Aspen Snowmass wants to increase capacity through new lifts, restaurant seating

DENVER (KDVR) — A plan to replace two of Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort’s chairlifts and redevelop the Ullrhof Restaurant, among other proposed improvements , has been submitted for public comment through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Aspen Snowmass, owned and operated by the Aspen Skiing Company, is seeking approval from the Forest Service to conduct five proposed improvements on the mountain, which is located in the White River National Forest. First, the company wants to replace its aging Elk Camp and Alpine Springs quad chairlifts with six-person detachable lifts.

The company said in documents provided to the U.S. Forest Service that the lifts give access to some of the ski area’s most popular intermediate terrain, and are regularly overcrowded. The new, larger lifts would help meet the growing guest expectations, Aspen Skiing Company said. The new lifts would be able to shuttle between 2,800 to 3,000 persons per hour up the mountain and will be installed on mostly old lift towers.

The plans filed with the U.S. Forest Service say that for the Elk Camp lift, about three acres of grading and tree clearing will be required. Two acres of clearing will be required for the Alpine Springs lift. However, all disturbed areas would be revegetated, according to the plans.

The ski area is also proposing an expansion of the Elk Camp Restaurant deck. The expansion would provide about 162 extra seats on the eastern side of the resort. Aspen also said the restaurant is “one of the most popular on-mountain dining options at Snowmass,” but said that during lunchtime, the restaurant hits its seating capacity, “hindering the guest experience.”

The company is also eyeing improvements to the Ullrhof Restaurant, located at the base of the Big Burn Lift. The restaurant provides on-mountain dining, and Aspen Snowmass is looking to demolish the restaurant, and reconstruct it in about the same spot but with another 300 indoor seats for the restaurant, due to overcrowding during peak visitation days and the lunchtime rush.

However, the project would require approximately nine to 12 acres of clearing for temporary staging, and the Cross Mountain mountain biking trail will be permanently rerouted.

Finally, Aspen Snowmass is proposing a “Kid’s Challenge Course” that would be located west of the Elk Camp Gondola’s top terminal station. According to plans, the course would be approximately 5,000 square feet with four levels of a variety of obstacles and rope features.

To build the course, about a half acre of grading would need to occur. However, the resort said it would revegetate the disturbed areas.

Comments will be accepted through Sept. 20 on the U.S. Forest Service’s website .

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