As the valley meadows begin to slowly green up and the tops of the surrounding peaks are still covered in a heavy layer of wet spring snow, we’re entering the time of year affectionately known in the Rockies as “mud season.” Ranchers begin irrigating, wildlife emerges from its winter slumber, and the high country comes alive after months of frozen stillness. In resort towns such as Crested Butte, Colorado, mud season marks the transition from a single-minded focus on skiing to broader attention on a diverse set of warm-weather activities—hiking, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, paddling, and a variety of summer festivals.
Because Promontory Ranch offers the unprecedented chance to own approximately 12% of the land in the town of Mt. Crested Butte, it is worth recapping this past ski season and offering a quick glimpse of what’s on tap for summer in the classic mountain town.
The 2015-16 ski season at Crested Butte Mountain Resort was, yet again, a resounding success, with the number skier visits not only surpassing the previous season’s numbers, but even exceeding the resort’s predictions. This continued increase can be attributed to a variety of factors, two of which are 1) Colorado-based skiers choosing to avoid the congestion of Interstate 70 in favor of the less traveled route to Crested Butte, and 2) the impact of the growing number of direct flights into the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport. Currently, there are direct flights from Dallas, Houston, Chicago, and Denver, and this season’s addition of a direct flight from Los Angeles connected a large new market of California-based skiers. The resort hopes to continue adding more direct flights from major U.S. cities in the years to come.
This year’s solid snowpack in the Gunnison River basin allowed for a successful season of world-class skiing on the resort’s 1,547 acres of terrain. As mentioned in a previous blog post, the resort was recently granted approval from the National Forest Service to move forward with the NEPA process for a 500-acre expansion of the ski area, in which the resort intends to add more intermediate terrain and several new lifts, while also updating some of the existing infrastructure. The planned expansion will allow the resort to accommodate the growing number of skiers who choose Crested Butte for its excellent snow, varied terrains, short lift lines, and less crowded slopes that have made the area so popular.
The resort is set to open for its summer season on June 11th, which will signal the official start of summer activities in Crested Butte, Gunnison County, and the surrounding Elk Mountains. The variety of activities is staggering and represents an outdoor enthusiast’s dream: fly fishing, hiking, climbing, running, horseback riding, and mountain biking to name a few. Amazingly all of these activities can be accessed within a short walk or bike ride from the Promontory Ranch.
Crested Butte and Gunnison County are also known for their variety of summertime festivals, including the Crested Butte Music Festival, the Gunnison River Festival, and the world-famous Wildflower Festival. For a full list of all summertime activities, head over to the resort’s comprehensive website.
Thanks to its endless variety of activities, a thriving resort, and a healthy, growing local economy, Crested Butte truly lives up to its nickname as “Colorado’s Last Great Ski Town.” Promontory’s relatively large acreage, its densely entitled zoning, and its location adjoining Crested Butte Mountain Resort make it a once-in-a-lifetime acquisition for an investment-minded buyer. Please contact Ed Roberson for more information on the property’s entitlements, attributes, and investment potential.
