Ah, shopping!
Silver Creek at the Winter Park Resort Base
I was hanging out at the base area during the Wells Fargo Cup this weekend and popped into the Silver Creek shop, located in the Zephyr Mountain Lodge. Not sure why I never had gone in there before (maybe it has something to do with always having ski gear on not in the mood to try on clothes). Well, what a nice surprise it was. I thought I had to go to Denver to shop for cute stuff!
I quickly found a True Grit vest that is now my favorite piece in the closet. And my friend and I both bought Xob baseball-style hats made out of recycled sweaters. We think we’re adorable. Marc, the owner, said no one ever tries the hats on and doesn’t buy one.
Silver Creek is open every day, 9 – 7 Friday and Saturday, and 9 – 6 Sunday thru Thursday. The True Grit clothing line is really fun mountain-chic and the Home line of jewelry is all around for picking and choosing some great accessories for your cowboy style.
Phone number: 970.726.5424.
Powder Addiction Cat Skiing in Winter Park, Colorado
We finally got a chance to check out Powder Addiction, the new snow cat skiing tour operator that is headquartered in the Winter Park Village and running ski trips to Jones Pass. Well, awesome is what I would have to say of Powder Addiction. The snow was fantastic the guides were knowledgeable and the travel time to ski was very minimal. This was the first of four trips that we have planned with the next coming in two weeks.
Our group consisted of myself, Ed Reagnor, Scott Emory, Teddy and Nick Kutrombos, Craig, Mike Ayre, Phil the snowboarder, Ben the Aussie, Jean Wolter and Todd the Cornhusker. It was a great day of skiing. Supposedly the snow up here in Winter Park is a little below average this year but the snow on Jones Pass was about the best I have ever skied - light fluffy and lots and lots of it.
Our skiing guides were Mr. Ski Boss Jamie Wolter and Steve Waldorf. The guides were very thorough, safe, fun and tried to get us the best snow and skiing possible. We were able to get seven runs in and my legs were about shot with those seven. The skis provide by Powder Addiction were Salomon Czar powder skis. My first time on a rocker ski and man they can just float on the powder. They are a little squirly on the packed snow but nice and fat with a lot of float on the fluffy powder.
Here is Powder Addictions description of skiing up at Jones Pass:
Our operation lies less than 1 hour drive from Denver. The closest powder skiing operation to the Front Range. If joining us from the Grand County you will meet at our World Headquarters in the Village at Winter Park. Our Jones Pass location gets the benefits of storms that flow in from all directions. We typically get hit by all the Colorado storms. This means you get the best chance for sweet skiing conditions when you ski with us.
You will spend the day skiing virgin snow at an average elevation of 11,000 feet. The high altitude combined with good Northern exposure keeps our snow cold and light.
If you enjoy skiing powder or are back country skiing fan I would definitely recommend Powder Addiction. This was probably the best day of skiing I have ever had. Whoooohoooo I can not wait ’till our next outing.
You can follow all of the Powder Addiction happenings at the Powder Addiction Facebook page.
Come and satisfy your powder addiction in Winter Park, CO
Winter Park to become Vail?
A friend of ours was flying back home to Boston and found this interesting article about Winter Park Resort becoming the next Vail in the inflight magazine. The article title is “A Mountain of Opportunity”. I would like to think that Winter Park will be the next Vail and I wouldn’t mind if Winter Park got some of the attention Vail does but I don’t think this is going to happen tomorrow.
It is a pretty good read of an article, however, the author got a couple things wrong. The Winter Park Village actually is at the base of Winter Park Resort but the Town of Winter Park, which Google is now calling Hideaway Park, is 2 miles down US Highway 40.
My favorite part of the article is the part about the new Winter Park lofts:
“MODERATE: The nicest offerings at Intrawest’s new base area are the slopeside Lofts of Winter Park Village, luxury condos above the retail storefronts and restaurants. Finished with hardwood floors, granite counters, stainless-steel appliances, large balconies and fireplaces, the units are first rate but relatively affordable. A two-level, three-bedroom, 1,070-square-foot unit runs about $700,000.”
The lofts are fantastic. Right above the Winter Park Village and just steps from the Zephyr lift. Very very convenient location for ski lodging. When Winter Park Resort starts doing summer music at the base again the lofts will be the best place to stay I’m thinking.
