SNOWMASS VILLAGE — The new Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center and a freshly carved-out midmountain area dedicated to beginners mark the Snowmass resort’s efforts to solidify its family-friendly reputation.
“We are thinking of who comes to Snowmass, and we want to keep our guests coming back,” said Meredith McKee, spokeswoman for resort operator Aspen Skiing Co. “Kids are so interested in skiing, and it’s an experience for them to explore, learn about the area and ski. Parents know kids are safe (and) well taken care of and will be OK.”
Aspen Skiing reports that of its 1.44 million skier visits to Aspen/Snowmass last season, families with children accounted for nearly one-third. Snowmass sees significantly more families than Aspen, and the company estimates that Snowmass gets 400,000 to 500,000 family visits annually.
The base at Snowmass Village previously played host only to a lonely ticketing office. Now, visitors are beginning to see the results of development that began five years ago and includes the Treehouse, new condos, stores and restaurants.
The more than $1 billion project opened with the Treehouse in November and will complete at least 70 condos by the end of January.
The development, by Related WestPac, brings a whole new village with 1 million square feet to the base with 600 new condos and restaurants, bars and retail stores. The remainder of the project will open in phases and will be completed in 2011 pending town approvals, said Maureen Poschman, spokeswoman for Related WestPac.
“In Snowmass, most people sleep there and ski there and come to Aspen to eat and shop,” Poschman said. “WestPac wants people to stay in Snowmass for more days.”
The project includes a 260- unit Viceroy Resort & Residences at Snowmass — a condo hotel with units starting at $555,000 — and the Little Nell Snowmass Residences — with 30 condos starting at $2.6 million.
Aspen Skiing owns the Treehouse, lift-ticket offices and a store called Beginner’s Magic in the base village. Aspen Skiing’s $80 million ongoing investment in on-mountain improvements includes the eight-person gondola and a six-person high-speed chairlift that opened last year.
The base-village development began five years ago with Aspen Skiing and Intrawest, and construction began in summer 2005. Related WestPac bought the project March 31, 2007.
The village of Snowmass also reports $65 million in lodging improvements across the town in the last three years and another $30 million in town improvements, including the new Snowmass Recreation Center.
The plans for the base project ignited investment and development across the village, Aspen Skiing’s Mc Kee said.
At the $17 million Treehouse, Aspen Skiing brought together day care, ski school and other services for kids. The project is the largest capital improvement ever for Aspen Skiing, McKee said.
For Kincaid Mills, 38, the Treehouse has eliminated the hazard of walking his children across the slope to the former ski-school site and also offers a better sense of security for his children.
“This is a fantastic facility compared to what they had before,” said Mills, of Lookout Mountain, Ga. “This makes Snowmass even more of a family-friendly place to bring your kids.”
Jamie Thompson of Los Angeles brought her 3-year-old daughter Lyla to the Treehouse for the first time.
“They are great, the facilities are nice, the access is good, and the staff is helpful,” she said.
The state-licensed day-care facility meets all requirements, including staff FBI checks, extensive training and early- childhood experience or education, said Averil Porcaro, coordinator of Snow Cubs Daycare.
The Elk Camp Gondola, new to the base, takes beginners and their instructors to the new Elk Camp Meadows Learning Area at midmountain, which opened this season. The 4-acre enclosed area has a “magic carpet” and a small lift for new riders and skiers.
“This area gives beginners some security and gives them the space to learn without other ‘boarders and skiers flying through,” said Melissa Rhines, an Aspen Skiing spokeswoman. “It’s a fun place to learn, and you get to see the views from here.”
Elizabeth Aguilera: 303-954-1372 or eaguilera@denverpost.com
