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Aspen Highlands will extend season

Aspen Times Staff Report
Aspen, CO Colorado

ASPEN ” The abundance of snow will give skiers and riders a bonus season at Aspen Highlands this spring.

Highlands ” including Highland Bowl ” will be open on the weekends of April 19-20 and April 26-27, the Aspen Skiing Co. announced today.

“This is our way of saying thank you to the community for a great season,” said Skico President and CEO Mike Kaplan in a prepared statement. “We look forward to seeing everyone out on the hill.”



Highlands will close as scheduled at the end of Sunday, April 6. It will reopen for the two special weekends.

The Skico’s three other ski areas will close as scheduled. Buttermilk will close Sunday, April 6. Aspen Mountain and Snowmass will close at the end of the day on Sunday, April 13.




Skico officials said an extended season wasn’t possible at Aspen Mountain or Snowmass because of time-sensitive projects. The electrical system of the Silver Queen Gondola at Aspen Mountain must be replaced. Work must start immediately after the lifts close so the gondola can operate for summer.

The Skico is building a restaurant at Sam’s Knob at Snowmass and must start construction as soon as possible.

So, Highlands was the logical choice for bonus season. There are 120 inches of snow on the ground in Highland Bowl and almost 100 inches at mid-mountain.

“It would be a shame to waste all this great snow,” said Rich Burkley, vice president mountain operations, “and since the CFO is out of the country, we decided to pull the trigger before he gets back.”

The Exhibition, Loge and Deep Temerity lifts will run daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. providing access to the entire mountain. The Merry-Go-Round restaurant will serve a limited lunch menu with barbecue, chips and beverages.

All season ski passes are valid as they are during the regular season. Adult tickets will be $39 per day, youth and seniors will pay $35 and children’s tickets will be $25. Children six and under ski for free.

As a show of support for resort employees across the country, employees from any other ski resort with a current season picture pass will pay just $12 for a lift ticket.