 |
Telluride Realty's Monthly e-Newsletter
December 2009
On Tap: December
It’s officially SKI SEASON!!! Yeehah! With the first official day coinciding with Thanksgiving, November 26, the Telluride Ski Resort is now open for business. The kick-off was under beautiful bluebird skies, amid several soft, corduroy-lined groomers, giving everyone the perfect opportunity to get those ski legs back in action. Lifts 4, 5, 6 and the Gondola were operating with a handful of runs open, including See Forever from the top of Lift 6.
And after a mellow and lazy off-season, ski-town-life is back in full swing with a busy calendar in December. In addition to the Winter Solstice, Christmas and New Year’s, the biggest event of the month is definitely the Visa U.S. Snowboardcross World Cup (17-20). Any way you slice it, this is a big deal. If you’re a snowboarder it’s huge, if you’re a local merchant, restaurateur, or lodging facility it’s huge, and if you’re an avid spectator it’s huge. As the lone U.S. stop of the LG-Electronics-sponsored FIS (International Ski Federation) Snowboard World Cup, Telluride will host both SBX (snowboardcross) and PGS (parallel giant slalom) competitions for the second in a series of five Olympic qualification events for the two disciplines. According to U.S. Snowboarding Head Coach Peter Foley, Telluride is the perfect home in the West for an early-season World Cup. “With the early start on snow happening at Telluride, we are getting really excited to get there. We can't wait to show the athletes from around the world how great Telluride is, and let them experience a real world-class course.” Those headlining the event include Olympic champion Seth Wescott, snowboarding legend Shaun Palmer, and Olympic silver medalist Lindsey Jacobellis.
| 4 | Integrated Design Workshop Community Coalition presents and integrated design workshop titled, “Systems Thinking of Green Building” |
| 4 | The Met: Live in HD The Metropolitan Opera’s Emmy-Award-winning series continues for its fourth season; Palm Theater |
| 4-6 | The Wizard of Oz Performance by Telluride students; Palm Theater |
| 5 | Special Olympic Family Day Telluride Adaptive Sports Program hosts the third annual event on the ski resort |
| 8 | Telluride Unearthed Dr. Scott Ortman joins this lecture series at the Telluride Historical Museum |
| 10-11 | Inaccurate Reenactment: Telluride History You Didn’t Know Squid Show Theater presents a historically hilarious performance |
| 11 | Jingle Jam Community celebration featuring tree lighting, sitting with Santa at the ice rink, warm beverages, treats for kids, and in-store events; Mountain Village |
| 12 |
Wilson Loop Sprint
Telluride Nordic Association hosts a 1-km sprint for classic and skate skiers of all ages; Telluride Golf Course, Mountain Village |
| 12 | Rock & Roll Academy Winter Fundraiser Youth of all ages perform their newest gigs at the Sheridan Opera House |
| 13 | Cut Your Own Christmas Tree Telluride Historical Museum invites tree-needers to forage their own at the Schmid Family Ranch |
| 17 | Film Premier “We Skied It,” the story of skiing in Telluride; presented by the Telluride Historical Museum |
| 17-20 |
Snowboard World Cup Some of the biggest names in the snowboarding world will gather for this international snowboarding competition and Olympic qualifier; the only U.S. stop on the tour |
| 18-22 | The Complete Works of Shakespeare, Abridged
Hilarious performance of 37 Shakespeare plays in 97 minutes; Sheridan Opera House |
| 19 | The Met: Live in HD The Metropolitan Opera’s Emmy-Award-winning series continues for its fourth season; Palm Theater |
| 19 | Old-Fashioned Christmas at Schmid Family Ranch Classic Christmas celebration on beautiful Wilson Mesa; presented by the Telluride Historical Museum |
| 20 | DJ Logic
Rockin’ dance party |
| 20-21 | Sitting with Santa Bring the kids to meet Santa at the Telluride Conference Center; Mountain Village |
| 23 | Warren Miller Film “Dynasty,” narrated by Jonny Moseley and presented in high definition |
| 24 | Christmas Eve Celebrate Christmas Eve in Telluride |
| 24-25 | Santa Skis & Santa Photos Look for Santa on the slopes and find him at Gorrono Ranch after 3 p.m. for a photo |
| 25 | Christmas Day Celebrate Christmas Day in Telluride |
| 26 | Mountainfilm in Telluride Winter Fundraiser Mountainfilm Festival films drop in for a winter visit |
| 27 | Shawn Colvin in Concert Grammy-Award winner, singer, songwriter, performs at the Sheridan Opera House |
| 28 | The Meters Experience, featuring Leo Nocentelli The “funkiest, fast-fingered” guitarist performs at the Sheridan Opera House |
| 29 | Rusty Evans & Ring of Fire The world’s finest Johnny Cash tribute band comes to the Sheridan Opera House |
| 31 | New Year’s Eve Torchlight parades down the ski area, a festive gathering on main street, ring in 2010 Telluride style |
| 31-1 | New Year’s Eve Gala: Celebrating 50 Years of Motown The Marvelettes and The Coasters perform at the Sheridan Opera House in a dancing and swinging New Year’s soiree |
Community News: A Light at the End of the Tunnel for The Peaks
In November, after waffling around in a state of purgatory-esque flux for the past few years, the Telluride region’s biggest hotel could finally breathe a sigh of relief. A team of local investors came together and purchased The Peaks Hotel and Resort from the Blackstone Group; with that came the announcement of Grand Heritage Hotels as hotel operator. A future, at last, for the monstrous structure in Mountain Village that bears so much potential.
