Copper Mountain Improvements Continue to Enhance the Skier Experience

Head to Copper Mountain this winter and you’re bound to notice a few improvements, both on the mountain and at the base of the ski resort. Construction crews have been busy over the summer, completing several multi-million-dollar projects for the 2019-20 season. With new ski lifts, new terrain parks and new lodging on the way, the resort seeks to position itself as a must-visit ski destination in competitive I-70 corridor of Summit County, Colorado. Let’s take a closer look at the Copper Mountain improvements.

New Lift Means Easy Access to Tucker Mountain

For the 2019-20 season, the resort is introducing a new three-person, fixed-grip lift that will provide immediate access to 273 high-alpine acres at Tucker Mountain on the back side of Copper Mountain. The new lift starts at the base near the Blackjack chairlift and rises more than 1,100 vertical feet to the summit. Tucker Mountain has previously only been accessed by Snowcat on weekends. Now, skiers and riders will be able to enjoy the runs seven days a week as long as there is enough snow at that elevation.

The mountain is sure to be a popular spot with advanced skiers, with challenging terrain and lots of exciting chutes and glades to explore on the backside of Copper Mountain.

Two New Terrain Parks Named for Olympians

Copper Mountain Resort is re-imagining its terrain parks for the 2019-20 season. The new Woodward Mountain Terrain Park will be open to the public and offer a number of freestyle zones as well as learning zones for beginners. Park zones will be located from Center Village to West Village, and range in difficulty. Two zones are inspired by professional snowboarding legends Danny Davis and Red Girard: Woodward Peace Park and Red’s Backyard.

Former Olympian and snowboarding icon Danny David created Peace Park in 2011 as a secret venue exclusively for professionals to experiment and hone their craft. Earlier this year, Davis opened Woodward Peace Parks to the public in California and Vermont, and will open a park at Copper Mountain in late 2019. The terrain park is planned to be ever-evolving, and promises to “transcend standard slopestyle and halfpipes with more flow, transition, room to breathe and options for creative expression,” according to park officials.

Red’s Backyard, inspired by Girard, will be located only a short walk from Center Village and feature a rails of varying difficulty in a hike-to-jib setting. Girard grew up in nearby Silverthorne and won an Olympic gold medal in slopestyle in Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2018.

Both parks are perfect for intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders, and will be accessible via the Woodward Express Quad at West Village. (The Woodward Express Quad is the new name of the Union Creek Quad.)

More New Parks and Zones at Copper Mountain

In addition to Woodward Peace Park and Red’s Backyard, there are several other zones planned at Copper Mountain. Officials with Woodward say the zones will have natural terrain features to help skiers and riders improve their skills. Here are a few of the more intriguing new zones:

The pre-existing Central Park terrain park will be the largest zone in Woodward Mountain Park off of the Woodward Express Quad. From the quad, skiers and riders will also be able to access the 22-foot superpipe near the Center Village base, as well as the Pipe Dream pipe. The park is slated to play host to the U.S. Grand Prix in December 2019 and the Dew Tour in February 2020. (The Dew Tour is making its first stop in Copper Mountain after more than a decade at Breckenridge.)

Woodward Family Cross will be located off the High Point run at the top of the American Flyer lift and promises to be a next level up from groomers. The flowing course will feature banked turns and rollers, and built to ride like a terrain gully.

Newbies can get their ski legs at the Start Park at the Green Acres learning area in Center Village. There will also be a progression park at Green Acres learning area in Center Village. Two more planned progression parks will be located off Kokomo Express in West Village: Koko’s and Dino Ridge.

New Mid-Mountain Station Coming in Fall 2020

Future Copper Mountain improvements include constructing a new mid-mountain lodge to replace Solitude Station. The new, 25,000-square-foot mountain station will be accessed via the American Eagle lift and have a casual-dining restaurant, full-service bar and lounge, private dining area and cafeteria. Visitors to the new lodge will enjoy contemporary comfort and 180-degree views of the Gore Range and Ten Mile Range. The new station is scheduled to be completed for the 2020-21 season. Construction is already underway.

Year Two for Popular Lifts

Two popular chairlifts at Copper Mountain were replaced late last season, and expect to get heavy use during the 2019-20 winter season.

The new American Eagle lift increases capacity by more than 40 percent over the previous lift at Center Village. The new ride is a Leitner Poma high-speed lift with a combination of six-person chairs and eight-person gondola cabins.

The new American Flyer is a six-person, high-speed chairlift with a bubble enclosure that increases rider capacity by 33 percent. Covering two miles, the ride has been dubbed as the “longest bubble chair in the world,” according to resort officials. The lift is located in Center Village, and provides access to novice and intermediate slopes on the resort’s west side. The lift also gives more immediate access to Copper’s popular high-alpine bowls for advanced skiers and riders.

New Resort Hotel Under Construction

Copper Mountain improvements include ground breaking on a new 127-room hotel to be built near the existing Chapel Parking Lot near Copper Road and West Ten Mile Circle. The proposed four-story structure will feature double queen and king rooms, suites, and outdoor patio, fire pits and hot tubs. The new hotel is scheduled to be completed in 2020, and will provide much-needed lodging close to Copper Mountain’s Center Village.  

Looking to the Future

Officials with Copper Mountain are hoping the multi-million-dollar improvements will bring skiers and snowboarders to the resort for generations to come. Copper Mountain Resort is located only 75 miles west of Denver and is an ideal vacation destination for excellent skiing and laid-back mountain charm. The mountain offers terrain for all ages and abilities, and there’s plenty of apres-ski, dining, nightlife and indoor activities to explore during down times. In addition to skiing, the area offers a plethora of outdoor activities ranging from cross-country skiing and snowshoeing to intimate sleigh rides.