Winter Park Rafting w/ Adventures in Whitewater!

Posted on July 16, 2010 by rachelb

One of our favorite summertime activities in Colorado is rafting. Whether you want a high paced adventure down Clear Creek, or a more scenic ride on the mighty Upper Colorado, Adventures in Whitewater offers both. Safety and fun are the top priorities of this local company, and the professional guides will reassure you of that. Rob was our guide down the Colorado this week. He gave us plenty of fun and colorful history facts of Colorado

River history during our 2 1/2 hour trip down river. Eight of us shared a big boat and had an oar that we maneuvered through a few level1 and 2 rapids during the ride. About half way down, we reached a large rock that you could jump off of into the river. Although the water is pretty chilly, you’ll warm up quickly in the dry air. Overall, the trip was great fun for the whole family and we were all excited to get the Winter Park Lodging Company 15% discount! Make sure to get on the river during your Summer vacation in Winter Park, and get a great deal on your lodging with Winter Park Lodging Company. For more info on rafting trips , call Adventures in Whitewater @ 1-877-321-RAFT.

Grand Lake Lodge Re-opening in Grand Lake, CO

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Chris

The Lodge in Grand Lake Opening on a Limited Basis for Next 8 Weeks

Yes!, the Rumors are true the Grand Lake Lodge will be opening for six to eight weeks this summer on a limited basis.

They will be serving up lunch with a limited menu and through the evening. Does that mean they will be serving dinner? I’m not sure. Come “set a spell” on the front porch, book a wedding, take in the gift shop or play in the pool. Noon, July 22, is the big date.

Grand Lake Lodge has been for sale the last few years by the Ted L. James Family and has been closed for operations while the property was being marketed. With the downturn in the economy there have been no takers on the lodge and the surrounding 54 acres that sit at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Here is the real estate listing info if you have some heavy duty walking around cash:

Grand Lake Lodge

Price: $6,990,000

Address

15500 US Highway 34

City Name:

Grand Lake

State:

COLORADO

Zip:

80446

Perched majestically above Colorado’s largest natural lake, the historic Grand Lake Lodge is bordered on three sides by Rocky Mountain National Park and offers stunning views of Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Lake, and the upper Colorado River valley. The historic Main Lodge, built in 1920, is the centerpiece of a remarkable 54-acre property originally located inside the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park until 1963, when a series of land transfers resulted in the official removal of the entire property from the park. In addition to the Main Lodge, the Grand Lake Lodge property features new underground utilities, full-service restaurant, gift shop, swimming pool, and guest cabins. This is an unprecedented opportunity to own a truly unique vacation destination famous for breathtaking views, majestic mountain peaks, and historical significance as a registered National Historic Landmark. Grand County is experiencing healthy appreciation with 5 golf courses, 4 ski resorts, 3 lakes, and the Colorado River. This incredible opportunity may be further enhanced with hotel, multi-family and single family development.

Grand Lake Lodge is an awesome place and if you haven’t had a chance to visit you should. My wife and I were married at the Lodge in 2002 and the place has a magical quality to it. Grand Lake was called Spirit Lake by the Ute Indians because they thought great spirits lived in its depths. Grand Lake is the largest natural lake in Colorado.

Only a thirty five minute drive from Winter Park the town of Grand Lake and the Lodge make for an incredible day trip especially in the summer.

Winter Park Beer Festival

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Beer Festival Pricing

The Winter Park Beer Festival being held at the Winter Park Base Saturday August 14, 2010 has set the beer tasting prices. See list below.

The WP Beer Fest will be held in Hideaway Park and there will be over 25 breweries sampling there products with live music onstage and vendors vending all that you will need to celebrate a beer festival high in the Rocky Mountains. The WP Beer Fest benefits the National Sports Center for the Disabled, one of the most worthwhile causes that I know of.

Winter Park Beer Festival tickets:

Unlimited Tasting!
From 12-5pm
Only $25 (Save $5)
Live Music and Fun Included
Pre-Sale Price
Expires 8/12/10 at 5pm
$30 At The Door

VIP Tasting!
Unlimited Tasting From 12-5pm
Only $45 (Save $5)
Includes:
Commemorative Glass Mug,
Private VIP Patio, Private VIP
Seating Near The Stage, Lunch
Buffet and More!
Pre-Sale Price Expires 8/12/2010
$50 At The Door

Click Here to Purchase Winter Park Beer Festival Tickets

Here is hoping that the above three young ladies will be attending and serving some cold suds at the WP Beer Festival.

To get your Beer Festival lodging visit Winter Park Lodging Company.