Brent Truax of Grand Heritage is The Peaks’ new general manager and while recognizing there is much to be done, welcomes the project. Grand Heritage specializes in one-of-a-kind, independent properties, making it a perfect fit for The Peaks, and with 179 standard rooms (when fully renovated) and sixty condominiums under management, not to mention the largest spa in Colorado, there is enormous opportunity.
In preparation for the coming season, the politely dubbed, “deferred maintenance” is well underway, which includes virtually rebuilding the former Alpenglow Restaurant. The upscale dining establishment will open with a name, new menu, new chef and new floor-to-ceiling plate glass windows by the middle of the month. Guest rooms are also receiving immediate attention where needed, but will be entirely redone in the spring when The Peaks closes briefly. According to plan, that will be the last time the hotel will close during the off-season.Truax, though new to the region, is entirely aware that The Peaks has suffered years of decline, failing to, even remotely, live up what it could be. He vows, however, that, even this season, service will be back to a level that destination visitors have a right to expect and a true resort experience will be reborn. “We have a lot of work to do,” said Truax. “But at the end of the day, this is a great property and it will be a unique destination again. Visitors and locals will enjoy a drink in this Great Room, watching the sunset.”
Tourism News: Let the Numbers do the Talking…Air Bookings are Up
Telluride is no exception to the economic downturn that has hit ski areas and everyone else around the world. And although no one is standing on their soap box, shouting from the mountain tops that the recession is over, this year’s early numbers are already showing Telluride in a bit of an upswing.
Airfare bookings are up 10-12%, according to Scott Stewart of the Telluride/Montrose Regional Air Organization. “While many leisure destinations are seeing a sizeable decrease in available seats year over year, Telluride is expanding markets and maintaining service levels,” said Stewart.
New this winter from United Airlines is a second Saturday flight from Chicago during peak winter travel periods and both first and coach service from Los Angeles on Saturdays, with United adding Sunday service out of Los Angeles for Telluride travelers. In total, the six carriers include American Airlines, Continental, Delta, Great Lakes, United and USAirways. International travelers will find same-day connections when flying from European cities such as London, Dublin, Paris or Frankfurt; to South America’s Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires and Santiago; and many Mexico cities. Australian and Canadian travelers will benefit from easier connections through L.A., New York, and Denver, as well as throughout the United States.
This bolstered air service lends an air of optimism to ski-area projections: “The addition of new flights increase Telluride’s accessibility each year, offering our skiers and riders an ease in travel schedules,” said Telluride Ski Resort CEO Dave Riley. “With new terrain and amenities this year, coupled with the same great service, we are proud to offer greater access to all our committed guests and potential new visitors.”
While lodging has yet to catch up to air numbers, Scott McQuade, CEO of the Telluride Tourism Board said booked accommodations, that were down by about 40% this fall, have since climbed by more than 25%. His theory is that skiers often book airfare first and choose their lodging later.
“I’d say I’m cautiously optimistic,” said Stewart, in regard to his early percentage increase for the year. “…One of the things Telluride has going for it is that it is a great experience.”
Ski Resort News: Summer of Little Projects Makes for a Big Winter
Much like Santa Claus, Dave Riley, CEO of the Telluride Ski and Golf Company, made his list and checked it twice this summer. Certain things were on the docket and certain things had to get done before the snow started flying. Among the “small projects” Riley took care of are:
- A snowcat-accessible road from the top of Lift 15 to the summit of Gold Hill Chute 8, to ensure an easier excursion for hikers, ski patrol, and ski area personnel
- More outdoor seating at the scenic Alpino Vino; indoor configurations at the slopeside restaurant haven’t changed but those outside have improved tenfold with the construction of a three-tiered deck that brings in more seats, sun and views
- A face lift for the Hop Garden; the Mountain Village bar and restaurant beefed up its European-themed charm with new interior furnishings and a new heated outdoor bar
- New cache and snowcat to assist ski patrol; in order to facilitate ski patrol’s efforts in getting the upper mountain open quickly and safely after a big dump, a new bomb cache was built to replace the one at the top of Lift 6, and a new 16-person snowcat was added to the fleet
- Unveiling of Gold Hill Chutes 2-5, making it feasible (conditions permitting, of course) to ski every chute off the entire Gold Hill Ridge; due to the natural topography of the terrain and it’s frequent wind-scoured appearance, frequent closures should be expected
- Improving the Goat Trail between Gold Hill 1 and 1 ½ ; widening and extending the foot path egress, thus making it more pleasant for those skilled enough to cross it