Spring Skiing at Winter Park Resort

Posted on February 22, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park skiing in spring Winter Park Spring Skiing

It is getting to be that time of year when the heavy parka goes away and the nice light fleece accompanies you to the ski hill. Spring! in all its glorious incarnations is just a couple of weeks away and you know what that means? Lotsa lotsa snow, blue skies and drinking beer on the base decks. There is not a better time to ski in Colorado than spring and that goes for Winter Park as well.

As I said, the snow is usually best in March and April and the temperatures get a little bit warmer and the days a little bit longer.

Winter Park Resort is putting on the Spring Blast presented by Snickers® – Party at the Park on April 3rd and 4th, 2010. Here is what they have to say about their Spring Blast:

Celebrate the coming of spring! Relax on the decks of Derailer Bar with drink specials and live music, shop ’till you drop at our end of season blowout sales in base area shops, get free bump tips from the Winter Park Ski and Snowboard school, watch the area’s best freeride competitors in rail jam competitions and demo’s, and don’t forget about the season finale Winter Park Spring Splash.

Winter Park Resort is in the top 10 Spring Break Ski Trips for 2010. Coming in at number3. Here is what About.com has to say about Winter Park Resort as a spring skiing destination:

Winter Park is just 1 1/2 hours from Denver, Colorado, making it easy and cheap to get to by car, bus or Amtrak train (in fact, you can take the Amtrak ski train straight into Winter Park from either coast and get a 15% Amtrak student discount). A mountain bike-friendly place in summer, Winter Park is loaded with apres-anything spots.

So the weather is looking like Winter Park will be getting hit by lots of wet spring snow storms and the weather will be heating up: it is Spring Skiing in the Colorado Rockies.

Mardi Gras Blues Show in Winter Park!

Posted on February 15, 2010 by sam

We may be 9,000 feet above sea level and 1,400 miles from New Orleans, but that’s not going o stop us from celebrating Mardi Gras. The Grand County Blues Society, always good to us here in Winter Park, is presenting us with a trio of wildly talented blues musicians this Tuesdsay at Smokin’ Moes Saloon.

First up, Trampled Underfoot! This remarkable band is comprised of Nick, Kris, and Danielle Schnebelen, each of whom are very accomplished on their respective instruments: Nick jamming on the guitar, Kris hammering on the drums, and Danielle rockin’ the bass. All three siblings sing the blues like they were born to do it, probably a lot of the reason they took home the gold at the 2008 International Blues Challenge.

Next up, Samantha Fish. Her self proclaimed influences include BB King and Bonnie Raitt, which, once you get a little taste of her belting vocals, will not surprise you. Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, Samantha is booked solid in her home state and beyond for the next year. One of my personal favorites, Rollin’ and Tumblin’, is just a preview for the upbeat show this girl puts on.

And for the third and final act, the grand finale…you’ll have to come out to Smokin’ Moes this Tuesday night to find out! Show starts at nine with a $20 cover- paying your way to dance all night long to a rare blues show in our home away from New Orleans! One other note- be nice to the door man, Art, and he might reward you with a dance. We’d love to have you there to continue this fabulous blues party tradition with us in Winter Park.

Valentine’s Roses for your Sweetie in Winter Park

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Valarie

Nothing is more classy than giving a dozen roses to your Valentine. Whether you’re a local or a visitor in Winter Park for the romantic holiday, you can surprise your sweet heart with a dozen red roses for Valentine’s Day.

Kara and Rami with Pick Me Floral Design and Event Planning are just the people you need, offering a Valentine’s rose deal for either pick up or delivery. For delivery the cost is $75 and for pick up it’s $65 (pre-orders only). A deal either way, for beautiful roses to brighten up your Valentine’s Day. Email kara@lovethisday.com or call 970-531-9237 today.

Winter Park Wells Fargo Cup

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Colorado Wells Fargo Cup

The Wells Fargo Cup ski weekend benefiting the National Sports Center for the Disabled makes its 35th appearance at the Winter Park Resort from February 19th to 21st, 2010. This event brings together world-class disabled ski racers, Denver celebrities, Broncos alumni along with amateur skiers and snowboarders of all abilities for a weekend of activities to benefit the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD). The Celebrity Challenge is one of the most entertaining events of the weekend as celebrities and former football stars make their way down a racecourse. There will also be a silent auction that usually brings interest from big spenders to the most frugal.

National Sports Center for the Disabled

Founded in 1970, the National Sports Center for the Disabled’s mission is to positively impact the lives of people with any physical or mental challenge through quality adaptive recreation programs in over 20 sports. The NSCD’s impact on lives is direct, immediate and visible. Over 20,000 lessons were provided in 2007 alone.

The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) is one of the largest outdoor therapeutic recreation agencies of its kind in the world. For 40 years, children and adults with disabilities have looked to the organization for hope and encouragement. Each year, they take to the ski slopes, rivers, mountain trails and athletic fields to learn more about sports and themselves. With specially trained instructors and its own adapted equipment lab, the NSCD can accommodate individuals with almost any physical or mental diagnosis.

The Wells Fargo Cup is a great weekend of skiing benefiting truly one of the best causes that I know. It is also one of the most popular weekends to be in Winter Park. So make your plans now and help out a great cause and have some fun on the Winter Park/Mary Jane slopes.

Mardi Gras in Winter Park, Colorado

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Resort Mardi Gras 2010

You don’t have to be in New Orleans or Rio de Janiero to celebrate Mardi Gras. We here up in Winter Park, CO have our own little celebration up on the ski slopes. The Winter Park Resort employees are usually all decked out and there are lots and lots of beads. You my even see some topless celebratants latter in the day if the sun is out and the booze is flowing.

