led to much growth for the resort. The following
ski season the Larkspur Bowl opened, providing skiers with expert mogul
runs as well as wide open intermediate terrain. Beaver Creek invested in the
new high-speed lift technology the same year as Vail. In 1986, they
purchased a new Doppelmayr lift and named it the Centennial Express. This
vastly improved access from the village to mid mountain. During 1989, the
World Ski Championship came to Beaver Creek. This was the first time the
resort attracted a major racing event since its loss of the Olympic bid in the
1970's.
During the 1990's Beaver Creek continued to upgrade lifts and expand new
terrain. Grouse Mountain opened in 1991 with the addition of a CTEC
high-speed quad chair. The Bachelor Gulch development, which included
another quad chair, new ski-in houses, and a hotel greeted skiers and riders
in 1997. During this year, Beaver Creek connected with the Arrowhead Ski
Area. It was originally purchased during the 1993 season. In 1999, Vail
and Beaver Creek hosted the World Alpine Ski Championships. They were
held on the newly completed Birds of Prey downhill course and on the Giant
Steps course at Vail.
Recently, Beaver Creek continued upgrading their facilities. During the
summer of 2003, a new Doppelmayr CTEC high-speed quad chair was
installed replacing the old Westfall lift. The new chair now provides better
access to the Birds of Prey downhill course. The following year, the Beaver
Creek Mountain lifts were installed to US Highway 6. For summer 2005,
the Larkspur lift was upgraded to a high-speed quad. This new lift now
provides better access to Strawberry Park and the Larkspur area. It is also
a Doppelmayr CTEC lift.
To provide better access to the new River Front hotel in Avon, the ski area
constructed a high-speed gondola during summer of 2007. ;This completes
the chairlift link to valley. A second gondola also replaced the original
Heymeadow double chair. The gondola is expected to improve beginner
skiers comfort levels on ski lifts.