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Winter 2009/2010

2009/10 Winter Park Resort Fact Sheet

Address:
Winter Park Resort
85 Parsenn Road
P.O. Box 36
Winter Park, Colorado 80482

Contact Numbers:
(970) 726-1564, Denver Direct (303) 316-1564
Snow Line (970) 726-SNOW, Denver Direct (303) 572-SNOW

Online:
Winter Park Resort website: www.winterparkresort.com
E-mail for general inquiries: wpinfo@skiwinterpark.com
E-mail for media inquiries only: Mistalynn Lee, Communications Manager, MLee@skiwinterpark.com
970-726-1573, office
970-531-0248, cell

Location:
Winter Park Resort is located 67 miles (108 kilometers) northwest of Denver and 85 miles (137 kilometers) from Denver International Airport (DIA).  Set in the Vasquez Mountains of the Arapaho National Forest, Winter Park Resort is the closest major ski resort to Denver (one and half hours driving time) via Interstate 70 West to exit 232 and onto U.S. Highway 40.

Owner/Manager:
Owner:  City and County of Denver
Manager:  Intrawest/Winter Park Operations Corporation: www.intrawest.com
Winter Park Resort is a private company

Season/Hours of Operation:
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009 - Sunday, April 18, 2010
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. weekdays
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. weekends and holidays

The Mountains:
Winter Park Resort consists of four adjacent areas: Winter Park, Mary Jane, (including Parsenn Bowl), Vasquez Cirque, and Vasquez Ridge.  A network of trails and chairlifts connects the four distinct mountains.  Winter Park Resort is the oldest continually operated resort in Colorado and the 2009/10 season marks its 70th season.

The Village at Winter Park Resort:
Winter Park Resort is excited to announce the completion of the major expansion and development of The Village at Winter Park.  This new base village, complete with a state-of-the-art Village Cabriolet,  features three restaurants, an old-fashioned soda fountain and creperie, expanding retail offerings including Shirt Off My Back, 200 new condominium units in Fraser Crossing and Founders Pointe, 14 Village Lofts, a central pond, ice skating, an event gazebo, and a multi-level parking structure, all located within steps of base area chairlifts.  Combine that with the dining and retail options in the Zephyr Mountain Lodge, and guests will find plenty to entertain, day or night. 

Elevations:
Winter Park: Base 9,000 feet (2,743 meters); summit at Sunspot 10,700 feet (3,261 meters).  Vertical drop: 1,700 feet (518 meters).

Mary Jane: Base 9,450 feet (2,880 meters); summit at North Cone 12,060 feet (3,676 meters).  Vertical drop: 2,610 feet (796 meters).

Vasquez Ridge: Base 9,486 feet (2,486 meters); summit 10,700 feet (3,261 meters).  Vertical drop: 1,214 (370 meters).

Vasquez Cirque: Base 10,400 feet (3,170 meters); summit 11,900 feet (3,627 meters).  Vertical drop: 1,500 (457 meters).

Combined: Vertical drop: 3,060 feet (933 meters); summit at North Cone to Winter Park base.

Trails:
Total skiable acreage is 3,078 acres which includes 142 designated trails and 1,332 acres of off-piste terrain.

Longest Trail Per Mountain:
Winter Park:  1.3 miles (2.0 kilometers)
Mary Jane:  1.4 miles (2.3 kilometers)
Vasquez Ridge:  0.8 miles (1.2 kilometers)
Vasquez Cirque: 1.2 miles (1.9 kilometers)
Parsenn Bowl  1.2 miles (1.9 kilometers)
Village Way trail: 4.6 miles (7.4 kilometers);

Transportation:
Winter Park is accessible by car, shuttle service, or train.  By car, from Denver, take Interstate 70 West to exit 232 onto U.S. Hwy 40 to Winter Park.  The resort is 85 miles (137 km) from Denver International Airport.

Hertz rental cars are available locally or in Denver.  Other rental car agencies are also available in Denver.  For more information, call Winter Park Central Reservations at (800) 729-5813.

Home James Transportation Services offers door-to-door private and group shuttle trips throughout the day from Denver International Airport to the Winter Park area during ski season.  For reservations, call Winter Park Central Reservations at (800) 729-5813 (U.S. & Canada) or (970) 726-5587.

Amtrak's California Zephyr serves Winter Park daily, with westbound service from Chicago and Omaha and eastbound service from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City.  Sleeping accommodations are available on both routes.  Call Winter Park Central Reservations at (800) 729-5813 (U.S. & Canada) or (970) 726-5587 (international) for reservations.

