Early-season snow and consistent storms kept ski resorts bustling in January and February, with 21 of the state’s 25 hills reporting an 8.6 percent increase in traffic over the same months last season. Through February, visitation was up 13 percent for the season at Colorado Ski Country’s 21 resorts, the trade group reported Monday.
Last week, Vail Resorts through January at its four Colorado ski areas, which include the two busiest in the state: Vail and Breckenridge.
The weekends were jamming — not surprising to anyone who was up in the high country in February. Several resorts are reporting record days the past two months.
The boost in January and February visitation at Ski Country resorts follows an early-season over the 2012-13 season. Last season, Colorado’s ski areas , a 3.95 percent increase over 2011-12.
Lodging occupancy also is up. Denver’s DestiMetrics — which surveys property management companies in 19 mountain destinations in six Western states — estimates the 2013-14 ski season will post a 4.6 percent increase in lodging occupancy over last season.