The Winter Park/ Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce will be putting on a Mardi Gras Festival for the kids and family at the Hideaway Park in Town of Winter Park from 1PM to 4PM on Feb 13th. The sledding hill will be open and there will be games and treats for the kids.

Sol Vista will be putting on a Mardi Gras Snow fest. SolVista Basin resort family celebrations: Fun Events for kids of all ages; music; food, beverage and retail specials. Kids Snow Play Park, Sledding Hill, and Cross Country Skiing always free.

And there will be lots of celebrating on the slopes with beads a flying and everyone trying to have some fun on the slopes of Mary Jane/Winter Park Resort.

It’s Mardi Gras, show us your……… ??

Fall Fun in Winter Park

Posted on October 4, 2009 by rachelb

Fall is upon us and there are still quite a few fun activities to check out during October. Here are some highlights…

October 9-10: 24th Annual Ski Swap. Come on down to West Portal Station to get huge discounts on new and used ski gear and outerwear for the whole family. The swap is a primary fundraiser for the Winter Park Competition Center and scholarship funds, so help the cause! For more info, call 970-726-1590

October 15: Scary Movie Night @ the Fraser Library- “Children of the Corn”. Be prepared to get spooked- show starts at 6pm. For info call 970-726-5689

October 28: Showing of Warren Miller’s Dynasty. Head to Winter Parks Silver Screen Cinemas to check out the best in the ski movie biz. Showings at 6 and 9pm. Contact 970-726-5390 for more details.

October 31: Cooper Creek is hosting the 9th annual Trick or Treat Street and Haunted House. From 4-7pm, come out with the kids for some spooky family fun! Here are a few of the activities planned-

trick or treating througout the mall
haunted house and spooky graveyard
phantom photo booth
free spooky supper at Moe’s
Scarecrow scare-off contest announced at Moe’s at 7pm

here’s the WPLC scarecrow holding down the fort….

Winter Park Photographer

Posted on September 19, 2009 by rachelb

We have to brag about our favorite local photographer for a minute. Steve Willis is a long time resident of Winter Park and has an amazing talent for capturing the beauty of life in the mountains in his photos. We’re lucky to have a few of his pieces on display in our office now, so feel free to swing by and check them out! For a very reasonable price, you can even buy your own authentic shot of Perry’s Peak or the Winter Park slopes to hang up in your mountain home. In addition to landscapes, Steve also does wedding photography and family photos to capture your Winter Park experience. Below are two that we have in our office but to see some in person, you can stop by the Fraser Library where he’s currently showing a wide variety. For more information on Steve’s work you can email him at steven@willisphoto.com.

Thanksgiving in Winter Park, Colorado

Posted on September 14, 2009 by Chris

A Winter Park, Colorado Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is coming upon us quickly and there is not a better place to spend Turkey day than on the slopes of Winter Park and Mary Jane Resorts. The word on the streets (or is that mountain) is that this El Nino year will bring us lots and lots of early big snows. Snow and turkey make for a the perfect Thanksgiving! Throw in the family and some football and you are talking the best holiday of the year!

Come on up to Winter Park, Colorado and enjoy your Thanksgiving in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. To help Y’all have a great Thanksgiving Winter Park Lodging Company will have a bird in your fridge on Turkeyday for all that are here over the Thanksgiving holiday for more than three nights. Now that can’t be beat. Spend the day on the slopes and come home to a bird that has been cooking all day and watch a little football with a beer.

Don’t miss out your Winter Park ski in and out lodging! Make your reservation today.

Outdoor Gear Swap in Winter Park

Posted on July 26, 2009 by Valarie

s7300998 Epic Mountain Sports is hosting the first ever gear swap for the Fraser Valley community this Saturday, August 1st. Bring all of your unwanted skis, boards, boots, bikes, tents, raquets or any other outdoor equipment to sell or trade with other locals, and get some great deals on used gear. The swap will be held in the parking lot in front of Epic Mountain Sports in the Park Place Plaza (where Conoco gas station is).

All you have to do is drop your stuff off between 7am and 9am on Saturday morning, fill out a sale form and mark a sale price for your gear. At 9am the trading/selling begins and you’re free to browse the other goods from your neighbors and grab some deals! You can then come back after 5pm to collect your profits.

The Park Place Plaza businesses, including Mirasol Cantina, Rise & Shine Cafe and Divide Snowboard Shop will be offering deals and specials for the event. Plus all of the businesses in the plaza will donate 5% of their sales to the Headwaters Trails Alliance, a non-profit organization that takes care of our hiking trails in Grand County. All equipment that isn’t sold or traded can be donated to the Headwaters Trails Alliance as well. For more information call Epic Mountain Sports at 970-726-2868 or go to their website.

Star Gazing in Winter Park

Posted on July 16, 2009 by Amy

milky-way

What a great place to really look at the stars, on top of a mountain. Winter Park Resort is offering free Star Safaris tonight and next Thursday from 8:30-10:30pm where you can look through high-powered telescopes and use a laser to pinpoint stars and planets. The speakers are eager to share their knowledge about the science of the stars. The program is free. The only thing you will need to bring is warm clothes and your love of the night time sky. It can still get chilly in the mountains after the sun goes down.

The speakers will be professors from the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

7/16 Dr. John Bally
7/23 Dr. Fran Bagenal

Winter Park Lodging Company has great condos in the Zephyr Mountain Lodge where you can continue to watch the stars from you private balcony. For more information please contact the Winter Park Resort at 970. 726.1564.