Snowmass, Colo., (September 29, 2017) – The Winter 2017/2018 season brings exciting new events to Snowmass, Colorado. December 2017 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Snowmass Ski Area, while January 2018 brings a brand new event to Snowmass – the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix. Winter 2017/2018 also features the opening of the Breathtaker Coaster, part of the new Lost Forest on-mountain activity center, the debut of Snowmass S’mores, the launch of the new Starlit Trek series, and much more.

The addition of these new events and activities in Snowmass this winter add to Snowmass’ already incomparable guest experience, and distinguishes the resort as a leader in winter offerings – both on and off the slopes.

“There’s a special energy in the air in Snowmass right now, as we look with fondness on the past and with excitement to the future,” says Rose Abello, Tourism Director, Snowmass Tourism. “Winter 2017/2018 is going to be a great season. We kick off the season celebrating Snowmass’ 50^th Anniversary, with $6.50 lift tickets on December 15^th. Then in January, we host Olympic hopefuls competing in Snowmass’ impressive terrain parks in the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix. Our recent ranking as the #4 resort in the west by SKI Magazine, and a bounty of new activities and events being introduced this season, make this an especially fun winter to visit Snowmass, whether it’s your first time or your 50^th.”

Snowmass Celebrates 50 Years

This winter, Snowmass celebrates its 50^th Anniversary. To kick off the celebrations, on December 15, Snowmass Ski Area will offer a single-day lift ticket pricing of $6.50, the price that was charged on opening day in 1967. The celebration weekend (December 15-17) includes a retro costume party, fireworks, anniversary dine-around, revivals of classic events such as Banana Days (an on mountain scavenger hunt), the premiere of the film, “Snowmass: 50 Years of Mountain Spirit”, and much more.

Additional celebrations will take place throughout the 2017-18 ski season, including:

• $19.67 and $50 prix fixe menus at participating bars and restaurants.
• Gold signs marking all the original 1967 trails on the mountain.
• 50th anniversary lodging specials and discounts.
• Retro fashion shows.
• Weekly champagne toast.
• Official 50^th anniversary merchandise for sale throughout season.

For more information on the Snowmass 50th Anniversary, please visit www.gosnowmass.com/50-years. To purchase $6.50 lift tickets for December 15, 2017, please visit aspensnowmass.com.  

Snowmass S’mores

New for the 2017/2018 season, guests can enjoy Snowmass S’mores, free s’mores with a unique Snowmass spin from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. every day. Guests will find branded s’mores carts at the fire pits in Base Village and the Snowmass Mall, where they can choose from an assortment of out-of-the-ordinary s’mores fixings, roast their marshmallow and build their perfect s’more. Free and open to all ages, this new après tradition makes for a distinctively Snowmass experience and truly Instagramable moment.

New Winter Events

Toyota U.S. Grand Prix – Snowmass is set to host the third stop of the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, January 10-14, 2017. U.S. Snowboard Team and U.S. Freeski Team athletes from around the country are set to compete in Snowmass for a chance to be named to the U.S. Olympic Team. Athletes will compete in ski and snowboard slopestyle and halfpipe events.

Starlit Treks & Moonlit Treks – Building on the success of Snowmass’ Moonlit Treks, which return this season on select Saturdays on or near the full moon, Snowmass Tourism is launching a new series – Starlit Treks. Starlit Treks occur on or near the darkest night of the year and feature a discussion with an ACES (Aspen Center for Environmental Studies) astrologer. Both Starlit Treks and Moonlit Treks include snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on a 1.2-mile trail around the Snowmass Club golf course, with a station along the way for cookies and hot chocolate, and a lively dinner at the end of the trek. The family-style pasta dinner at Black Saddle Bar and Grille includes live music and s’mores around an open-air fire.

New On-Mountain Activities

The new Breathtaker Coaster at the top of the Elk Camp Gondola is slated to open December 2017 for winter operations, featuring a 5,700 foot track that winds through the trees. The mountain coaster features individual cars that are controlled by the rider with a ride time of seven to nine minutes. The Breathtaker Coaster is slated to open for summer and winter operations and is equipped with lights for night operations.

The Breathtaker Coaster is part of the new Lost Forest, Snowmass’ new on-mountain enhancement, which features a canopy tour, challenge course, climbing wall, expanded hiking and biking trails, and much more. The Lost Forest provides guests the chance to be completely immersed in nature while enjoying an array of activities fit for the whole family. The full Lost Forest experience is slated to open Summer 2018. For more information, please visit https://www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/lost-forest.

