Story Ideas
Colorado Tourism Office Fall/Winter 2021–22 News and Story Ideas
• News From the Slopes: The ski-and-snowboard experience will be better than ever with pandemic improvements made to streamline bookings, rentals and the overall skier experience, and many resorts will no longer require reservations. Now that is something to celebrate! And speaking of celebrations, this winter season marks the 75th anniversary of Aspen Skiing Company and the 60th anniversary of the Breckenridge Ski Resort (complete with a new chairlift on Peak 7), both planning festivities throughout the year. Beaver Creek Resort will add 250 acres of lift-served, welcoming ski terrain for beginner and intermediate skiers this season. Steamboat is in the midst of a multi-year redevelopment of their base area, Copper Mountain opened the new Element 29 Hotel for its first winter season, Arapahoe Basin and Snowmass are getting new on-mountain restaurants and more.
• Where to Go This Winter – Denver: For those craving a return to in-person arts experiences, Denver is the place to visit. The immersive arts-and-entertainment company, Meow Wolf, is heading to Denver in fall 2021 with their most ambitious project yet. The Denver Art Museum will mark its 50th anniversary with the unveiling of an extensive $150 million renovation at the end of 2021. The Denver Center for Performing Arts announced the triumphant return to the stage with several upcoming shows and events. The Mile High City welcomes exciting new hotels including The Rally Hotel, Lifehouse Hotel, Clayton Members Club, Catbird and more. DEN is increasing overall capacity at the airport by 30 percent with 39 new gates to be added on all three concourses to be operational in 2022.
• Winter Adventures Off the Slopes: Legendary climber Harry Kent just announced the completion of Cloud Ladder, the steepest and most vertical Via Ferrata route in the U.S. at the footstep of Rocky Mountain National Park. Snow enthusiasts can experience a winter hut trip, ski joring, ice climbing, fat biking, stargazing, hot springs, winter fly-fishing and so much more.
• Alternative Travel: Colorado is committed to electrifying all 26 of its scenic and historic byways with the initial round of seven ready to drive. Rocky Mountaineer luxury train is debuting its new Colorado route August through November 2021. United launched a new, year-round ground-transportation service seamlessly connecting DEN to Breckenridge and Fort Collins.
• History: Mesa Verde National Park was named the 100th Dark Sky Park where dark skies are an important part of the history and cultural landscape that holds special significance to Mesa Verde’s 26 affiliated tribes. Colorado will commemorate the bicentennial of the historic Santa Fe Trail where travelers can experience 1840s life as a trader at Bent’s Old Fort or find wagon-wheel ruts and walk sections of the trail at Comanche National Grassland. Trinidad and La Junta will play host to bicentennial celebrations this fall.
• Adventure Lodging: Electric Mountain Lodge near Paonia is a newly reimagined eco-friendly cabin resort and farm-to-fork culinary destination as well as a basecamp for year-round outdoor adventure including snow tubing, snowmobiling, backcountry skiing and more. Gravity Haus, a globally conscious experiential brand, opened Gravity Haus Winter Park during 2021. Camp V, a reimagined historic mining camp, welcomes travelers with restored cabins, glamping tents, curated airstreams and camp spots in Naturita. The Eddy Taproom & Hotel will invite guests to connect with one another and the surrounding natural beauty of Golden, Colorado.
• Winter Events are Back and Pulling Out All the Stops With New Offerings: With the world’s largest folk festival in Munich still on pandemic hold, the Breckenridge community announces the new, but familiar 2021 Paulaner Classic and Fall Family Fair bringing Munich to the Rockies Sept. 24-26. There's a new Pagosa Springs Hot Springs Fest Nov. 4–6. YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park presents the North Pole Train & Christmas Village Saturdays between Nov. 20–Dec. 18.
Media Contacts:
Carly Holbrook / 720.289.9366, [email protected]
Caitlin Johnson / 720.233.8520, [email protected]