Beaver Creek Resort

Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek
Location in the United States
Location Eagle County, Colorado, U.S.
Nearest city Avon
Coordinates 39°37′53″N 106°31′18″W / 39.63139°N 106.52167°W / 39.63139; -106.52167Coordinates: 39°37′53″N 106°31′18″W / 39.63139°N 106.52167°W / 39.63139; -106.52167
Vertical 3,340 feet (1,020 m)[1]
Top elevation 11,440 feet (3,490 m)
Base elevation 8,100 feet (2,500 m)
Skiable area 1,815 acres (7.35 km2)
Runs

149
- 19% easiest
- 43% more difficult
- 38% most difficult[1]

Double Black
Longest run Centennial - 2.75 miles (4.4 km)
Lift system 25 total (2 gondolas, 1 Chondola, 10 high-speed quad chairs, 1 triple chair, 3 double chairs, 8 magic carpets, 1 tow lift)
Terrain parks 4
Snowfall 310 inches (790 cm) per yr
Website beavercreek.com
A Beaver Creek Village view.
Beaver Creek Chapel.
View at the Beaver Creek Village.

Beaver Creek Resort is a major ski resort in the western United States, near Avon, Colorado. The resort comprises three villages, the main Beaver Creek Village, Bachelor Gulch, and Arrowhead to the west. The resort is owned and operated by Vail Resorts which also operates three other resorts in the state (Vail, Breckenridge, and Keystone), three in the Lake Tahoe region (Heavenly Ski Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort and Northstar at Tahoe), and their newest additions, Canyons Resort and Park City Mountain Resort which were combined in 2015. Beaver Creek is a regular host of World Cup events, usually in early December.

History

The valley that houses Beaver Creek Resort lies just south of Avon and was first settled in 1881. Many early pioneers moved to the area under President Abraham Lincoln’s Homestead Act (1862), farming hay and raising cattle to feed local miners. Beaver Creek remained a lightly populated farming area through the middle of the twentieth century.

Beaver Creek Resort was envisioned in the 1950s by Earl Eaton,[2][3] but it was not until the early 1970s that Pete Seibert tried to convince the Denver Organizing Committee to hold the 1976 Winter Olympics alpine events at the yet to be built ski resort. However, when Denver backed out from holding the Olympic Winter Games in November 1972, Seibert's plans of building the resort collapsed. When Vail Associates was purchased by Harry W. Bass Jr., an oil tycoon of Goliad Oil, he decided to develop Beaver Creek.[4] The ski slope and first hotel property, The Charter at Beaver Creek, opened during the 1980–81 ski season. Four years later, Beaver Creek purchased the small, adjacent Arrowhead Mountain, formerly an independent resort catering to the beginner and lower intermediate skier. The construction of Bachelor Gulch Village and an additional high speed quad connected the two areas.

In 1985, Bass sold Beaver Creek and Vail Associates filed for bankruptcy a few years later. In 1989, the resort hosted the World Ski Championships, and repeated in 1999 and in 2015.[5] For the last several years, Beaver Creek has hosted the Audi "Birds of Prey" World Cup downhill ski races early in the season.

Beaver Creek Golf Course

The resort is known for its upscale family-oriented accommodations, terrain and a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Golf Course. The Beaver Creek Golf Club, nestled against the slopes of Beaver Creek Mountain, is one of the longest established golf courses in the Vail Valley. Opened in 1982, the course is known for its long and narrow challenging fairways, and its stunning scenery.

Recently, Beaver Creek has worked to re-shape all of the bunkers on the course, aligning them more closely with their original design, and in the process installing a new drainage system and new sand for better playability. Additionally, the clubhouse restaurant, formerly known as Holden's, has undergone a face lift and reopened as the Rendezvous Club.

Workforce

The town hires extensively from the around the world to fill its large seasonal employee rosters. Vail Resorts (formerly Vail Associates) is the corporation that owns Beaver Creek. It also operates Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Vail Mountain, Kirkwood, Park City and Northstar at Tahoe.

Holy Cross Wilderness Area

Beaver Creek Resort is adjacent to the Holy Cross Wilderness in White River National Forest. Beaver Lake Trail passes through Beaver Creek Resort, beside Beaver Creek. Beaver Lake Trail crosses the wilderness area boundary immediately before reaching Beaver Lake. Beyond Beaver Lake, Beaver Lake Trail ascends south to Turqoise Lakes and Grouse Mountain.

Beaver Creek Resort statistics

Elevation

  • Base: 8,100 feet (2,470 m)
  • Summit: 11,440 feet (3,490 m)
  • Vertical Rise: 3,340 feet (1,020 m)

Developed Terrain

  • Mountains: 5 (Beaver Creek, Grouse Mountain, Larkspur, Arrowhead Mountain, Bachelor Gulch)
  • Bowls: 2 (Rose Bowl, Larkspur Bowl)
  • Skiable Area: 1,832 acres (7.41 km2)
  • Trails: 150 total (19% beginner, 43% intermediate, 38% expert/advanced)[1]
  • Longest Run: Centennial
  • Terrain Parks: 3
  • Average Snowfall: 325 inches (830 cm) annually

Slope Aspects

  • North: 55%[6]
  • West: 20%
  • East: 25%

Lifts

As of fall 2014, Beaver Creek has 25 total chairlifts.[7]

2 Gondolas

  • Buckaroo Express Gondola #1
  • Riverfront Gondola #17

1 hybrid lift

11 high-speed quads

  • Rose Bowl Express #4
  • Red Buffalo Express #5
  • Cinch Express #8
  • Birds of Prey Express #9
  • Grouse Mountain Express #10
  • Larkspur Express #11
  • Strawberry Park Express #12
  • Lower Beaver Creek Mountain Express #15
  • Bachelor Gulch Express #16
  • Arrow Bahn Express #17
  • Upper Beaver Creek Mountain Express #18

1 triple chairlift

  • Elkhorn #14

1 double chair

  • Highlands #2

8 magic carpets

References

  1. 1 2 3 Beaver Creek Resort - Mountain Stats
  2. ↑ "The History of Beaver Creek Resort". ColoradoSkiHistory.com. Retrieved June 16, 2018. The idea of building a new ski resort in the Beaver and McCoy Creek areas came about in 1956, when Earl Eaton and John Burke discussed future possibilities.
  3. ↑ Edward Stoner (May 27, 2008). "Earl Eaton, man who found Vail Mtn., dies". The Aspen Times. Swift Communications. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  4. ↑ Lindsay Heinsen (February 1979). "Owning a Piece Of the Rockies: How Harry Bass got to be king of the mountain". D Magazine. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  5. ↑ "2015 World Championships".
  6. ↑ "Best Ski Resorts: Beaver Creek Resort Terrain, Snow Quality and Mountain Ranks". ZRankings. ZRankings LLC. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Colorado Ski Guide 2010". The Denver Post. October 23, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  8. ↑ Melanie Wong (January 3, 2014). "Beaver Creek to get combo gondola, chairlift". Vail Daily. Retrieved June 16, 2018.

Beaver Creek travel guide from Wikivoyage

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