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Destination Report: West Big air, Snowbird

Crested Butte
Crested Butte

By Randy Mink be available in the lower level of the Treasury Center to

C eat on the run or to sit and enjoy. The Outpost building in
Crested Butte Mountain Resort is moving forward with
improvement projects for the 2008-2009 winter season
the base area will be redesigned and opened as a day
after experiencing its snowiest winter on record last sea-
son, with a total of 421 inches of snow and an unprece-
lodge.
dented 100-inch base on closing day. New this winter are
increased airline service and facility upgrades.
Also new this winter will be a central ski valet and
overnight ski, snowboard and boot valet service. The
American Airlines will add direct service from Chicago to service is free to all hotel guests and to others for a
complement its current Dallas daily service, and United nightly fee and will feature ski-in ski-out access. The ski
will expand service with three flights daily from Denver, valet service pampers hotel guests from lobby check-in
connecting to hundreds of flights worldwide. to hotel check-out with seamless handling of ski and
snowboard equipment.
After months of research and development, Crested Butte
has a new brand positioning expressed in the tagline The Lodge at Mountaineer Square, Elevation Hotel & Spa
“Inspire your Passion.” The promise of “inspiring your pas- and the Grand Lodge were recently accepted into the
sion for adventure” and its implications will be seen resort- prestigious Preferred Hotels group. Elevation Hotel will
wide. Beginning with a new marketing and advertising cam- complete a $25-million remodel that will include all 260
paign, the brand will also be reflected in various areas of luxury rooms, the spa and fitness center and new
the Colorado resort, from signage to employee uniforms. Atmosphere Restaurant & Bar.

The kids ski school will see the greatest physical transfor- Snow Igloos, Crested Butte’s fun addition to the mountain
mation. The new Kids Base Camp program will engage experience, will sprout up around the resort for après-ski
kids through exploration and adventure on and off the cocktails and adventure play areas for the kids. The solid
mountain. From a new entrance to remodeled kid-friendly snow structures will be at Kids Base Camp and mid-
bathrooms and play areas, the space will be completely mountain outside the Ice Bar Restaurant.
revamped.
On-mountain improvements will include expanded terrain
The Treasury Center building in the base area will be off the Headwall lift into the Teocalli bowl area in what is
redesigned to improve a number of guest services. The known as Teo-2 and Teo-2.5, adding expert terrain to the
Crested Butte Ski and Snowboard Rental Shop will be mix. Crested Butte’s commitment to providing world-
moved to a slope-side location. The rental shop and a class terrain park and pipe facilities continues with new
new retail store will include top-of-the line rental skis and features in the DC Terrain Park and the addition of a new
snowboards. intermediate terrain park.

The rental shop’s former location will be transformed into Contact: (800) 810-7669; skicb.com.
a "Pizza Zone." Fresh, pizza, beverages and snacks will

24 MIDWEST SKIER 2008/2009 DIRECTORY www.skicmsc.com