Opening Dates for Winter Park’s St. Louis Lake Trail

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Chris

Wildflowers Abundant on St. Louis Lake Trail

St. Louis Lake Trail is famous for wildflowers

The trailhead of one of the most popular hiking trails in the Winter Park area, the St. Louis Lake trail, has very restricted access. The trail is known as one of the most beautiful wildflower hikes you can find in our valley, and due to this celebrity, it draws thousands of hikers each summer (or it used to).

About four or five years ago, the Sulpher Ranger district of the Arapaho National Forest decided that because of the extremely heavy traffic on the trail, it would be best for the health of the trail and surrounding forest to keep the the gate closed except for on three days of the summer.

The gate blocks the 3.1-mile road leading up to the St. Louis Lake trailhead. You can still hike the trail anytime of the summer, but you will have to hike up and back on the stretch of road that leads to the trailhead. You can also ride your bike on the road, as long as you leave it once you reach the trailhead that crosses into the Byer’s Peak Wilderness area.

The total round-trip distance including the road is about 14 miles. Not including the road, the distance is less than 8 miles round trip.

Announcing the dates that the St. Louis Lake Trailhead gate will be open this summer:

Friday, June 25 at 4pm through Saturday, June 26 at 7pm (for people who want to camp).
Wednesday, July 14 - 7am- 7pm.
Monday, August 16 – 7am- 7pm.

More Winter Park hiking trails and tips to come throughout the summer. Stay tuned!

Winter Park, CO Music Festivals

Posted on May 15, 2010 by Chris

Summer Music in Winter Park Colorado

Music is in the air this year in Winter Park, Colorado. The big festivals are back and there is a smattering of some new events to make this a great year up here in Rockies. There will be jazz, blues, rock and country festivals through the season at the Hideaway Park venue in downtown Winter Park, CO.

The Winter Park Jazz Festival - A Colorado tradition for over 20 years and it just keeps on getting stronger. This year featuring Chaka Khan and Norman Browns Summer Storm. The Jazz Festival is the premier summer jazz fest in the Rocky Mountain region.

Blues From The Top Music Festival – From the Grand County Blues Society this is one rockin’ show that blues lovers do not want to miss. Tis’ is a full weekend of music with a Friday night show at Smokin’ Moe’s to get the party started right.

The Fox Classic Rock Music Festival – Featuring that ‘80′s hit producing machine Night Ranger, tell me you don’t remember the high school classic Sister Christian. Come out for a day of Music, Food, Beer Pavilion, Vendors and Fun. 103.5 The Fox brings a GREAT line up of music and fun. Gates and Vendors open at 10 am for this FREE EVENT! Yes it is free, not something you hear very often when it comes to live music! Show is 8/7/2010 from noon to 6PM. Contact winter Park Lodging Company for your tickets.

KYGO High Country Music Festival – Another free festival featuring Chris Cagle, The Josh Abbott Band and Kory Brunson. No editorializing here as I’m not a Country Music aficionado. I bet though it would be a great time and a lot cheaper than the $300.00 U2 is getting for their Denver show this summer.

There is also the season long High Note Thursday free shows in Hideaway Park. Artists have not been released yet. Also there is the season ling Fraser Picnic In The Park Series with Denver and local artists.

We have a lot of music going on up here in winter Park, CO along with great weather and more outdoor activities than you could name.

Come have a great summer time in Winter Park, Colorado.

See Winter Park Lodging Company for tickets to all events and the best music lodging available.

Crankworx Coming back to Winter Park

Posted on May 14, 2010 by Amy

Winter Park is excited to host the Crankworx again this summer, July 29- August 1, 2010. For 4 fun filled days, you will see some of the biggest names in mountain biking like Semenuk, Basagoitia, McCaul, and Berrecloth. They are sure to be showing off some new tricks that you don’t want to miss. All of the events that take place at the base are completely free to everyone. (If you would like to watch the on-mountain part of the races, you will be required to purchase a lift ticket.)

Thursday, July 29- Dual Slalom and Slopestyle Qualifiers
Friday, July 30- Super Downhill and Best Trick
Saturday, July 31- Cross Country and Slopestyle Finals
Sunday, August 1- UCI/PRO GRT Downhill

Give us a call, 877 329 1383, to book your lodging. We have great condos right at the base so you don’t have to deal with driving and parking.

Rocky Mtn. Nat. Park Opening Day May 28, 2010

Posted on May 13, 2010 by Amy

Summer is on the way and nothing announces it’s arrival better than the opening day at Rocky Mountain National Park. May 28th, 2010 will start the summer season for the Alpine Visitor Center located on the Continental Divide on Trail Ridge Road. Crews are hard at work clearing the pass to have it open in time. Be sure to make the drive over the divide this summer, the views are incredible. You might even see some wildlife too.

