Aspen Snowmass, a division of Aspen One, has officially confirmed its decision to break ground on nearly $80 million of on-mountain improvement projects at Snowmass.
According to certain reports, these projects include two new high-speed chairlifts, a complete reconstruction of one of the resort’s most beloved on-mountain restaurants, and more. More on the same would reveal how these investments are actually a part of Aspen One’s effort to more rapidly upgrade on-mountain infrastructure.
Talk about this given assortment of projects on a slightly deeper level, we begin from planned chairlift upgrades. The company will introduce a brand-new elk camp 6-pack lift, thus replacing the existing Elk Camp quad chair with a new state-of-the-art, high-speed lift.
The idea here is to better service the popular terrain for the purpose of reducing ski season wait times and uploading more bikes to the Snowmass Bike Park during summer.
Next up, we are likely to see a whole new cirque T-bar. This particular component will cut down on wait times at one of the highest lifts in North America, which accesses some of Snowmass’ best extreme high alpine terrain. The stated replacement is expected to double the capacity of this lift.
All in all, assuming there are no changes in the plan, it would mark the first time in nearly two decades that Snowmass has added two new lifts in one season. Upon execution, these upgrades would join other major on-mountain investment projects across Aspen Snowmass’ mountains in recent years, including The Cabin and Coney Express upgrades at Snowmass this past winter, the Hero’s terrain expansion at Aspen Mountain, and the Buttermilk base area renovation.
“The areas of terrain served by these lifts are some of the most popular on our mountain,” said Susan Cross, Mountain Manager at Snowmass. “These updates allow for guests to more smoothly access Snowmass’ classic wide-open slopes and sweeping vistas at Elk Camp, and the incredible variety of high-alpine terrain we have off The Cirque. I am proud that we continue to invest in making this mountain the best that it can be, and having high-speed, higher capacity lifts is critical to the Snowmass experience.”
Next up, Aspen is set to introduce an assortment of on-mountain upgrades, as its Ullrhof property, the beloved mid-mountain restaurant on Snowmass, will undergo a complete rebuild and before re-opening for the 2026-27 winter season. The 56-year-old building will be bestowed with a modern mountain design, which celebrates its storied history and reflects the surrounding natural environment.
Another detail worth a mention here is rooted in the fact that Aspen’s new Ullrhof will double its original occupancy to boast more than 500 seats, while simultaneously boasting an expanded upstairs bar, lounge, and updated menu, as well as major upgrades for operational efficiencies.
Not just that, the updated restaurant will also have Aspen Snowmass’ first all-electric on-mountain restaurant to reinforce the company’s commitment to sustainable building design.
Apart from it, Aspen’s Elk Camp restaurant will receive significant upgrades this summer (pending approval from the Town of Snowmass Village), thanks to a proposed expansion of 120 seats to the outdoor deck footprint, along with the introduction of a covered umbrella area similar to The Cabin,
Moving on, the stated redevelopment effort will also conceive various snowmaking upgrades. These upgrades, on their part, are going to include investments in automation and new technologies to make snowmaking more energy efficient. They will also facilitate the expansion of snowmaking coverage at the mid- and upper-mountain areas to ensure skiable terrain during early- and late-season time periods.
Rounding up highlights would be a series of critical forest health and safety projects that are planned across all four mountains. Here, the focus is on improving wildlife habitats, reducing wildfire risks, and maintaining healthy ecosystems.
“We have a huge summer ahead for on-mountain developments here at Aspen Snowmass,” said Geoff Buchheister, CEO of Aspen Skiing Company. “These projects represent Aspen One’s commitment to ongoing investment in delivering the most exceptional guest experience possible. They support the continued longevity of our business and our legacy of delivering world-class adventures.”
