News / Construction Meets C... January 10, 2022

Construction Meets Creativity

The Story Behind Steamboat Square’s Art Installations

Rolling ahead on $180 million in monumental improvements, Steamboat is welcoming increased expert terrain, revamped learning and base areas and much more. These major capital enhancements will unfold over the next three years, positioning Steamboat as the second-largest ski resort in Colorado.

With growth comes construction. Thanks to the creative team at Cultivator — the Denver-based ad agency behind similar projects in Snowmass and Beaver Creek — the ambitious Steamboat Square facelift is cloaked in an educational and engaging art installation.

While crews kick up dust, building a new après ski plaza, ice rink and food hall, skiers follow the path from the transit hub, riding the new escalator and walking along the art installation to the repositioned gondola base. Playful exhibits tell the story of how our town runs on tradition, how we’re growing and staying sustainable and how we celebrate our Olympic heritage.

As you make your way to the slopes, be sure to stop and spin the snowflakes, snap a podium pic and peer into the future through giant six-foot goggles.

 

Next Slide

“Folks at Steamboat really love the mountain and they care about what’s going on,” says Cultivator creative director Chris Beatty. “We love seeing groups stop and gather around these art installations to talk.”

Follow the larger-than-life letters “S-N-O-W” this way arrow from the transit center to the escalator to the resort base. Look for the word “Gondola” spelled out with 783 painted ski pole baskets leading skiers to the new gondola location.

Tip your ski helmet to the gondola mural comprised of 57 spray-painted cowboy hardhats and get ready to hitch a ride in our brand-new, 10-person Wild Blue Gondola — the longest and fastest 10-person gondola in North America.

Spinning snowflakes made of real horseshoes remind us that our favorite activities happen on snow. That’s why we’re making more of it earlier by upping snowmaking efforts on Sunshine Peak, guaranteeing great early-season powder.

A wall of cowboy boot ice skates celebrates the new ice-skating rink and Steamboat Square centerpiece. Chris and team collected real cowboy boots from Colorado shops and even rounded up a tiny pair from one of our marketing guru’s little skiers.

View the future through six-foot ski goggles made of high-density sign foam. The heart of the resort reimagined appears as you’re looking out from the inside, including the exciting new Range Food & Drink Hall coming summer 2022 and 650 new skiable acres coming opening winter 2023.

Marvel at the nine-foot oversized spurs made of metal and up-cycled cross-country skis. In the tradition of our pioneering spirit, we’re spurring forward momentum with an exciting transformation.

Capture an Instagram story on the Olympic podium, taking home the gold, silver or bronze and honoring the 98 Olympians to come out of Steamboat so far—more than any other town in North America.

“The number one goal is to inform guests about what’s happening with the development,” Chris says. “We want to assure people that Steamboat is staying true to its roots and authenticity.”

 

Author: Lisa Blake

News / Full Steam Ahead December 30, 2021

Full Steam Ahead

Major capital enhancements are unfolding at Steamboat over the next three years.

This ranching town turned ski town has experienced a lot since the ‘60s. Today, we’re stampeding in a whole new direction, teaming up with world-class partners for $180 million in monumental improvements.

Upgraded mountain flow, more expert terrain, revamped learning and base areas and much more come together with loads of pioneering spirit to shape the Steamboat experience for every visitor.

Decades in the making, three thrilling years of growth and stoke are underway at Steamboat. Here’s what we’re excited about:

A Base Area Facelift

Pardon our dust while we redo the entire resort base area. The ambitious Steamboat Square undertaking includes escalators (read: easier access to snow!) and plans for an après ski plaza, new restaurants and bars, a ski beach and an ice rink. Watch for The Range Food & Drink Hall, a new retail spot for kids and a stage for live music.

Next Slide

Mountain Camp – New this season, Steamboat’s Mountain Camp building — formerly the Kids Vacation Center — is a one-stop-shop for families with small children. Little skiers ages 2 to 6 enjoy lift access, lunch, lesson instruction and equipment rentals. The new location in the west wing of the Sheraton Hotel has been built from the ground up as an intentional, warm and welcoming environment.