Winter Park Snow Pack still growing, Great News for Rafters!

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Amy

We get an average of 365 inches of snow in a season up here in Winter Park. Since we didn’t get all of that during the ski season, it’s coming down now. That’s great news for summer rafters. The better the snow pack, the better and longer the raft season. Adventures in Whitewater, a local WP business, offers guided trips on both the Colorado and Clear Creek Rivers. Check out their website, http://adventuresinwhitewater.com/, or give them a call to schedule your adventure, 1-877-321-RAFT or at (970)726-3279. Be sure to mention that you are a guest of Winter Park Lodging Company for a great 15% discount!

Winter Park Colorado Fourth of July

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Chris

4th of July in the Colorado Rockies

Looking for somewhere to spend the fourth of July weekend up in the Colorado mountains? Winter Park is the place to be for fourth of July. Come celebrate summer in Winter Park and the Fraser Valley this 4th of July Weekend.

There are a bunch activities happening, including the long-going Rendezvous Run for Independence, the Hi Country Stampede Rodeo and of course the spectacular fireworks display. There is also a great fireworks display over in Grand Lake, a short 25 minute drive from the friendly confines of Winter Park and Fraser.

Monday, July 4th
3:00pm – 10:00pm
Every year, locals and visitors alike bring their families, BBQs and blankets to the Fraser Ball-fields to play & relax out in the gorgeous mountain air for the 4th of July. Kids run & play on the huge grassy fields, live music sounds for listening and dancing, and everyone enjoys the day as we wait for the spectacular fireworks display at nightfall. At the Fraser Ball-fields, just north of the town of Fraser. For more information call the Winter Park & Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce 800-903-7275 or 970-726-4118.

Grand Lake Fireworks
Grand Lake boasts the largest fireworks display in Colorado on the 4th of July, with gorgeous colors exploding over and reflecting in the lakes.

Run for Independence
Saturday

8:00am – whenever the last racer crosses the finish line!
This is a five-mile race course from the base of Winter Park Resort to the Town of Fraser. With an elevation loss of over 600 feet, anyone can enjoy walking or running on the scenic and paved Fraser River Trail to help raise money for the Scott Hughes Endowment Fund. This foundation provides scholarships for children on kidney dialysis to attend Camp Chief Ouray at Snow Mountain Ranch-YMCA of the Rockies. Registration will be available online soon or you can register at the starting line from 8:00am – 9:00am at Winter Park Resort. For more information call the Winter Park & Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce 800-903-7275 or 970-726-4118.

These are only a few of the activities that can be had here in Winter Park for the 4th of July weekend. Check out Winter Park Lodging Companies full activity schedule for this years Fourth of July in Winter Park Colorado.

United States Mountain Bike National Championships at Solvista

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Chris

2010 US Mountain Bike Championships Winter Park

The United States Mountain Bike Championships are making a return to Solvista ski and golf club for the second year. This a huge event for the Winter Park area and Solvista specifically, another feather in the cap for “Mountain Bike Capitol, USA”

SolVista Bike Park is proud to host the 2010 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships in Granby, Colorado. On July 15-18. 2010 thousands of professional and amateur races will come battle it out on world class terrain in Cross Country, Downhill, Super-D, Mountain Cross and Short Track races.

The four day event will be held on July 15th thru 18th, 2010. It is a great way to see some spectacular athletes competing on some great terrain. It also is a good week to bring up the n=bike and do some great riding and check out the event.

The resort will again host national championships for downhill, cross country and four cross events for elite, junior, master and amateur categories.

Sol Vista has huge potential. They’re going to tweak some things in the basin area this year. For example, they will re-do the cross country course, so you’ll be able to see more of it as your watching.

SolVista move the expo area over and open the main area up for teams and vendors. Hopefully, it’ll be even more of a festival like atmosphere than last year.

In an effort to reduce the contracting and administrative logistics involved in constantly moving the nationals, USAC has been moving toward a model in which hosts serve as venues for multiple years, though perhaps for different disciplines.

Hopefully, we will see SolVista hosting these championships in years to come. SolVist Bike Park is a great venue and the exposure it brings to the Winter park area for mountain biking is fantastic.

To keep up to date on the schedule for the Us Mountain Bike Championships got to www.solvistanationals.com for info. As of April 2010 the info is still about the 2009 event.

For lodging to the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Championships check out Winter Park Lodging Company rentals.