"The Lift" is the free local shuttle service that runs to and from most lodging properties and activities in the valley and Winter Park Resort base area.  Buses run every 30 minutes from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. during peak season.

Local taxi, group charter and wedding service throughout Grand County is also available through Valley Taxi. Valley Taxi is open 365 days a year.  For more information, visit www.WinterParkTaxi.com or call (970) 726-4940.

Terrain Parks:
Winter Park Resort is a leader in world class terrain parks.  Offering six terrain parks of varying degrees of difficulty, Winter Park Resort's philosophy is that the best way to learn is through a progressive park system.  The resort's beginner park, Starter Park, is located below Snoasis, and features small boxes that are just off of the ground, perfect for those first attempts at riding rails.  Bouncer Park offers slightly more difficult rails and is located at the base of Winter Park, making it accessible outside of normal operating hours.  Ash Cat is where skiers and riders learn how to master smaller jumps and other small to medium sized features.  Re-railer, located east of the Eskimo Express chairlift, is an intermediate park with a variety of jumps, rails, and other non-traditional jib features.  Rail Yard, Winter Park's advanced terrain park, features a combination of rails, jibs, a superpipe, and jumps.  All designed with advanced riders in mind.  Dark Territory, Rail Yard's controlled access area, pushes the skills of expert skiers and riders with features designed for the most technical tricks. 

Chairlifts:
Winter Park Resort has 25 lifts, including the new Village Cabriolet, two high-speed six-pack lifts (the newest is the Panoramic Express, North America's highest high-speed six-person chairlift), seven high-speed express quads, four triples, six double chairlifts, three surface lifts, one platter, and one rope tow, for an uphill capacity of approximately 38,370 passengers per hour.   Friday and Saturday evenings, the Zephyr Express chairlift converts into a gondola for evening dinners at The Lodge at Sunspot.

Snowfall/Snowmaking:
Last 2008-09 season, Winter Park Resort received over 378 inches (31.5 feet) of snowfall and has snowmaking on 27 trails covering 313.1 acres (126.7 hectares).

Lodging: 
Fraser Crossing and Founders Pointe: Just a short walk to Winter Park Resort's shops and chairlifts, these two new buildings are comprised of studios, one, two and three bedroom condos and feature such amenities as access to an outdoor spa, fireplace, and BBQ, not to mention private underground parking, storage lockers, and high-speed internet.  For more information, visit www.winterparkresort.com or call (866) 260-6302.

Zephyr Mountain Lodge – Zephyr Mountain Lodge is a rustic and contemporary ski-in/ski-out lodge with a slopeside location at the base of the Zephyr Express chairlift. This unique, two building property is comprised of 230 condominiums ranging from one to three bedrooms.  Each building has a private outdoor hot tub and heated underground parking.  In addition, a variety of shops and restaurants are located on the ground floor in the Zephyr Plaza, including Starbucks, Showcase Snowboards and Demo Center, Mountain Adventure Center Demo Center, Doc's Roadhouse, Trail's End Mercantile, and Rocky Mountain Eyewear.  For more information, visit www.zephyrmountainlodge.com or call (866) 260-6302.

The Vintage Hotel – Located at the entrance to Winter Park Resort, The Vintage Hotel is comprised of 118 rooms that feature beautiful mountain vistas, and is the closest lodging option to the resort that is pet-friendly. The full-service Vintage Hotel has traditional rooms, studios, and one and two bedroom suites, with many rooms featuring kitchenettes and gas fireplaces.  Five Mountain Tavern, located just inside the lobby, is the perfect place to catch
up with friends in a classic ski lodge atmosphere before or after hitting the slopes, and it offers a "children eat free" program.  The Vintage Hotel also features an outdoor pool, hot tub, meeting space, an onsite ski / snowboard rental shop, business center, and direct access to the new Village Cabriolet lift.  For more information, visit www.vintagehotel.com or call (866) 260-6302.

Winter Park Mountain Lodge – The lodge is located directly across from Winter Park Resort and features a blend of comfortable hotel rooms and spacious mountain suites — with fireplaces, kitchen facilities and Jacuzzi tubs. An indoor swimming pool, two 10-person hot tubs, sauna, exercise facilities, in-room movies, underground parking, and the Moffat Station Restaurant and Brew Pub are all available for your enjoyment. For more information, visit www.winterparkhotel.com or call (800) 729-5813.

