What’s New at Crested Butte Mountain Resort for the 2007-08 season?
After three years of intense work on the drawing boards and then inside the construction barricades, Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) will greet guests this winter with dramatic evidence of the "reinvention" unfolding there.Most striking among the changes is the opening of Mountaineer Square, a focal point of the base area that is being re-shaped under owners Tim and Diane Mueller. But refinements will touch all areas of the resort, including renovation of the former Club Med, now the Elevation Hotel; on-mountain improvements; DC Superpipe and Park construction; planning, permitting and eventual construction of the Red Lady Lodge; restaurant remodels; rental and ski school relocations; and snowmaking and safety upgrades.
"We’re excited to continue the momentum created by our owners," said Randy Barrett, CBMR vice president and general manager. "Each year we raise the bar, with improvements and additions throughout the resort. It’s gratifying to give our phenomenal ski mountain the attention it deserves, and to give our guests the vacations they dream about."
Mountaineer Square takes shape
The first phase of the $200 million base village rose from drawing board to reality this summer when The Lodge at Mountaineer Square and the Mountaineer Conference Center opened their doors for guests and groups.
The Lodge at Mountaineer Square is CBMR’s newest luxury property, featuring hotel and condominium accommodations. The Lodge surrounds the Mountaineer Conference Center and is located steps from the ski lift. The conference facility offers 9,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that can be configured to accommodate all types of gatherings and events.
The lodge and conference center wrap around a cozy courtyard, in which guests can find visitor services, dining and shopping. Here the Crested Butte Adventure Center serves as the "resort concierge," a one-stop shopping site for skiing, riding and outdoor activities. Visitors can buy lift tickets, book Crested Butte Mountain Schools lessons and clinics, make dinner reservations, find out about activities like snowmobiling or horseback riding, or just ask directions to a great local watering hole. Those who want to make a beeline to the slopes can purchase lift tickets at the automated ticket kiosk.
To make a lodging reservation at The Lodge at Mountaineer Square, visit www.mountaineersquare.com or call 800-810-7669. For more information on Real Estate Opportunities at The Lodge at Mountaineer Square, visit www.cbliving.com or call toll-free 877-805-6109.
Phase two of Mountaineer Square will take shape over the next two years. Crews will "deconstruct" the Gothic Building and launch the updated, upscaled Cimarron. Cimarron will house the lift ticket office, ski and snowboard rental, retail shops, restaurants and premier resort residences.
To complement the new mountain village, the former Club Med Crested Butte will be transformed into a four-star, ski-in/ski-out luxury property renamed the Elevation Hotel and Spa. Sun Vest Communities, USA, purchased the property and is partnering IMG Academies in the $25 million renovation. CBMR will manage and operate the commercial space of the Elevation Hotel and Spa.
Mountain Master plan in final stages of approval
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies like the Forest Service to integrate environmental values into their decision making by considering the environmental impacts of proposed actions. NEPA also stipulates that the government should use all practicable means to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony. CBMR is in the "on-site" stages of an environmental assessment of the Main Mountain Improvement Plan. The plan includes new lifts, lift additions, realignments and replacements, additional snowmaking, glading, new trails and restaurant additions and expansions. This final "blessing" by the Forest Service will enable CBMR to proceed with planned upgrades, additions and overhauls to the main mountain over the next five to seven years.DC partners with CB
DC Shoes and CBMR have joined forces in a three-year commitment to create, customize and configure a state-of-the-art DC Terrain Park and DC Superpipe. Chris "Gunny" Gunderson of Snowpark Technologies (SPT) will work with CBMR snowcat operators and park crews to develop this new nirvana for riders going for challenges and thrills. With the newest in rails, boxes and other features, the terrain parks will cater to riders of all ages and abilities.Snowmaking, snowcats and trail upgrades
This year CMBR will build on its commitment to excellent early-season skiing, season-long riding on "Colorado’s best corduroy," and its world-famous Extreme Limits. Investments include better and more extensive snowmaking in the Gold Link/Prospect terrain, snowcat replacement/upgrades, significant brush cutting on all trails and the Extreme Limits, and tree clearing on Peachtree runs with the help of the "Quality Circle" - a select group of CB Mountain Schools instructors.
"These seemingly minor investments add up to a noticeably better product overall, and enable us to give people great skiing and boarding from day one of the ski season," said Barrett.
Final touches
Not to be forgotten in the hub of activity at CBMR, CB Mountain Schools will relocate to the Axtel Building at the base of the Silver Queen lift. Also, Crested Butte’s Slope Safety Patrols will increase, donning sporty new uniforms and refining the resort’s on-slope signage.
In the culinary realm, CBMR will re-theme the former Woodstone Grille at the Grand Lodge. More and better seating at Paradise Warming House will allow more guests to dine in comfort.
"All these large and small improvements show our commitment to our guests and their experience in Crested Butte," Barrett said. "We want people to enjoy every aspect of the time they spend with us."
