Michael Miracle, Aspen One’s director of community development, gave a presentation urging ACRA members to vote yes on ballot issue 1C in favor of supporting Pitkin County’s intent to widen the runway and secure federal funding for modernization efforts.
The countdown to ski season begins with the Afternoon Blend, an annual event hosted by the Aspen Chamber Resort Association with Aspen One staff forecasting the biggest events and changes for the upcoming winter.
ACRA members and Aspen One staff gathered at Buttermilk Mountain Lodge, talking infrastructure, guest data and even dove into the debate over the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport.
In a release sent just before the event, Aspen Snowmass released its seasonal operation dates. Aspen Mountain and Snowmass ski areas will open first on Nov. 28, then Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk on Dec. 14.
Buttermilk is set to close April 6, 2025, then Highlands on April 13. Aspen Mountain and Snowmass are set to close April 20.
Geoff Buchheister, CEO of Aspen Skiing Co., updated the crowd on a number of infrastructure projects throughout the four mountains.
The relocated Coney Glade lift in Snowmass is set to open this winter, intended to relieve skier traffic at the Village Express lift by intercepting skiers and snowboarders at the Snowmass Mall.
Buchheister said that SkiCo is on track to replace or improve at least one of its 46 lifts annually for the foreseeable future. The Gent’s Ridge lift on Aspen Mountain is set to be removed this fall and sold to a Montana ski area.
New glade terrain — 150 acres of it — will be open in the Hero’s area on Aspen Mountain this winter, after a summer of tree-clearing work with the U.S Forest Service, he said.
Other projects include renovation of the Lynn Britt Cabin, modernized parking payment systems at Highlands and Two Creeks and new AI-powered checkout systems at on-mountain dining are slated for the ‘24-’25 season.
“Every single year we’re looking at some of these projects and making sure we can deliver a higher-end experience,” Buchheister said.
Mind, body, spirit … airport?
A bulk of stage time in the slate of presenters went to Michael Miracle, Aspen One’s director of community development, and his hard push for ACRA members and anyone else listening to vote “yes” on ballot measure 1C — Pitkin County’s ballot question seeking to reaffirm their authority at the airport.
Aspen One and SkiCo employees have given public comment at Board of County Commissioner meetings before in support of the county’s direction, but the Thursday presentation was one of the first concerted efforts by the company to influence voters.
Miracle laid out a number of points to support their position, including the need to secure federal funding for climate-oriented infrastructure, flexibility on gate design and prioritizing safety.
He also stressed the importance of securing federal funding for runway reconstruction, which has been revoked by the FAA without an accepted Airport Layout Plan and continual failed runway repairs.
To folks advocating the county square off with the FAA, he had one thing to say.
“This is like playing chicken with a car after the car hits you,” he said. “You’ve got evidence the car didn’t stop.”
The debate at the airport centers around whether or not the runway/taxiway separation should be widened by 80 feet from 320 feet to 400 feet. The Federal Aviation Administration has said the airport must do so to standardize with similar airports and allow access to aircraft with wingspan up to 118 feet.
The prospect of widening the runway and allowing wider-wingspanned aircraft has prompted a number of community groups to advocate against that future, expressing concern over the impact of “bigger” planes.
Now, Pitkin County voters will face two ballot issues in November relating to the airport. One attempting to relieve the county of its power to alter the runway without voter consent, and another to reaffirm the county’s authority over the airport.
For Aspen One, the answer is clear: vote ‘yes’ on ballot question 1C to reaffirm the county’s authority.