Additional Lodging – A wide variety of additional lodging is available in the town of Winter Park and throughout the Fraser Valley through Winter Park Central Reservations (WPCR).  Winter Park Central Reservations offers all-inclusive packages or lodging-only reservations. Accommodation options include over 100 condominium complexes, private homes, family-friendly mountain inns (serving breakfast and dinner daily), hotels, bed and breakfasts, lodges, and motels.  WPCR books all major airlines, Amtrak (whose California Zephyr route makes a stop in the town of Fraser), ground transfers from Denver International Airport, and rental cars.  Lift tickets, lessons, equipment rentals, and other winter activities can also be booked with one call to WPCR.  Contact (800) 729-5813 (toll free U.S. and Canada), or (970) 726-5587 (international), or e-mail: reservations@skiwinterpark.com.

Dining:
The Village at Winter Park:
Derailer Bar at West Portal – When guests hear the Derailer Bar train whistle blow at 2 p.m., it's time to head in for Winter Park's favorite aprθs ski scene and "blow off a little steam." The Derailer Bar is a two-level bar offering a full-service lunch menu featuring pub-style food and a variety of daily drink specials.

Moffat Market at West Portal Station – This large railroad-themed food court features such stores as The Moffat Tunnel with its delicious grill fare; Grand Central Station's New York-style pizza; Shortline's soups; and Einstein Bros. Bagels. 

Coffee and Tea Market – Watch mountain action while enjoying home-brewed caffeinated concoctions along with daily servings of home-baked sweets.  Stop in for breakfast or lunch.  Coffee and Tea is located in Balcony House at the base of Winter Park Mountain.

Doc's Roadhouse in the Zephyr Mountain Lodge serves up the best roadhouse fare in the county.  This full-service, sit-down restaurant is Winter Park Resort's hottest lunch spot, featuring burgers, sandwiches, and salads as well as an extensive kid-friendly menu. Doc's is also home to the best deck around! New this winter:  Doc's will be serving up a great pancake breakfast, available daily starting at 8 a.m. or aprθs in Doc's upstairs venue, the Coors Lounge, featuring leather couches, ski movies, and cold Coors beer and whiskey from Buffalo Trace.
 
Starbucks is located in the Zephyr Mountain Lodge at the base of Winter Park Resort and is the perfect stop any time of day for frosty cold beverages and hot caffeinated concoctions to warm your core.  Starbucks opens daily at 8 a.m.

Lime in the Village at Winter Park, an American cantina, is your source for great tacos and mighty margaritas.  Lime is located near the gazebo and pond and is a great place to catch all the action.   

Cheeky Monk, a Belgian beer cafι, offers a taste of Belgium right in The Village at Winter Park.  The owner is always on the lookout for the rarest and best beers, and currently offers an impressive drink menu, featuring 14 Belgian imported beers on draught and 20 Belgian imported bottles.  Beers are hand-selected to pair with the flavorful dining menu highlighting the uniqueness, style, and taste of each beer.  Cheeky Monk offers such well-known beers as Lucifer Golden Ale, Bacchus Sour and Hopsinjoor Blond Ale, as well as rare offerings from the Trappiste Monasteries. 

Five Mountain Tavern offers family-friendly dining and entertainment located at the top of the Village Cabriolet and inside the Vintage Hotel.  Open daily at 2 pm, The Five Mountain Tavern serves the best gourmet burgers and root beer floats around.  The full bar offers a selection of draft beer daily drink specials.

NEW!  Goody's in The Village at Winter Park opened in July of 2009 and has become a big hit with kids of all ages.  This old-fashioned soda fountain, creperie, and ice cream parlor offers a wide array of sweet treats and drinks.

NEW!  The Back Bowl Soup Company is scheduled to open Nov 1, 2009 in The Village at Winter Park and will offer several homemade soup choices daily along with gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches made on a variety of breads, with your choice of cheese and spreads.  Classic deli offerings will also be available.
 
Base of Mary Jane:
Club Car –  Mary Jane's Club Car restaurant is the locals' favorite and still the best kept secret around!  Serving the best Bloody Marys in the valley, Club Car is perfectly situated at the base of Mary Jane Mountain and is open daily for lunch and aprθs ski. 

Pepperoni's Pizza and Sports Bar – Located in the Mary Jane base lodge, Pepperoni's Pizza and Sports Bar offers guests a true sports bar appeal and features some of the best slices in the valley (not to mention the Colorado's largest membership mug club)! 

