The Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation has presented new conceptual development plans to the U.S. Forest Service which propose exciting on-mountain improvement projects over the coming decade.
This update Master Development plan touches all aspects of the mountain experience from new high-speed lifts to new terrain to new facilities. The resort has prioritized additional food service facilities and expanded seating as well as new terrain and lifts to cement Steamboat's position as the leader in family and children programs. A few notable concepts from the plan include:
- New Rough Rider Learning Facility, Café & Gondola
- New Sunshine Peak Hut & Tomahawk Restaurant
- Elkhead & Thunderhead Upgrades To Detachable Six-Passenger Chairlifts
- New Trails In Sunshine II Zone & New Sunshine II Detachable Quad Chairlift
- New Snowmaking On Sundial, Lower High Noon, Daybreak, West Side, Spike, Lower Tomahawk, Lower Rainbow, BC Ski Way, Middle Rib, Crux, Longhorn & Chaps To Name A Few
- Pony Express Lift Capacity Increase And Trail Renovation
- New Christie Peak Club Facility
- New Patrol Hut At Top Of Sunshine II
- Operating Boundary Changes & New Bridge In Pioneer Ridge
- New Detachable Quad Chairlift To Replace South Peak Triple
- Downhill Mountain Biking & Additional Summer Activities
- Bashor Bowl: New Realigned Lift, Extend Rabbit Ears Terrain Park, Superpipe Improvements
The Steamboat Ski Resort operates largely on public land managed by the US Forest Service under a special use permit. The Master Plan, which is required as part of the resorts' special use permit, identifies future concepts, upgrades and expansions. The resort plans to conduct a public outreach campaign over the winter to obtain input on this plan. Once accepted by the Forest Service, the Master Plan will act as a road map for future development over the next 10 years. At that time the Forest Service will further solicit formal public comment as it completes the required environmental analysis to address site-specific projects.
The resort is working with Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners Ltd of Whistler, BC, Canada, one of the world's most experienced mountain resort planning firms with project experience in six continents. Ecosign is a pioneer in the design of efficient and user-friendly mountain resorts that constantly challenge the status quo and leverage the latest technological breakthroughs. Their unique planning and design expertise has been incorporated in over 200 ski areas and over 40 new mountain resorts around the world.
You may download the following files:
Seeking input at masterplan@steamboat.com before January 31, 2012 on the 2011 Steamboat Master Development Plan Amendment. Input will be submitted as part of USFS acceptance process.
Summer Master Plan
The purpose of this Master Plan update is to meet the needs of the community and visiting guests for these and other recreational activities at the ski area in the summer months. The design attempts to create 'zones' by use type in order to minimize conflict between users within each zone. The proposed trail system will utilize and evolve existing trails combined with the development of new trails for this purpose.
You may download the following files:
