With all the discounts that the ski resorts are offering this year I was looking to find what were the most affordable places to ski in Colorado.  I didn’t have to go far as there was a story from Ski.com picked up by USA Today that lists their top ten affordable North American ski resorts.

Winter Park is on the list and this is what they had to say about our little slice of heaven here:

Winter Park, the closest major resort to Denver, described as catering to a “moderate demographic, no luxury properties,” with many lodging selections, some so close to the mountain that you can walk or take a shuttle.

I’m not so sure about not having luxury accommodations, see Base Camp on Jane Creek, Red Quill and the new Winter Park Village lofts, but they did get it right that you can get great lodging very close to the mountain steps away from the lifts.  Maybe they are getting the no luxury properties because the way Intrawest asks the owners of properties on their rental program not to update or improve the properties.

It is true Winter Park is an affordable ski resort.  It also is the oldest ski resort in Colorado celebrating it 70th year of operations.  Check out the cool 70th anniversary logo above.  The Winter Park ski train also will continue to run for it’s 70th year.  Winter Park Resort also receives the most snow of all Colorado destination resorts and is the #1 US ski resort for bumps and families.

So come on up and get a great deal at the best ski resort in Colorado!

Winter Park Ski Train Tickets

Well it looks like the Winter Park Ski Train will officially be back for it’s 70th year.  The Rio Grande Scenic Train is selling tickets for trips up to Winter Park /Mary Jane Resort.  They still need final approval from Amtrack but they are sure they will get it and you can now buy tickets.  We heard that there will be some positive changes in the operation of the train.  A Winter Park executive was overheard saying that the train will now accommodate destination and return travel on different days.  That means now you can come up from Union Station in Denver spend the night or a few nights and return on the train when you choose.  This makes the train an actual travel option for skiers other than the Denver Front Rangers.

Skiers and travelers can get more information about schedule, prices and options at 877.726.RAIL or the Winter Park Ski Train website.

The ski train is expected to run from December 27th to March 28th running around 50 trips between Denver’s Union Station and Winter Park Resort on weekends, holidays and some other weekdays.  Pricing looks to be $49.00 for a coach ticket up to $99.00 for a premium level ticket.  There will also be a limited food and beverage service.

Nice work on bringing the ski train back and hopefully with better operating rules so it can be enjoyed by all.

The Denver Post reported today that plans are almost finalized to bring back the Winter Park Ski Train for it’s 70th season of operation between Denver and Winter Park Resort.  Amtrak and Iowa Pacific got the go-ahead for Denver-to-Winter Park rail trips from Dec. 26 to March 28 from Union Pacific Railroad.  Union Pacific Railroad owns the track that the Ski Train runs on.

The operation would use Iowa Pacific trains that sit idle in the winter months and man them with Amtrak operational  staff.  The train would use Union Station in Lower Downtown Denver this year and then move to a temporary station the next three years while Union Station is remodeled as the Denver light rail hub.  Iowa Pacific runs the train in Southern Colorado in the summer months as tourist excursion trips in Alamosa, La Veta, Antonito and Monte Vista.

We here at Winter Park Lodging Company say YEAH to bringing back the train.  We would hope that they would allow tickets to be bought for different days of arrival and departure though.  How fun to be able to leave Denver spend three night on the slopes and return while never having to get in a car.  This is also good for the I-70 traffic that has become Los Angeles like on weekends in the winter months.

A Revival for the Winter Park Ski Train?

There is some push from Winter Park Resort and Iowa Pacific Holdings, a railroad operator, to continue the Winter Park ski train service from Denver’s Union Station to Winter Park Ski Resort.  Read the whole Denver Post article here.  The ski train had run the route continuously for 69 years before the train being sold to a Canadian railroad company this past April by the Anschutz Company.

We here at Winter Park Lodging Company love the Ski Train and wish for its return.  A couple of changes however, would make the ski train even better.  One, let the ski train accommodate overnight stays.  The Post article says that the Iowa Pacific trains are larger therefor they should be able to let passengers stay a few nights up here in Winter Park.  Second, it would be great to have the train be able to take passengers to Denver and return to Winter Park from Union Station.

Lets hope the ski train makes a return and with a couple of changes we could have a spectacular asset for Winter Park Resort.