| Beaver Creek | |
|---|---|
| Location | Eagle County, Colorado, USA |
| Nearest city | Avon, Colorado |
| Vertical | 4,140 ft (1,260 m)[1] |
| Top elevation | 11,440 ft (3,490 m) |
| Base elevation | 8,100 ft (2,500 m) |
| Skiable area | 1,815 acres (7.35 km2) |
| Runs | 149 total 19% beginner 43% intermediate 38% expert/advanced[1] |
| Longest run | Centennial - 2.75 miles (4.43 km) |
| Lift system | 17 total (2 gondolas, 10 high-speed quad chairs, 2 triple chairs, 3 double chairs) |
| Terrain parks | 4, 1 half-pipe |
| Snowfall | 310 in/yr (7.87 m/yr) |
| Web site | http://www.beavercreek.com/ |
Beaver Creek Resort is a major United States ski resort near Avon, Colorado, run by Vail Resorts. 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) and Heavenly Ski Resort and Northstar at Tahoe at Lake Tahoe. Beaver Creek is a regular host of Alpine skiing World Cup events.
Contents |
Beaver Creek Resort was envisioned in the 1950s, but it was not until the early 1970s, 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 Bass, an oil tycoon of Golaid Oil, he continued Seibert's dream of building Beaver Creek. During the 1980–81 ski season, Beaver Creek opened along with the first hotel property, The Charter at Beaver Creek.
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 a decade later in 1999. For the last several years, Beaver Creek has hosted the Visa "Birds of Prey" World Cup downhill ski races early in the season.
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.
The town hires extensively from the East Coast and South America to fill its large seasonal employee rosters. Vail Resorts (formerly Vail Associates) is the corporation that owns the mountain at Beaver Creek. It also operates Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Vail Mountain, and Northstar at Tahoe.
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.