A Top-to-Bottom Gondola – The new Wild Blue Gondola arrives for Winter 2022/23 as the longest gondola in North America and the fastest 10-person gondola in the country. The state-of-the-art gondola will feed skiers/riders through a newly created mid-station adjacent to Bashor bowl with the final destination at the top of Sunshine Peak. At a total length of 3.16 miles, the new gondola will increase the out of base capacity from 6,000 people per hour to 10,000 people per hour, getting skiers from bottom to top in 13 minutes. The bottom gondola portion opens next winter and the top half opens the following season.

More Lifts, More Terrain – New lifts and 650 new acres of terrain will make Steamboat the second largest ski resort in Colorado. Crews are re-grading a whole section of the mountain, transforming Greenhorn Ranch into a new dedicated learning area for beginners. Mahogany Ridge will serve up 650 acres of new expert terrain. All in all, terrain will increase from 2,965 permitted acres to 3,615 permitted acres. Increased snowmaking efforts on Sunshine Peak will guarantee great early season snow.

Take a Ski Tour – We love sharing the Steamboat Dream with guests! Guided tours are a great way to get the lay of the land and master chairlift navigation. Now, your guide will also fill you in on how Steamboat is investing $180 million on and around the mountain to enhance the guest experience. Tours are offered Sunday through Wednesday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. from January 10, 2022 until April 6, 2022. Meet at the top of the Steamboat Gondola at 9:45 a.m. Cost and Requirements: Adults 13+: $15, Child 12 and under: $5, Kids 12 and under complimentary with purchase of adult. Proceeds are given to a non-profit focused on sustainability efforts in the Yampa Valley. Must be 10 years or older and comfortable on BLUE runs. Children age 10-18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Author: Lisa Blake

News / Winter is More Fun a... December 15, 2021

Winter is More Fun at Mountain Camp

Newly named this year, Steamboat is excited to offer Young Kids Lessons at Mountain Camp — formerly Kids Vacation Center (KVC) — to little skiers ages 2 to 6. The one-stop-shop for families with small children includes lift access, lunch, lesson instruction and an equipment rental option.

Steamboat’s Young Kids Lesson programs are built just for kids. The carefully customized days are designed around taking care of children in a safe, nurturing space and in an age-appropriate setting. The new location in the west wing of the Sheraton Hotel has been built from the ground up as an intentional, warm and welcoming environment.

Wee ones enjoy a streamlined check-in process and an age-specific boot bridge for speedy ski boot fitting. New skiers glide on a friendly first-sliding slope experience before they even leave the building. Specialized indoor play mats helps kiddos visualize and work with the shapes their skis will make when they’re out on the snow.

Steamboat ski instructors follow the simple progression of “first comes passion, then comes skills.” When they’re comfortable on the snow, little skiers don their own camp vests and enjoy private instruction time, learning skills and fundamentals that will nurture a lifelong passion for the mountain. (Actual time spent skiing or outside on snow is dependent on how long your child is willing and/or able to ski.)

Students are put into small groups of similar ages. Depending on their comfort, they’ll ski level-appropriate terrain, which ranges from beginner magic carpets all the way up to mellow intermediate runs for more advanced students.

Next Slide

Pros are specifically trained to work with this age group, pulling from a big bag of proven tricks to make skill drills and instruction time fun and full of imagination. Sing-alongs and silly stories are all a part of this encouraging and entertaining program.

Lunch is included with Young Kids Lessons and the menu is super kid friendly, including chicken tenders, pizza and mac and cheese as well as vegetable and fruit options served at every meal. We also have snacks, hot chocolate and fresh baked cookies for kids to enjoy as treats throughout the day.

The Mountain Camp doors open at 8:15 a.m. and pick-up time for all programs is at 3 p.m.

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information