As this ski season is winding down with Mary Jane closing April 15th and the whole of Winter Park Resort closing April 22 it may be time to think when the resort will be opening up for summer activities.  Winter Park Resort base activities and attractions include the Zephyr Lift opening with access to favorite attractions such as the Alpine Slide, Amaze’n Human Maze, Leaps & Bounds Bungee, Rock ‘n Roll Gyro, Mountainside Mini Golf and Outdoor Climbing Wall.

Winter Park Resort base activities will be opening June 16th, 2012.  Summer hours of operation are 10am through 5:30pm, 7 days a week, from June 16 through September 3, 2012 (Labor Day) – and the same hours weekends in September. Ticket windows open at 9:30am. The Zephyr Express Chairlift closes at 5pm, while other activities close at 5:30pm.

Trestle Bike Park will be opening by June 16th if not before.  This year new at Trestle will be Cruel and Unusual as well as 2 more new trails near the base. And DO NOT MISS the inaugural Colorado Freeride Festival – July 26-29, 2012 at Trestle Bike Park.  The Colorado Freeride Festival replaces Crankworx Colorado.  Trestle Bike Park passes will be available in early May.

Now is the time to get your Winter Park Resort Lodging to get all the rides you can on Colorado’s longest alpine slide.  Check out all the Winter Park Resort summer activities.  Winter Park Lodging Company provides the best Trestle Bike Park lodging at the Winter Park Resort Base.

Mark it down, Winter Park Resort summer activities open for business June 16th, 2012.

Learning to Ski Winter Park, CO

Here is out latest ski video here at Winter Park Resort, Colorado’s Favorite.  We are highlighting children and the youngsters learning to swoosh down the hill this segment.  The above video is staring WPLCo’s very own and my very own twins, Nicholas & Willem.  This is Nicholas & Willem’s second year skiing and they are now able to ski from the very top of Winter Park Resort to the very bottom with only a little help from mom and dad.

The Winter Park Ski School and ski teacher Rosie have done great work with these two little tykes this year.  The boys took a a series of four ski lessons with Rosie this January that totally turned around the skiing learning curve.  They wen’t from heading straight downhill with no interest in slowing, stopping or turning to being able ski freely downhill stopping on command and turning pretty much anywhere they would like to go.

If you have kids or have someone that is learning to ski, Winter Park Ski School is a great investment of your time and money.  A couple of days with group or private lessons will turn your skiing/boarding skills around and get you enjoying being on the slopes.  As we learned with our twins trying to teach your kids yourself usually is not a good idea time-wise or for family unity.  Going skiing with kids let a professional teach them and parents can have a peace of mind that they are being taken care of and being taught the proper way to ski and board.

Check out Nicholas and Willem skiing Winter Park at 2 years of age and look how far the little boogers have progressed.

Spring break time is here and it seems the weather has heard and we are now in full spring skiing swing.  We here at WInter Park Lodging Company were able to get out to the slopes and we hit 40°.  There is nothing betetr than skiing with a light jacket and sunglasses.  Check out the Winter Park mascot, ZB, to the right sporting all his spring skiing duds in celebration of old man winter hitting the road.

Here is what is in store for the next forty days of ski season her in Winter Park, Colorado:

• Full moon ski at Devil’s Thumb Ranch
• Free Snow Shoe Tour
• Season Ending Splash at Solvista

There is a lot of fun things to do besides spring sliing here in Winter Park, CO but lets face it we are here for the skiing!  The season ending Winter Park Resort Spring Splash this year will be on April 24th, Easter Sunday funday.

If Y’all haven’t made it up to Splash, as it is known locally, you are missing out.  THere is pond skimming and lots of family fun on the WInter Park side of the resort.  As for Mary Jane we have the party of the year for locals and all those that want to say goodbye to a close to perfect ski season.

Now that spring has sprung get up to Winter Park for the best skiing of the year.  The weather is here wish yo were beautiful, or something like that. Head on up to WP and don’t forget the sunglasses and sunscreen!