Mary Jane Food & Drink Food Court – This base area food court delivers hungry "Janers" with satisfying soups, delicious deli sandwiches, stromboli, pasta, burgers and more. 

On-Mountain Dining:
The Lodge at Sunspot – This two-mile high mountaintop lodge features panoramic views of the Continental Divide and the Rocky Mountains.  Enjoy dinner at The Lodge at Sunspot every Friday and Saturday night along with lunch daily.  The full-service dining room is open seven days a week, featuring Colorado-inspired lunch fare, while The Provisioner provides an upscale food court.  Grab gear at The Sunspot Mercantile; warm up with a drink from the Coffee Shop & Bakery; or just relax by the fire in the Sunspot Lounge.  Foot passenger tickets are available from the base of Winter Park Resort to The Lodge at Sunspot via the Zephyr Express chairlift between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.  For dinner and evening cocktail information, call (970)726-1446

Snoasis Market – Located on mid-mountain Winter Park, Snoasis is a blast to the past with its music, colors, and deck space, and it's the resort's best place to sit back, take in a specialty drink and watch as skiers and riders defy gravity in the Dark Territory terrain park. 

Lunch Rock – Located at 11,200 feet above sea level, this mountaintop spot specializes in casual food, barbecues, deck dining, and incredible views of Parry Peak. Open daily.

Shops, Rentals and Demos:
Shirt Off My Back – Opening last winter in The Village at Winter Park Resort, Shirt Off My Back offers guests the perfect apparel souvenir to take home.  Shirt Off My Back carries both adult and kids' sizing.

Trail's End Mercantile – You will find all of the necessities for a day in the mountains or for gifts and T-shirts for the folks you left at home right here.  Stop in to Trail's End right at the base of the Zephyr Express lift.
Silver Creek Outfitters:  This shop offers great gifts, clothing, jewelry, and home dιcor items.

Mountain Adventure Center – Offering guests the latest in premium ski demos, lift tickets, outerwear, accessories and gifts, Mountain Adventure Center is a one-stop shop.  The Mountain Adventure Center is located steps away from the Zephyr Express chairlift and supplies free overnight rental storage. The Mountain Adventure Center is located on the ground level of the Zephyr Mountain Lodge.

Showcase Snowboards – Guests looking for the latest snowboard gear and demos needn't look any further.  Showcase Snowboards carries the latest from Burton, Billabong, Volcom and Element and is located on the ground level of Zephyr Mountain Lodge. 

West Portal Outfitters – Carrying the latest brands and logo-wear, West Portal Outfitters is a one-stop shop for all ski and snowboard apparel and accessory needs and is steps away from Winter Park Resort Rentals.  West Portal Outfitters is located at the base of Winter Park Resort.

Winter Park Resort Rentals –Home to Winter Park Resort's new Montana tuning machine, Winter Park Resort Rentals carries the newest in sports rentals for skiing and snowboarding.  As well, guests can purchase lift tickets and lessons. Free overnight rental storage is included with rentals.  Find Winter Park Resort Rentals at two locations- inside West Portal and in the Village at Winter Park. 

The Jane Shop – Located in the Mary Jane Center, The Jane Shop carries ski, snowboard, and telemark rentals as well as the latest in outerwear and accessories. 

Demo Equipment – Test the latest in Winter Park Resort's demo equipment from Salomon, Burton, and K2 at the Mountain Adventure Center or Showcase Snowboards.  Try one model or try them all with the resort's free equipment exchange. 

Kids' Ski and Ride School: 
Registration for lessons is available from 8 a.m. - 9.15 a.m. seven days a week at the Kids' Ski and Ride School. Advance reservations are available and can now be fulfilled ahead of time at Willie's Will Call, located on the ground floor of West Portal Station, or at Winter Park Resort Rentals - Village.  For information and reservations, call the Guest Contact Center at 800.729.7907 or visit www.winterparkresort.com. 

"Just Because I'm Three" – Winter Park Resort understands the needs of even the littlest skier. "Just Because I'm Three," is a full day of fun skiing-based activities specially designed to get three-year-olds comfortable with their ski equipment, the snow, and to have fun! Pricing is from as low as $99 per day.

Kids Ski and Snowboard lessons (Skiers age 4+, Snowboarders age 6+) – For kids who are ready to spend the whole day on the slopes, Winter Park offers a huge mountain playground to explore. Kids will ski or ride with other kids of the same age and ability. Our instructors will teach them new skills, whether they are beginners or double black diamond skiers or riders. Pricing is from as low as $99 per day.

