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More snowmaking and free parking are part of the improvements planned for next season at Copper Mountain.

New terrain in Timberline area to get snowmaking coverage

SUMMIT COUNTY — New Copper Mountain owner Powdr Corp isn’t waiting to start with some resort improvements that should benefit local skiers and day-tripping Front Range visitors. The resort announced Friday it will pump $6 million into new snowmaking, with the 25 percent increase in capacity spread around the mountain, including new snowmaking in the popular Timberline area to add a big chunk of early season terrain.

Copper, which already hosts early season race camps and training high on the mountain off the E-Chair, says it anticipates even better coverage during the early season. The resort currently advertises 380 acres of terrain covered by snowmaking.

More money will go toward construction of a Corn Lot parking area expansion on national forest land that’s been in the works for several years. Copper is touting the parking addition as a 40 percent increase in the number of free parking spaces at the resort. Additionally, the Corn Lot expansion will help Copper meet its obligation to stop using Copper Road as overflow parking during a handful of peak days. County officials had long been asking the resort to stop parking cars along the road, citing concerns about access for emergency vehicles.

More improvements are planned in the Union Creek beginner area, with easier access to the lifts and base area with completion of a project started last year. As part of the Union Creek work, the resort is also working to boost some wetlands at the site of the former stables.

According to Copper Mountain President and General Manager Gary Rodgers, “the focus on infrastructure enhancements sets the stage for future on-mountain improvements.”

The U.S. Forest Service some years approved an extensive slate of upgrades, including new glades, new trails and lift projects like an open-air gondola to service the learning area, as well a lift to Tucker Mountain. Those projects languished while former owner Intrawest focused on winning County approval for a base area redevelopment plan. Subsequently, Intrawest hit financial obstacles as the recession took a deep bite out of the real estate market.

Read a Denver Post story on Powdr Corp’s vision for Copper Mountain here.

In other resort improvements and summer work, A-Basin has said it will replace the Exhibition Chair with a high-speed quad, and Vail plans a new lift in the back bowls.