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Future growth of ski areas a summertime affair |
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Monday, December 05, 2011 08:33 |
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By SCOTT CONDON, THE ASPEN TIMES
The day is coming when ski areas might be as well-known for adrenaline-jacking rides on summer trails specially built for downhill plunges and hair-raising whisks through the forest canopy, 50-feet off the ground, on ziplines.
 Aspen Skiing Co. and just about every other ski area operator is exploring how to expand uses — and revenues — during the summer and offseasons. The operators spend millions of dollars on amenities like chairlifts and restaurants only to have them sit unused for seven months of the year.
“Ski areas have struggled for decades to figure out how to utilize those assets in the nonwinter months, figure out how to keep people employed, how to maybe lose less money in the summer,” said David Perry, senior vice president, mountain operations for Skico.
Skico's answer is to offer a variety of activities to try to appeal to a broad range of people. Summer visitors have more diverse interests. Some come to mountain bike, others come to hike or sight-see. Skico is trying to attract them to the Elk Camp section of Snowmass by offering gondola rides, developing mountain bike trails, designating dedicated hiking trails and providing a climbing wall, playground and small fishing pond near Cafe Suzanne.
“To have healthy business in the summer, you need to have diverse offerings,” Perry said.
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Photo by Jeremy Swanson, Aspen Skiing Co.
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