Arapahoe Basin Opens Colorado Ski Season 22 Hours After Call

The first chairlift in Colorado began spinning at approximately 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, October 29. This marked the official start of the state’s ski season, with Arapahoe Basin securing the title of first resort to open.

The decision to turn on the lifts came less than 24 hours earlier. Alan Henceroth, the resort’s chief operating officer, confirmed the opening after staff members tracked snow volume closely on the ground. The team coordinated between snowmakers, cat drivers, groomers, and the lift crew to determine readiness.

Arapahoe Basin announced the opening at 7:30 a.m. via Instagram, stating lifts would start at 11:00 a.m. However, staff began moving skiers up the mountain roughly 30 minutes before that scheduled time. Henceroth noted that the line had formed early, prompting the decision to accelerate the start.

The resort began artificial snow production on October 15, the same day Keystone activated its snow guns. Initial brown hillsides turned white, but a midweek warm spell shut off the machines. Arapahoe Basin relies on a small team of five staff members to operate 20 snow guns, a setup that allows for quicker decision-making compared to larger resorts.

Since 2002, Arapahoe Basin has held the distinction of opening first in 14 seasons. This period follows the installation of its own snowmaking equipment, approved by resort owners and the Army Corps of Engineers. Prior to that, the race was largely between Keystone and Loveland, which shared 10 first-opening titles between 1982 and 2001.

Keystone, which spans more than 3,000 vertical feet, operates 627 snow guns and uses overhead lights to open before sunrise when advantageous. Jacob Marquardt, communications manager for Keystone, described the process as dependent on wet-bulb temperatures, with machines shutting off automatically if conditions rise above the 27 to 28-degree range.

Loveland Resort employs contractors, many from New Zealand, to manage snowmaking. Their work began on October 8 and typically continues until mid-December. Loryn Roberson, marketing director for Loveland, stated that the resort waits for confidence that it can remain open, rather than rushing to claim the title for a single day.

At Arapahoe Basin, Owen Melson received the call to prepare for opening at 9:00 a.m. He purchased a grill and 80 sausage patties before serving free breakfast sandwiches at the base. By noon, the parking lot and bar were full, and the initial crowd had been served. The event marked the first time skiers accessed the slopes this season.