Looking for some fun for the kids and the whole family? Devil’s Thumb Ranch is offering guests of Winter Park Lodging Company a screaming deal for carriage rides through their Cabin Creek Stables.  The stables have agreed to a special offer just for WPLCo guests…

Mondays through Thursdays, get four sleigh riders for the price of two (a $70 savings) on our feed sleigh rides offered at 10:30 and 3 pm daily. Reservations required, space limited.

The feed sleigh rides are when they take a small amount of guests out to help feed the cattle…they get to see the cows very close up and help give them hay…kids and people from the big cities love it.

You can check out Devil’s Thumb other sleigh ride offerings or do a special event out on their beautiful property.

Ski Magazine rated Devil’s Thumb Ranch in their top 5 Favorite Sleigh Rides and this what they had to say about DTR:

After a sleigh ride around the ranch’s 5,000 snowy acres, return to the stable to dinner around the campfire. Tabernash, Colo., near Winter Park; (800) 933-4339; devilsthumbranch.com .

Dinner at either The Ranch House Restaurant or Heck’s Tavern is some of the best eatin’ you will find here in Winter Park or the whole Fraser Valley.  If you have never been out to Devil’s Thumb you are missing one of the top destinations in Grand County and Colorado for that matter.

So if your heading up to Winter Park let us here at the Winter Park Lodging Company set you up with the best deals and most fun activities that be had on your Winter PArk winter vacation.  Check out all the special deals WPLCo has to offer guests of the Grand County and the Fraser Valley.

Come on up and get to horsin’ around and have a grand time in Grand County, Colorado.

Ohhh, the cold has hit us here in Winter Park.  It has been almost too cold to ski, almost.  For the kids though when it dips to the negatives or hoovers around the zero degree mark it may be better to take a day of and let that arctic cold front just move on through.

And what to do with that day not spent on the ski slopes?  The Grand County Recreation Center is the answer to that day not on the skis or board.  There is not a better way to get away from the cold than our state of the art rec center right on Winter Park’s main street.  Here is some of the specifics of the facilities at Grand Park Recreation Center:

• Natatorium with 20ft loop slide, spray & play feature, lazy river, zero-depth entry pool and 4-lane, 25-yard lap pool
• Whirlpool, sauna and steam rooms
• Locker rooms and family changing rooms
• Climbing and bouldering wall
• Multi-sport gymnasium
• Gymnastic center including a foam and tramp pit (scheduled programs only)
• Running / walking track
• Cardio, circuit training and free weight area
• Aerobic / dance studio room
• Drop-in childcare
• Pool party room for rent
• Multi-purpose classrooms for rent
• Beautiful lobby area with fireplace, TV and game tables

Enough activities here to keep the most active of kids and parents busy for the day.

Grand Park Recreation Center hours:

Monday – Friday    6:00am – 9:00pm
Saturday             7:30am – 9:00pm
Sunday               10:00am – 6:00pm

If you are a guest of the Winter Park Lodging Company you can get discounted day passes for only $8 instead of $10. If you’d like to take advantage of our discounted day passes, just swing by our office in downtown Winter Park to purchase them. Call the WPLCo office, 877-329-1383 or 970-722-0707, to get your discounted Grand Park Rec Center passes.

We are here in Winter Park and if the winter part becomes a bit much take a day and enjoy our little piece heavenly summer, The Grand Park Recreation Center.

We had a chance to take a sleigh ride here in Winter park a couple of days before Christmas.  What a thrill for the whole family.  Kids, Grandparent and the parents were all a-gag about what a cool experience we had.

Our 1400 lb sled was pulled by two 2000 lb horses that were as friebdly as I can imagine horses a could be. Our twin boys thought they were great.  The sleigh ride lasted about an hour and a half  with a twenty minute break for some  tasty hot chocolate and marshmallow roasting.

The Sombrero Stables are up in Snow Mountain Ranch just outside of Tabernash, CO with some of the best views you will get of the Fraser Valley.  Compass was the name of our driver and she could not have been more appropriately named with the superb handling of the horses Ben and Wyatt.

Guests of Winter Park Lodging Company receive a discount on sleigh rides, sleigh dinners and horseback rides.

