RUBY HILL RAIL YARD – OPENING DAY IS TBD, 2010

For Directions: Click here for Mapquest and enter "Ruby Hill" in DENVER, CO. Directions and maps will be provided.
Recommended Hours of Use: Dawn to 9:00pm
Other Recommendations: Use of Helmets HIGHLY recommended!
Tips: Please keep the area safe and clean! Have fun and enjoy!

Winter Park Resort, the City of Denver, and Denver Parks and Recreation Department will host for the third  year, Ruby Hill Rail Yard, a free urban ski and ride terrain park located just outside of Downtown Denver in Ruby Hill Park. Featuring seven rails of varying configurations and skill levels, Ruby Hill Rail Yard's opening day for 2010 is TBD.

Ruby Hill Rail Yard is located between West Florida and Jewell Avenues and between South Platte River Drive and Quivas Street.

First established in 2007, Ruby Hill Rail Yard was the country's first free urban terrain park based in a city. The experimental program attracted approximately 3,000 youth and adults, and instantly became a nationwide model for numerous cities and ski resort collaborations. The second year saw participation grow to over 6,000, which the city used to quantify Ruby Hill Rail Yard as an annual park.

Events at Ruby Hill Rail Yard:
For the latest in events and programs at Ruby Hill Rail Yard, click here.

About Snowmaking:
Snowmaking will be utilized to create enough snow for the temporary Rail Park. Over an acre of snow, 2-3 feet deep, will be made during the middle of January in hopes that it will last many weeks. The Rail Park's Northeastern exposure will reduce the angle of the mid-day sun helping to prolong the snow's melt-out. In addition to the Rail Yard's exposure, man-made snow melts slower than natural snow. Why? Man-made snow has higher water content than natural snow. As a result, it is denser which makes it more resistant to warmer temperatures and sun. This is one of the reasons why mountain resorts make man-made snow on their most popular runs. It lasts longer into the springtime providing a more durable and long-lasting surface.

Approximately 1 million gallons of water will be used to cover the area with snow. When it melts, it will return to the surrounding vegetation. Denver Water has agreed to let the City use this water as long as they reduce water needs in the summer by an equal amount. As a result, no water is being wasted – just reallocated.

Other information and details:

• The park is free and open to the public during normal park hours.
• 7 rails will be featured in beginner, intermediate, and advanced configurations.
• Events and contests will be held occasionally to showcase Ruby Hill Rail Yard.
• A team of 27 volunteers will be used to maintain the Rail yard. Volunteers will be selected from the community and the ski/snowboard industry. If you see them out on the hill, thank them for their support of your park!

The Mayor directed Denver Parks and Recreation to coordinate an area within Denver's park system that would support sledding events. The rail park will allow for a winter based recreation site at Ruby Hill Park that combines rail riding and sledding activities, accommodating drop-in use as well as structured special events and programming.

About Ruby Hill Park