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Daycations: The Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort
By Heather Turk
Winter in Las Vegas means you never have to worry about getting snowed in. But what can you do if you’re a ski enthusiast and want to hit the slopes? The answer may be closer than you think. Located roughly an hour from downtown Las Vegas in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort is the perfect place to escape after the busy holidays with over 240 inches of average snowfall per year and 250 acres of gorgeous mountain terrain.
Given its proximity to the city, ski and snowboard aficionados don’t have to worry about travel costs or giving up an entire weekend, as you can enjoy a leisurely day in the Spring Mountains and still be home in time for dinner. Best of all, thanks to the approval of a $35 million Master Development Plan by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Service, you’ll find plenty of new lifts, trails and other features to create a fresh experience for even the most seasoned visitor.
Face Lift
Many of the resort’s recent cosmetic changes were implemented to coincide with the property’s fiftieth anniversary, bringing a fresh new look as a celebration of longevity. The most impressive development in visitors’ eyes are likely the sixteen new intermediate and advanced trails that have been introduced—two during the 2011/12 season and fourteen for the historic 2012/13 anniversary season—bringing the total number of trails at the resort to thirty. No matter what your level of skill, from beginner to advanced, you’ll find a run here to suit your needs and send you off on an exhilarating winter sports adventure. Single day lift tickets cost $50 for adults ($60 on weekends and holidays), with half day, multi-day and season pass pricing available as well.
The improvements aren’t exclusive to the ski runs themselves, either. One of the resort’s older chairlifts was recently demolished and replaced with a brand new, energy efficient Doppelmayr Eco-Drive quad chairlift to dramatically increase the uphill capacity to the resort’s learning area. The old chairlift had been transporting eager skiers to the Rabbit Peak trail for the past thirty years, so it seemed a natural area to make some renovations, not to mention some big expansions. The new Rabbit Peak quad lift, completed in mid-December, is not only realigned to allow for easier loading and unloading access to the beginner terrain, but will also serve as the main access from a new parking lot and base lodge being built over the next several years.
While you’re out having fun on the ski trails, you can rest easy knowing that your possessions are safe and sound, as the resort recently reallocated its locker space in the main lodge. Forty new lockers were added, and the old ones were all replaced. This makes a total of 140 lockers available to rent seasonally, with a new door that requires a keypad code for access to the locker room. All in all, the new set up offers security and convenience to any visitors worried about their valuables. After all, what fun is a ski trip that leaves your personal effects out in the cold?
With all the changes taking place, everything old is new again, but ski runs and chair lifts are just the beginning. The significant improvements made to the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort are just the first stages of a major, long term transformation. According to president and general manager Kevin Stickelman, guests can expect to see something new every year for the next ten to twelve years, everything from additional trails to expanded parking, as the resort endeavors to attract more kids and families.
Mountain Munchies
Skiing has long been known for offering great exercise, and a trip down the slopes is sure to help you work up an appetite. For the first time ever, you don’t need to go all the way down the mountain for a quick bite to eat. You can satisfy those hunger pangs by slaloming on over to the new on-mountain grill that opened in late December at the junction of the Bimbo and Flying Home ski runs. Open on weekends and holidays, the grill provides skiers and snowboarders alike with the perfect place to refuel, offering fresh made grilled items, soft drinks and even beer.
The Bighorn Grill, located on the upper floor of the resort’s main lodge, has also been “totally gutted,” featuring an entirely new kitchen and dining area. Whereas diners were previously given disposable utensils with their meals, the grill now features reusable china and glassware thanks to a new dishwasher on site. These changes help complement the grill’s new and healthier menu offerings, including fresh made pastas such as shrimp scampi and an assortment of hot and cold sandwiches, soups and pizzas. Popular dishes include the chef and chicken Caesar salads and tasty breakfast burritos. Every meal is a perfect fit for any aspiring king of the mountain.
While the resort typically closes its gates for the winter season around mid-April, it reopens during the warmer summer months for disc golf, scenic chairlift rides, a summer concert series and other seasonal activities. You may even be lucky enough to spot some indigenous wildlife. There’s always year round fun for the whole family, but for the best experience you can get, make the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort your hallmark winter destination this season.
For more information, including additional tips for newcomers, visit www.skilasvegas.com.