Sombrero Stable Pricing for WPLCo guests are shown below. Present your VIP Guest Discount Card provided in your Winter Park Lodging Company vacation rental to get these deals.

Hot Cocoa Sleigh Ride:
Adult: $23.00* (regular price $28)
Children 6-11 years old:$20.00* (regular price $25)
Children 3-5 years old:$10.00 (regular price $12)
Children 3 years and under: Free (regular price $6)

Dinner Sleigh Ride:
Angus steak, roasted chicken or poached Rocky Mountain trout, served with a fresh dinner salad, baked potato, ranch beans, garlic bread. Fruit cobbler with ice-cream for dessert.
Adult: $55.00 each or $50 per couple* (regular price $60)
Children 6-11: $40.00 (regular price $45)
Children 5 and under: $15.00 (regular price $15)
Children 5 and under also have the option to go without a dinner plate for free (normally $5)!

One Hour Trail Ride:
(offered as long as the weather permits).
$32.00 per person
No double riders, they highly suggest kids be at least eight years of age once we have snow on the ground.

If you have kids and want a day to get outside and see what Winter Park and Grand County is all about check out the horse-drawn sleigh rides from Sombrero Stables.  Below is a short video of the sleigh and horses right before we stopped for out hot chocolate and marshmallow roasting break.  Check it out!

New Years Eve shall be here shortly, where are you going to celebrate the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011?  Lots of activities to do up here in Winter Park, CO even after the lifts stop running.  And this year New Year’s Eve is on Friday night (that gives you two days to sleep off the celebrating).

So here is what is happening for New Year’s Eve this year:

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce New Years Celebration in Hideaway Park.

This family friendly celebration starts at 7PM and goes ’till 10PM.  This New Year’s Eve Celebration is a community event that draws over 500 guests. The event has many facets that appeal to all ages. From late afternoon until evening, Hideaway Park bustles with family fun: free sledding, kid’s rails, music and hot chocolate to keep warm. A spectacular fireworks display add to the festivities.

New Year’s Eve at the Lodge at Sunspot

This special New Year’s Eve experience is the only dining experience of its kind in Winter Park, offering fine dining on-mountain at an elevation of 10,700 feet above sea level. The Lodge at Sunspot specializes in authentic Colorado cuisine paired with an extensive wine list.

Two options of unique dining are available, a buffet and a five course meal.

• Five course fine dining served in the Sunspot Dining Room ($79.95 Adults / $39.95 Children 10 and under).
• Sunspot’s Alpine Buffet is served in the Provisioner and  is the perfect family option.

Buffet Menu ($59.95 Adults / $29.95 Children 10 and under):
Price includes gondola ride, buffet, non-alcoholic beverages, & dessert. Sales tax and gratuity will be added. Alcohol and specialty beverages are additional. Dinners at The Lodge at Sunspot are sell-out events, and reservations are required. Make your reservation early by calling 970.726.1446. Note: There is no midnight celebration at this event.

New Years Eve at Solvista Basin

The grand finale to the weeklong Solvista holiday celebration will be fireworks over Granby Ranch at dusk on New Year’s Eve. Cost for night skiing is $10/person; tubing is $11/person; or combo ticket is $18/person.  Come ring in the New Year as well with the grand finale to the weeklong celebration of Winter Wonderland with a synchronized torchlight ski down and spectacular fireworks over Granby Ranch.

Winter Park Restaurant Celebrations

Deno’s Mountain Bistro - Now taking reservations for New Years and the Christmas holidays. Check out the band Roots and Rythm for New Years, it’s going to be a PARTY!

Tabernash Tavern – Great food and great atmosphere in beautiful downtown Tabernash

Winter Park Sushi Bar & Steakhouse – Sushi is good in a party atmosphere with great bartenders and waitstaff.  Shouls be a great time on New Year’s Eve.

Devil’s Thumb Ranch – Two great restaurants and one of the most beautiful place to visit in Grand County.  Will be a great place for and extra special meal on New Years.

So there is so much to do her in Winter Park for New Year’s Eve.  Do remember tough no drinking and driving!  Leave the driving up to up to the Valley Taxi guys.

]]> http://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com/2010/12/17/new-years-eve-in-winter-park-colorado-2/feed/ 0 http://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com/2010/12/14/christmas-in-winter-park-colorado/ http://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com/2010/12/14/christmas-in-winter-park-colorado/#comments Tue, 14 Dec 2010 22:10:27 +0000 Chris http://www.wplbo.com/news/?p=3800 Continue reading →]]> Christmas Celebration at Winter Park Resort

The holidays are here and it is time to decide what are you going to do on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Well if you are lucky enough to be up here in Winter Park, Colorado you are sure to have a great Christmas celebration.

To start your Christmas eve off there is the torchlight parade down the ski hill that is pictured to the left.  At the bottom the word “Noel” is spelled out in flame.  The event begins with Christmas carols around the bonfire at the base of Winter Park Resort, next to the Zephyr Lift at 4pm. At 5:30pm, a procession of torch-bearing skiers head down Lower Hughes trail, followed by Santa Claus and the elves. Then a spectacular fireworks display and snowcats adorned with Christmas colors light up the slopes in a Christmas tree formation to conclude the festivities. Immediately following the show at 6:00pm, guests are welcome to attend Christmas Eve interdenominational services located in the lower level of the Balcony House and Catholic Church services located in West Portal Level 4. Services are scheduled to last about an hour.

If you are heading out to the torchlight ski down plan to get there early as the base is jumping with people and holiday spirit.  Follow the Christmas service with a bite to eat at the Cheeky Monk, Deno’s or the new Pizza Pedel’r.

What to do after all the Christmas Presents are opened?  Ski, of course!  There is no better way than spend the Christmas Day than on the slopes of Winter Park and Mary Jane.  The skiers are few (especially if you head over to the East side of Mary Jane) and the way the snow has been this year you will probably be skiing some fresh powder.  To spend the day outside on Christmas is dreamy.  You can even sit by the fire up at Sunspot Lodge and enjoy a hot toddy or, heck it’s Christmas, a beer and a shot.

To spend Christmas in Winter Park, CO is a dream and blessing.  Get outside and celebrate.

Where was the first place that you skied? What was your favorite run as child?  Well pretty much all my childhood memories of skiing are right here in Winter Park, Colorado.  My oldest brother, David, would take me and my two other older brothers, Matthew & Stephen, and slog us up the hill and try to ski down with me between his legs.  David is now up for sainthood. Even though I remember it being very hard and sometimes cold the biggest memory is of how incredibly fun it was to get out on the slopes on snow and shuush down the hill.  Probably just a convenient memory because at four I was definitely not shuushing.

Anywho, it is time for me to pay back the teaching.  We have been taking our twin boys, Nicholas & Willem, out to the teaching areas at Winter Park and Mary Jane and man what a kick they are getting out it.  The above video is of Mom and Nicholas hitting Discovery Park.  After a few runs at Mt. Maury we took Nicholas up the Gemini and let him get after some skiing.  we then went back down and Nicholas fell in love with the magic carpet and trying to do pizza with his skis.  The edgy-wedgy helps a lot with the young kids keeping the skis together.

At the end of the day we met up with Teddy, Niko and Theo for some french fries, PB & J and some nice sunshine.  We will be heading out this weekend with both Nicholas & Willem and those two will be rippen’ up the slopes.   A couple more trips to Winter Park and Mary Jane and the little tykes will be ready for Winter Park Ski School.

Looking to get a Christmas tree? How about get a tree and give to charity at the same time?  Well, the Winter Park Festival of the trees is a great way to get a tree and donate to charity.  Get out of the house with the kids and bid on a Christmas Tree.

Date: 12/14/10

Location: Beaver Village Lodge

Time: 4pm-8pm

This event benefits over 20+ Grand County Charitable Foundations and it’s FREE!   It is a display and silent auction of Trees and Wreaths along with a specialty Dessert Auction.  There will be food and refreshments, and Santa will be there for the kids along with a Christmas song sing-along.

Christmas is coming so you will need a tree.  Why not get it at the silent auction and help out one of Grand Counties charitable foundations.