Ten restaurants and shops in Keystone’s River Run village plan to stay open all night tonight to accommodate up to 30,000 people expected at the resort’s second annual 36 Hours of Keystone event.
Skiers and snowboarders can hit the slopes nonstop from 9 a.m. today through 9 p.m. Saturday.
Keystone’s marketing department created the event last year to drum up early-season business and some national exposure – and was shocked at its success. The resort counted more than 15,000 skiers and ‘boarders during the 36-hour time span.
“This year, we’ve been planning for this like you plan for a World Cup event,” said Lucy Kay, vice president of marketing for Keystone and Breckenridge, both of which are owned by Vail Resorts Inc. “We’re prepared for the crowds.”
Two restaurants that braved the long night last November saw a huge boost in business.
“It was the best night of the year, by far,” said Shawn Peters, general manager of the Green Light nightclub, which is keeping its doors unlocked again this year. “When I left at 4 a.m., 90 percent of our tables were full.”
The restaurants and bars are required by state law to stop serving alcohol at 2 a.m., but the Kickapoo Tavern still expects to do more than $5,000 in additional business by serving food all night long, followed by breakfast and a bloody-mary bar starting at 7 a.m.
“We’re definitely expecting it to be busy, especially for an early-season weekend,” said general manager Billy Wheat. “Our staff is ready to work.”
Last year, the Parrot Eyes margarita bar had to shut down at 4 a.m. because it ran out of food.
“This year, we’re all stocked up,” said general manager Matty Brennan.
More than 175 teams of two to four people have registered to compete in the event, where one team member is required to complete one run per hour for 36 hours for the chance to win $3,600.
Lift tickets are $36 for team participants and $59 for nonparticipants.
Keystone is Colorado’s only major resort to offer night skiing. The ski area recorded 1.02 million skiers and riders last winter, making it the fourth-busiest resort in the state.
Vail Mountain and Eldora Mountain Resort will open today. Crested Butte Mountain Resort is scheduled to open Saturday.
Staff writer Julie Dunn can be reached at 303-820-1592 or jdunn@denverpost.com.