Anywho, Winter Park Lodging Company offers two Winter Park Village lofts and if you are looking for lodging at the Winter Park/Mary Jane Base, the lofts can not be beat.
So, here is to Winter Park moving towards the likes of Vail but we really don’t want to be Vail.
There are lots and lots of new stores opening up here in Winter Park, Colorado. Our town just seems to be booming with all the restaurants opening and the Rec Center open for the first day and all this just in time for Christmas.
First we have the Fraser/Winter Park Rec Center open for the very first day to what looks like universal approval here in the Fraser Valley. We will be visiting this coming week and will let you know how the final product turned out. From what I have seen it looks spectacular (I can’t wait to steam my old bones in the steam sauna).
Last night Alberto’s had a soft opening to get some of the kinks out before tonight’s official Grand Opening. I heard that the food was terrific and the space looks just as good. For those not on the know, Alberto’s is brought to us by the folks that own the Tabernash Tavern. They have redone the space in Cooper Creek Square that most recently housed the Green Olive Italian steakhouse. We will try to make it out to Alberto’s in the next week and let your know about their operation.
The Cosmic Dog Mexican Grill is also opening tonight. I popped my head in today and the space looks pretty cool. I got a chance to talk to Fernand, the owner, and he says they should be serving up some burritos tonight. He also said he was exhausted from their push to get open in time for the Winter Park holiday season. I can’t wait to have a burrito this week. Nice work Fernand on the space, it looks great.
Lastly there is Ziggy’s Doughnuts. Our very own hot fresh doughnut factory located next to Fontenot’s Cajun Cafe in the Kings Crossing Retail Center. Talked Ziggy today and he says they should be open by the 3rd of January. Ziggy’s will have coffee, fresh donuts, and some video games set among a cool interior with counter service and tables and chairs. Would be great if Ziggy could figure out a way to offer some wine and beer, anywho, I’m am satisfied with hot donuts for now though.
So our little enclave of heaven up here in the Colorado Rockies just seems to be booming with all these openings. It looks like the economy is tuning around and vacationers ans skiers are starting to return to the hills. We got some unexpected snow the last few nights and everyone here in Winter Park is getting ready for Christmas. All seems well in the Winter Park part of the world.
Affordable Colorado Ski Resorts
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!
Does this Right the Intrawest Ship or is the Ship Sinking?
Intrawest has plans to sell one of it’s Colorado ski resorts the company announced yesterday. Intrawest has agreed to sell Copper Mountain to Powdr Corp. based in Park City, Utah and one of the larger North American ski resort operators.
Reasons for the sale were not announced by the private company but Intrawest and Fortress, it’s parent company, have taken a beating in the last year with the recession. This puts Intrawest at nine resorts it now operates. Intrawest spokesman Mr. Galbraith on Tuesday would not say whether more assets will be sold. He said the reason Intrawest sold Copper Mountain is because the new company strategy is to focus on nine winter resorts rather than 10.
So, what does this mean for Winter Park Resort? Well, if you take Mr. Galbraith at his word then nine is a pretty special number of resorts to be managing. Why could nine not become eight, or eight then seven and on and on? Intrawest can not sell Winter Park, though, as it is the resort management company for the City of Denver with a 50 year lease.
The tightening of the Intrawest belt can be seen at Winter Park Resort. There are no on mountain improvements this year even though there has been quite a few the last five years. Intrawest also just announced plans to charge guests staying at the base in the three buildings they have lodging operations - Zephyr Mountain Lodge, Fraser Crossing & Founder’s Pointe – will now be charged $14.00 a night to park a car. I guess they must be hurting with trying to charge the Winter Park guest, ie families, $14.00 a night in this economy for a garage that is never full. Well $14.00 a night per car will help that bottom line.
Anywho, it will be interesting what more changes we will see coming from Intrawest and what effect they will have on Winter Park Resort. We will keep you posted.
Winter Park Ski Resort Lodging
Winter Park Lodging Company is the number two supplier of Winter Park Resort lodging with over 30 units of ski in and out lodging at the base of Winter Park Resort. Intrawest may have more units but do you really want to stay in a non-updated ski condo for your vacation? Intrawest tells owners on their rental program “please do not change the looks and feel of the original condo” - it is much easier maintaining condos if they all look and act alike! But are they as pleasing for a ski vacation? This means as a guest you will have old tv’s, drab tan paint and no tasteful mountain decorations.