V.I.K. (Very Important Kids) Program Returns

Snowmass’ V.I.K. program is specifically designed to provide kids’ après activities for families once the lifts close. With daily programming including scavenger hunts, storytelling, s’mores, and more, Snowmass offers activities every day all season long for children of all ages. Visit VIKSnowmass.com for schedules and program descriptions.

Hotel & Restaurant Updates

The Artisan at Stonebridge Inn – New for winter 2017/2018, The Artisan features specialty food offerings five nights a week, in addition to its seasonal menu offerings. New this winter, The Artisan is featuring a Burger and a Beer every Monday night for $14. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Magic by Doc Eason returns from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. with a new version of This Ain’t No Winky the Clown Show featuring sleight-of-hand performances and other close-up magic. Wednesdays this season feature Flight Night, a locally sourced flight menu of Colorado spirits, beers, or wines, often accompanied by a special appetizer or bar menu item. Friday – Sunday, from 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. kids and kids at heart can enjoy free s’mores at the new Artisan fire pit.

Viceroy Snowmass – This fall, Viceroy Snowmass undergoes a $3.5 million remodel of the public areas, including debuting a brand new restaurant and concept at the resort – TORO Latin Kitchen, a Richard Sandoval Restaurant. Approachable yet sophisticated, the Pan-Latin inspired menu melds the flavors of Peru, Mexico, and other South American regions, while using locally-sourced ingredients from the mountains of Colorado. Acclaimed chef-restaurateur, Richard Sandoval, worked with the Viceroy Snowmass culinary team to create the menu, which will feature items such as small plates, a la carte grilled meats, ceviche, and more. Ingredients from Roaring Fork Valley purveyors such as Mountain Primal, Sustainable Settings, Gr8 Day Greens, and more will be found on the menu, served with a Latin flair. TORO Lounge, a cocktail-focused bar, will feature hand-crafted cocktails and a barrel-aged program. In addition to the new restaurant, Viceroy Snowmass also receives a refresh of the lobby, a new coffee shop, and a new fitness center offering extensive natural light and new state of the art equipment. Additional new Viceroy Snowmass programs include:

Powder Day Treat

Joining in on the excitement of the ephemeral ‘powder day’, this winter, the Viceroy Snowmass offers guests a free “Powder” granola bar, made by Viceroy Snowmass Pastry Chef Ashley Jenkin, in the lobby or at the ski concierge if it snows 8 or more inches overnight. The granola bar is made from scratch with local ingredients to keep guests full and energized so they don’t have to stop through a powder morning.

Après Concierge 

This winter, Viceroy Snowmass offers guests access to the hotel’s new Après Concierge, making it easier than ever to go directly from the slopes to the hot tub. Guests who book this experience are met by the Après Concierge slope side, and are guided directly to the ultimate après experience at the Viceroy pool. The après concierge brings guests’ bathing suits, towels, slippers, and robes, eliminating the need to return to the room between skiing and jacuzzi après. This experience includes a private heated cabana, and an exclusive menu of cocktails and small bites. To elevate this experience, the cocktails can be made poolside on an exclusive Après Concierge Bar Cart. The après concierge also returns the ski clothes to the room, so guests do not have to worry about carrying clothing back up to their room. 

New Flight Service at Aspen/Snowmass Airport (ASE)

American Airlines is offering new daily nonstop flights to Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) starting this winter along with expanded service from both Dallas Ft. Worth (DFW) and Chicago O’ Hare (ORD). In total American will offer up to eight daily flights from four hubs this winter, while daily nonstop service from DFW will now continue throughout the fall. The timing of all these flights allows for connections from American’s entire domestic and global networks.

In addition, Delta Air Lines serves ASE with nonstop daily flights from Salt Lake City, Los Angeles International Airport, Atlanta International Airport, and Minneapolis / St. Paul. United Airlines offers 20-25 daily nonstop flights from Denver, Chicago O’Hare, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco International.

About Snowmass, Colorado – A renowned winter playground and vibrant mountain community just 9 miles from downtown Aspen, Snowmass consistently ranks as one of the best ski areas in the world and was listed as the #4 resort in the west by SKI Magazine 2018. In addition to unmatched natural beauty and over 300 sunny days a year, Snowmass Ski Area offers guests 3,332 acres of multi-level terrain and boasts the second largest vertical drop in the United States. 95% ski-in/ski-out lodging, 37 restaurants, numerous shops and boutiques, a bounty of off-piste activities, and a friendly, small town feel beckon visitors year-round. For more information and a complete calendar of events and activities, please visit: www.gosnowmass.com.

Snowmass Tourism Media Contact: Sara Stookey, Public Relations Coordinator, Snowmass Tourism, 970-922-2285 or sstookey@SnowmassTourism.com.

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