Wee Willie's Child Care –  Wee Willie's Child Care is a non-ski program for children two months through six years offering youngsters indoor activities and outdoor play.  Lunch is available onsite. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pricing is from as low as $90 per day.

Kids five and under receive a free lift ticket with lessons.

Adult Ski and Ride School:
Winter Park Resort's Ski and Ride School has taught guests how to ski and ride longer than any other Colorado resort.  Celebrating 70 seasons of continual operation, the Winter Park Ski and Ride School boasts some of the best professional instructors for all levels of skiing and riding. 

Private Lessons – The Ski & Ride School is known for offering the best lesson values in the nation. Whether you are looking for the perfect turn, secret powder stash or just want a chaperone for the kids, our private lesson instructors are the best choice. Private lesson instructors can be reserved by calling 970-726-1554 or by email at private_lessons@skiwinterpark.com 

Adult Ski and Ride School – Winter Park Resort's Ski and Ride School has taught guests how to ski and ride longer than any other Colorado resort. Celebrating 70 seasons of continual operation, the Winter Park Ski and Ride School boasts some of the best professional instructors for all levels of skiing and riding.  New this season, the Winter Park Ski and Ride School is offering a three-day camp in March, focused on steep terrain and deep powder. The camp includes access to the Cirque via snowmobile. The School also offers one of the most extensive selections of programs designed just for women.

Traditional ski and snowboarding lessons (for ages 13 and older) can be purchased for $99 per person.  This includes a half-day lesson and full-day lift ticket.  Registration for lessons opens at 8 a.m. seven days a week.

National Sports Center for the Disabled:
The internationally acclaimed National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) is the largest and most successful program of its kind in the world.  The NSCD began in 1970 with 23 amputee children from Denver taking ski lessons at Winter Park.  Launching its 40th season, the non-profit organization teaches more than 18,000 lessons annually in a variety of year-round sports for children and adults of all disabilities.  The NSCD Competition Program provides race training and coaching for disabled skiers participating in regional, national, and international events. (970) 726-1540 or (303) 316-1540 or visit www.nscd.org.

Winter Park Competition Center:
Seasonal training programs are available in alpine, freestyle, freeride, snowboarding, and all-mountain skiing for all ages of intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders.  Clinics are offered throughout the season.  Other services available include race tuning, binding mounts, boot fitting, and equipment repair.  Call (970) 726-1590 or Denver (303) 316-1590.

NASTAR:
The NASTAR recreational race course is open every day from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on Cranmer trail, just above the Snoasis mid-mountain restaurant.  Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded for qualifying times.  Youth (ages 6-17) may race unlimited runs for $7; adults (ages 18 - 64) may race unlimited runs for $10; seniors (ages 65 and older) may race for free Monday - Wednesday and unlimited racing for $7 Friday - Sunday.  Kids five and under race for free.

Winter Park Tour Center:
Snowshoe Tours – Two-hour guided tours depart daily at 10:30 a.m. with a second tour offered at 1:30 p.m. on holidays and Friday – Sunday.  The tour begins with a ride up the Gemini Express chairlift and continues with a gentle downhill trek through a forested trail on Winter Park Mountain.  Guides introduce the basics of snowshoeing and share the history and native plants and animals of Winter Park and the Fraser Valley.  For independent touring, snowshoe rentals are available for full day and half day (8 a.m.- 12 p.m. or 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.). Guest Contact Center (800) 729-7907.

Scenic Snowcat Tours – These two-hour tours depart at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. daily from the Winter Park base area and also at 2 p.m. Friday - Sunday.  Tours follow various ski trails to the top of Winter Park Mountain, with opportunities to stop and take pictures along the way. 

The Town of Winter Park:
Downtown Winter Park is located two miles (3.2 kilometers) from Winter Park Resort and offers a wide variety of activities including restaurants, bars, a movie theater, shops, day spas, recreational activities and other services.

Winter Park/Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 3236
Winter Park, Colorado 80482
(970) 726-4118 (local and international)
(800) 903-7275 (toll free U.S. and Canada)
e-mail:  chamber@winterpark-info.com
web site:  www.winterpark-info.com

Area Activities:
Cross Country Skiing, Dog Sled Rides, Sleigh Rides, Hot Springs, Day Spas, Snowmobile Tours, Shopping, Dining, Movie Theaters,
Snowshoeing, Backcountry Cat Skiing, Tubing