Intrawest also runs their lodging operation like a hotel, maybe even a Motel 6, and that means you can not choose your accommodations. If you want a three bedroom Zephyr Mountain Lodge condo, you get the first one that comes up on the list. It doesn’t matter if you want to stay in a particular unit because you must take the first one on the list unless you are willing to part with some cash. If you have never stayed there before you wouldn’t know the difference because Intrawest doesn’t provide pictures of the different units.
Enough denigration of the competition! Winter Park Lodging Company will supply an updated, well appointed condo that we hope will exceed your expectations. We can say this because you have already seen pictures of the unit you will be staying in. No surprises.
If you are looking for Winter Park Resort Lodging, be it Zephyr Mountain Lodge, Founder’s Pointe or Fraser Crossing, do yourself a favor and don’t get stuck in….. well, a Motel 6.
Winter Park Village
The new Village at Winter Park Resort is gearing up for it’s first full ski season. Couple new stores are getting their stores finished up and the Gondola is ready to whisk skiers from the parking lots to the slopes.
I took the photo to the left the day before we got hit with about 13 inches of new snow this past Wednesday and Thursday at the resort. Went back out Friday and a nice blanket of white powder had been left on top of the slopes and base and the snow makers were pumping at full blast. I will share those photos later this week.
The Winter Park Village will now have The Cheeky Monk, The Back Bowl Soup Company, Goodys, Shirt off my Back and Grand Adventures/Powder Addiction for the start of the ski season. Oh, I do always forget to mention Doc’s Roadhouse the Intrawest operated eatery right at the Winter Park base. The Village should be a little busier this year and lot more fun now that the stores are filling in.
The Lofts at Winter Park will also be occupied making the Village a happening place to be this winter. We will have at-least one loft for vacation lodging here at Winter Park Lodging Company.
Come see what the new Winter Park Village has to offer and ski Colorado’s favorite ski resort.
The Back Bowl Soup Company will be opening in the Winter Park Village at or around Winter Park Resort opening day. I took a peek in the windows today and there is construction going on and it looks to me like they should make opening day. Don’t hold your breath though, we are talking mountain construction. Love thier logo to the left and the store front looks great below.
Check out their offerings on their website. They fill a niche that was definitely lacking at the base. I see they have beer and wine so it will be another place to unwind after a hard day on the slopes with an adult beverage. How hard is a hard on the slopes? It is much better than a good day at work unless you tear your ACL which then I would rather be in cubicle land in some basement.
Anywho, enough rambling already, there are now four eateries in the Winter Park Village. Well, make that three as we have heard that Lime is not going to open back up for ski season. So we have Cheeky Monk, Goodys and now the Back Bowl Soup Company. Also, have heard that Grand Adventures will be opening a store front in the Village just opposite Back Bowl to sell their snowmobile tours and rentals and their new Powder Addiction snow cat skiing operation.
Good luck Back Bowl Soup Company! I’m sure you guys are ready to be open and be done with construction and inspections.
We have been hearing some grumblings up here in Winter Park that the restaurant Lime in the Winter Park Village is not going to open back up for this ski season. The whispers have been saying that there are liens placed against the property from restaurant construction and that the rent is passed due. Hope the rumors are not true but since we are hearing specifics I think that they just may be.
Lime opened as one of the first two restaurants in the Winter Park Village along with the Cheeky Monk this past February. The times we dined or drank at Lime the offerings were good, especially their $1 taco Tuesday promotion. Margaritas were also very good and the happy hour was a good deal. Problems I saw were with the cold/heat and a lack of a vestibule when entering the restaurant and service was darn slow on a few weekends this summer. The design of the open kitchen was probably not the greatest idea either for a down and dirty Mexican food eatery.
Anywho, I will miss the Pacifico and tequila shot after a long day on the slopes.
Anyone else hearing the grumblings about Lime, Winter Park? Any word of a replacement eatery? Let us know in the comments below.
Our favorites, Winter Park Resort | Amy | 
February 23, 2010 1:54 pm | 
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