Arapahoe Basin Opens Colorado Ski Season After 22-Hour Turnaround

Skiers and snowboarders in Summit County started the 2026-27 season at Arapahoe Basin on Wednesday. The first chairlift began moving at 10:15 a.m., marking the earliest official opening for a Colorado resort this year. The mountain beat its nearest competitors by a narrow window, securing the distinction for the 15th time since 2002.

Owen Melson, a local resident in Silverthorne, received the call to prepare at 9 a.m. He bought a new grill and stocked 80 sausage patties, eggs, and bread at a nearby market. By 10:15 a.m., he was serving free breakfast sandwiches at the base while the first lift carried riders up a single blue run. Melson said he expected two days of notice but managed the rush without major changes to his plan.

Alan Henceroth, the chief operating officer of Arapahoe Basin, confirmed the decision to open less than 24 hours before the announcement. The team monitored snow volume closely and coordinated with snowmakers, cat drivers, and lift crews. They announced the opening on Instagram at 7:30 a.m., stating lifts would start at 11 a.m. They began operations about 30 minutes earlier than scheduled because a line of eager customers had already formed.

Snowmaking began on Oct. 15, the same day Keystone started its operations. The initial snow covered the brown hillsides, but a midweek warm spell shut the guns off. Keystone’s communications manager Jacob Marquardt noted that such weather fluctuations are common in October. The resort did not announce a specific date, instead telling the public it would open as soon as possible.

Shayna Silverman, the senior communications manager at Arapahoe Basin, said the team received intense inquiries from customers the day before the opening. She described the excitement as higher than in previous years, citing a desire for a strong winter after last season’s low snowpack. The resort’s philosophy focuses on being small but efficient, using five staff members to run 20 snow guns day and night.

The race to open first has been a rivalry since the 1980s, primarily between Keystone and Loveland. Keystone and Loveland each held the title 10 times between 1982 and 2001. Arapahoe Basin began making snow in 2002 after receiving approval from owners and the Army Corps of Engineers. Since that time, it has opened first more times than its competitors combined.

Loryn Roberson, the marketing and communications director for Loveland, stated that the resort does not rush the process. Her team, which includes contractors from New Zealand who began work on Oct. 8, waits for consistent temperatures around 27 degrees wet-bulb. She expressed optimism for the season, noting that even an average snow year would drive high demand after the previous winter's record lows.

By noon Wednesday, the Arapahoe Basin parking lot and lift lines were full. The free breakfast sandwiches were gone. Phil Lindeman, a radio host from Frisco, played music and cooked bacon in a cast iron pan next to the line. He told the crowd that being present on day one is essential for the season.